All during our past cruise, our cruise director kept saying to take an excursion while at Dominica because it's the best place to take one (mainly because there's nothing else to do there). So me and my sister took an excursion called the Rasta Man Rainforest Hike. It's scaled as a moderate excursion, not easy yet not the most difficult. Here's how it went.
First we took a minibus ride up a mountain. Not only did the people there drive on the left side of the road, but the road was so curvy and narrow that around every bend we thought we were going to crash into another car. Luckily we didn't. Anyway, about halfway up we stopped at a rest stop. The bathrooms were a little dirty, but usable. There was also a stand there where you could buy coconuts, jewelry, and sugar cane. My sister only had a 20 on her so another couple that was on the tour bought us a coconut. First you drink the juice out, then they chop it in half and you eat the inside. The juice was good, but when they opened it up it was slimy and gross so I didn't eat it. While driving up that couple offered everyone some of the sugar cane they bought. It was really good.
After a little more driving we made it to the trail. It wasn't really a trail, but we walked along a little strip wide enough for one body where there weren't trees and stuff. Well since it was raining it was really slippery and hard to do, but we made it. We ended at a rocky river. There we could wash our hands in the river. The tour guide also offered us mangoes, which were really good. The rocks were really slippery and our tour guide fell, but she was okay. After everyone was done eating we had to walk back to the minibus. Once we made it back we drove some more.
Finally we made it to the second "trail". It was a lot easier than the previous one because there were logs placed down a lot of the way for easy walking, which was nice. We ended at a waterfall, which fell into a small pond. No one really went in, but we all touched the water because our tour guide said it was believed you turned 5 years younger if you touched the water (10 years younger if you swam). There was an option hike available to a second waterfall, but it looked dangerous so no one did it. After watching the waterfall for a while we headed back. On the way back down the mountain we got cartons of fruit juice to drink, which was refreshing.
Overall I had a really good time. My parents aren't into hiking and outdoors stuff so we never get to do this kind of stuff so this was a real treat. The tour guide was really nice and informative. She answered any questions you had.
Bottom line: If you're in Dominica and you want to take a hiking tour that's not too hard, this is it. The Rasta Man Rainforest Hike
Dark Warrior, we did a mt. bike trip in Dominica and it was unbelievable!! 2300ft. up the mt. by van and a steep ride down. Everything about it was phenomenal...it wasn't antiseptic, but very natural and beautiful. Swam in the Layou River and the hotsprings...I still can't believe it. And we had a rest stop with a friend of the guide...he served us pineapple, mango, sugar cane, coconut (which was perfect) and shredded coconut with cinnamon he had prepared. Everything was delicious. He had a small bathroom there and it was sooo clean!! It was better than many I've been to in the US!! It was rigged up to a big, metal drum, so there was a working toilet...there was a lady coming in after me and she was making faces...it's best not to make assumptions, just because you're away from home in simple sorroundings. We had a wonderful, local guy as our guide. I think his girlfriend owns the company who took us...I wonder if it was the same group? I wouldn't be surprised, since it's a small island.
Bob and Joyce...we didn't actually go to the beach, but stopped by on our way down from the mt. Dominica's draw is the rain forrest. The beaches are quite lovely...they have black, volcanic sand.
We saw small ones that I'm guessing tourists normally wouldn't go to, but I really didn't see any meant for tourists. I'm there's at least one, somewhere though.
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they have black, volcanic sand.
Maybe that's why I didn't notice that beaches . And that excursion sounds like fun. I would've liked to try something like that as well. Must've been more expensive though (ours was $56/person).
Dark Warrior, it was about $50 or so per person, as I recall. We never expected it to be so tremendous and are so glad we did it. Out of the 7 in our group, our family was the only group who brought bathing suits, which was what the instructions called for. I felt bad for the others, watching us frolicking in the river and hot springs!! It was surreal. The only thing that would have topped it would have been a waterfall. In future, we will look for that kind of excursion again in a minute!!
Dark Warrior, it was about $50 or so per person, as I recall. We never expected it to be so tremendous and are so glad we did it. Out of the 7 in our group, our family was the only group who brought bathing suits, which was what the instructions called for. I felt bad for the others, watching us frolicking in the river and hot springs!! It was surreal. The only thing that would have topped it would have been a waterfall. In future, we will look for that kind of excursion again in a minute!!
We saw a waterfall. It was neat. We also saw a "crying wall", which was a natural rock wall that constantly had water pouring down it. That was cool. And it rained a lot during our tour so our shoes got really muddy. They should've forewarned us that it may rain and be muddy. My shoes cleaned easily but it's just the fact that I got my brand new shoes muddy, when that could've been avoided had they said it would muddy. Oh well. I guess I could've expected it as well.
We bartered with a local and took the tour to Trafalgar Falls, a pair of twin water falls up in the mountains.. Then we walked around the town and bought some souvenirs.. We both agreed that we could retire there and be very happy...
We booked a snorkeling tour to the Champagne Reef. The bubbles come up from a volcanic vent in the ocean floor and are nice and warm. Actually, the water is hot if you get it in a snorkel tube straight from the bottom. There was a lot of sealife in the area of the warmer water too.
We booked a snorkeling tour to the Champagne Reef. The bubbles come up from a volcanic vent in the ocean floor and are nice and warm. Actually, the water is hot if you get it in a snorkel tube straight from the bottom. There was a lot of sealife in the area of the warmer water too.
That sounds like fun. It sounds like something I'd be interested in trying.
Dark Warrior, as you know, I loved Dominica. It's such a change from the typical Caribbean islands. The driving in town is positively horrifying!! Narrow two way streets with no rules that are apparent and people everywhere, even cooking in the street!! Wild!!
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. And that excursion sounds like fun. I would've liked to try something like that as well. Must've been more expensive though (ours was $56/person).
It was surreal. The only thing that would have topped it would have been a waterfall. In future, we will look for that kind of excursion again in a minute!!
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