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Exploring Ashore in Dominica |
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Nowhere in the Eastern Caribbean come close to Dominica in the magnificence of the interior. Among other great attributes Dominica has the second largest boiling lake in the world, set in the awesome Valley of Desolation, and is the only island in the Eastern Caribbean with a territory occupied by the Kalinargo, the original inhabitants of these islands. For those who love hiking and exploring there is so much to do here, you could stay weeks and not see it all. But perhaps that is not the point, whatever you do you will enjoy and there will always be something to come back for.
And the beauty is not just on land, Dominica's underwater parks provide some of the best scuba diving in the islands. The Dominica Forestry Department has laid out many hiking trails in the extensive area included in the island's national parks. They have done an amazing job, sometimes laying out miles of log walkways. These trails are a delight. You can get trail maps from the Forestry Department in the botanical gardens in Roseau. There are charges for visiting park sites and tickets can be bought by the visit ($2 US single site), or all sites by the day ($5 US), week ($10 US). All the money goes towards park maintenance and is well spent. The park contains much of the rain forest and the more impressive waterfalls and natural features. But It should be noted that just about all of Dominica is spectacular, and there are numerous lovely hikes on small roads and paths that are not part of the park, as this picture of a country village shows..
There are many ways to see Dominica. The easiest and best for the novice is to start by taking a tour with one of the taxi drivers or guides all of whom must, by law, pass exams to ensure they have the knowledge that will enhance your trip. But there are also many hikes you can do on your own. Some of these start in one part of the island finish in another, so one easy way to accomplish this is to take a taxi to the beginning of the trail and catch a bus back from the other end. The countryside is also so pretty that a bus trip almost anywhere will be a delight. To give you a feel for the island I highlight a few areas in the links below. But keep in mind this barely scratches the surface. You need to visit to begin to appreciate the truly amazing beauty of Dominica.
North Dominica Indian River Trois Pitons Park Aerial Tram
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