View of rainforest from our room at Le Petit Paradis
“And when you get there, don’t be so busy looking for the next thing that you forget you got there.” - Blue Iris
“There is still so much ahead of you. Don’t let one difficult season convince you that you’ve seen all there is to see.” - Alex Aubrey
“The way someone responds to your pain will tell you more than how they respond to your joy.” - Sheleana Aiyana
Adventure at a Glance
Location: Dominica, Caribbean
Duration: 8 Days
Highlights: Secret Canyon rappelling, Boiling Lake attempt, Emerald Pool, and natural sulfur hot springs
Vibe: Rainforest immersion, technical trails, and lots of waterfalls and mud.
Dominica: Exploring the Nature Island of the Caribbean
We left Greensboro right in the middle of a snowstorm and traded the freezing winter weather for nothing but warm sunshine, cool breezes, and lush rainforest canopies. Dominica is widely known as the "Nature Island of the Caribbean," and it didn't take us long to realize just how accurate that nickname is. Up until recently, development here was relatively modest due to a small airport and a lack of direct flights, but with a brand-new airport and increasing direct routes, the island is starting to get a lot more attention.
Our first adventure began before we even stepped foot on a trail: renting a vehicle. Dominica is a former English territory, which means driving happens on the left side of the road. On top of that, rental cars are only available in manual transmission, and the island's fleet is entirely managed by individual owners and boutique local agencies. Navigating a stick-shift on the opposite side of winding mountain roads was a unique challenge, but we survived it!
We spent our week tucked away deep in the rainforest at Le Petit Paradis, a beautiful boutique hotel run by an island native and her husband. They prepared authentic, custom breakfast and dinner menus for us every single day that were absolutely fabulous. They would even pack us custom lunches to take along on our hikes if we asked the night before. On the night of my 53rd birthday, a group of local teenage girls rehearsing nearby sang to me in broken English during dinner, which was incredibly kind. Nearly every evening wrapped up with a short walk from our hotel down to Tia’s Hot Spa, where we spent an hour soaking and unwinding in the island’s signature, mineral-rich natural sulfur hot spring pools.
Day One: Soufriere Bay & Bubble Beach
We kicked off day one heading south to Soufriere Bay for a guided kayaking and snorkeling excursion. Our local guide navigated us to a series of remote snorkeling pockets along the reef that were spectacular. We spent the afternoon hanging out at the nearby Bubble Beach, a unique coastal spot where natural volcanic gas bubbles rise straight out of the shallow sandy ocean floor for a spa-like sensation. We finished the day with a drive out to Scott’s Head, the very southern tip of Dominica that divides the Atlantic Ocean from Soufriere Bay. It was a gentle, brief climb to the summit viewpoint, offering a breathtaking panoramic view across the entire southern coastline.
Day Two: Fresh Water Lake & Middleman Falls
Our second day called for a muddy, technical five-mile trek along the Fresh Water Lake Trail. The path is a gorgeous, moderate hike featuring a series of steeper climbs lined with earthen stairways, ropes, and dense tropical flora. The vistas looking across the mountain lakes are incredible. In the afternoon, we kept the momentum going by hiking out to Middleman Falls, an impressive 100-foot vertical waterfall that tumbles down into a giant, refreshing swimming basin at the bottom.
Day Three: Trafalgar Falls
On day three, we set our sights on the iconic Trafalgar Falls Trail to see the famous massive double waterfalls. When we arrived at the trailhead, we paid a local guide waiting at the base to lead us off the main path toward the hidden hot springs and the rocky floor below the falls. Navigating the giant boulders required a bit of technical rock scrambling, but the detour was short and well worth the effort to experience the thermal waters directly below the cascades.
Day Four: Canyoning through Hidden Waterfalls
Day four brought the absolute adrenaline highlight of our trip: an intense canyoneering expedition with Extreme Dominica. The journey started at their headquarters where we geared up and practiced rappelling basics on an 8-foot training wall. After a short 15-minute drive, we hiked down through the dense jungle canopy to a hidden canyon tucked entirely away from the sunlight.
This wasn’t just a quick look at a single drop—we actually rappelled our way down through the waterfalls throughout the trek! We spent the day descending into deep rock gorges carved out by thousands of years of rainfall, jumping off steep ledges into crystal-clear pools, and navigating slick rock faces while cheering each other on through every single natural obstacle. The epic tour concluded with a short 15-minute hike back out to the canyoning center, where we dried off with hot cocoa tea and fresh local fruit.
Day Five: Kalinago Barana Autô
To immerse ourselves in the island's heritage, we spent day five touring the Carib Cultural Village by the Sea (Kalinago Barana Autô). Officially established in 2006, this 4.2-acre reservation site preserves and highlights pre-Columbian Kalinago traditions. We wandered the natural walking trails along the river out to Isulukati Falls and explored traditional thatched family huts (ajoupas) and the large communal men's house (karbet). The highlight of the village visit was watching live cultural demonstrations, including traditional basket weaving with larouma reeds, cassava processing, pottery making, herbal medicine, and dugout canoe construction carved right from the native gommier tree.
Day Six: Emerald Pool
On day six, we hiked into the heart of Morne Trois Pitons National Park to visit Dominica’s famous Emerald Pool. The location is a cozy, serene basin of deep green water nestled beneath a gentle waterfall oasis. Local legends whisper that the pool acts as a natural fountain of youth, adding a full ten years to the life of anyone who swims in it. Whether the island myth is true or not, taking a swim in the enchanting emerald waters felt incredibly rejuvenating.
Day Seven: Titou Gorge
We headed out to explore Titou Gorge on our seventh day, navigating a spectacular watery slot canyon that requires a mandatory life jacket just to swim through. The narrow rock walls create a dramatic natural gorge pathway that leads you directly to a massive waterfall roaring inside the cave at the very end. We had originally hoped to tackle the strenuous hike out to Boiling Lake on this day, but the continuous heavy rainfall made the trail far too dangerous to attempt. We were definitely disappointed we didn't schedule it earlier in the week, but it gives us the perfect excuse to plan a return trip!
Day Eight: The Red Rocks of Calibishie
On our final morning before heading to the airport, we made one last stop along the northern coast to see the Red Rocks. Composed primarily of volcanic tuff, hardened ash, and basalt, these striking formations owe their fiery red colors to heavy iron oxide deposits. Over thousands of years, the pounding ocean waves, wind, and rain have sculpted the dramatic cliffs into smooth, wind-polished ridges and jagged plateaus. It was a visually stunning landscape to wander through before dropping off our rental car and catching our flight back to Greensboro — where a fresh blanket of snow was waiting on the ground to welcome us home.
Petit Party