I SCOV ERI NG 
OMINICA 
The Carib Indians called Dominica 
Wai'tukubuli meaning "tall is her body." 
The simple phrase sums up the impact 
that this green, and mountainous island 
has on first time visitors. 
There are so many places to explore in 
Dominica that a short vacation isn't nearly 
enough time to take in the entire island. 
The pace is slower here and it's hard to 
decide just where to start your discovery 
of the Nature Isle. You won't find fancy 
nightclubs or glitzy department stores and 
the most essential items in your suitcase 
are a rugged pair of walking shoes, 
casual clothing, bathing suits, a camera 
and an abundant supply of film. You'll 
lose track of the number of times you 
gasp in amazement at this beautiful 
island. We have designed an outline of 
places to visit just to give you an idea of 
what is available. Remember when 
embarking on hikes into the interior, it is 
advisable that you take along a guide. 
Your hosts can always recommend a 
knowledgeable individual and such 
assistance is a must, especially when 
undertaking the more strenuous and 
treacherous trek to the Boiling Lake. 
BEACHES 
Even though river bathing is probably 
the most popular way to take the plunge, 
there are some beautiful places in 
Dominica to enjoy a dip in the ocean. On 
the Caribbean side of the island, 
protected from the weather by Dominica's 
high mountains, you'll find black sand 
beaches at Mero, Batalie, Prince Rupert's 
Bay, Douglas Bay and Toucari. 
The windward coastline between 
Crompton Point and Anse Soldat has 
some of the island's loveliest and best 
protected beaches on the Atlantic Coast. 
The sand ranges from volcanic black at 
L'Anse Noir to gold at Pointe Baptiste and 
Woodford Bay, the latter being a truly 
tropical bay. L'Anse Tortue and 
Hampstead Beach are also lovely bathing 
beaches. The beach at Calibishie is 
protected by a mile long barrier reef and 
the sheltered lagoon and golden beach is 
perfect for sea bathing. 
Do take care when exploring the 
beaches on the windward coast as some 
of the most attractive ones (not 
mentioned above) have treacherous 
undertows and wicked currents that make 
them highly dangerous. 
All beaches in Dominica are public 
property up to the high water mark but 
you sometimes have to pass through 
private lands to get to them. In this 
regard, you must respect the rights of the 
owners. 
Established in 1986, the Cabrits, the 
creole name for goat, is a 260 acre park on 
the north west coast of the island. Two 
extinct volcanoes form the headland of the 
park and in the south it overlooks Prince 
Rupert's Bay, a stunning natural harbor and 
beautiful beach that used to be home to the 
Caribs. To the north there is Douglas Bay 
with beautiful coral reefs and a specially 
prepared underwater marine trail. Prince 
Rupert's Bay is full of history. Sir Francis 
Drake came here and Horatio Nelson was 
a frequent visitor. An American fought a 
duel on the beach and Ann Davidson, the 
first woman to cross the Atlantic single- 
handed, touched land here. 
Cruise ship dock at Cabrits with 
Portsmouth in the background. 
The ruins of one of the most impressive 
military sites in the Caribbean can be found 
here. Built mainly by the British between 
1770 and 1815, the garrison contains Fort 
Shirley, seven gun batteries, seven 
cisterns, powder magazines, ordnance 
storehouses, barracks and quarters for 
over 600 men. Built by slaves and white 
artisans from local volcanic stones and clay 
bricks from England, the whole works were 
cemented together with powdered coral 
limestone bound with water and molasses, 
a mixture that has held together through 
two hundred years of hurricanes and 
earthquakes. 
Massive silk cotton tree at 
Cabrits National Park 
Cabrits is also the only cruise ship 
facility in the region where passengers 
disembark directly into a National Park and 
the docks are situated on the site of the 
original wharf. 
A tour of the park can take half a day 
with plenty of time for swimming and 
snorkeling. 
CARIB TERRITORY 
Many descendants of the Carib 
Indians, Dominica's first settlers, live in a 
3,700 acre reserve on the north east 
coast of the island. Between the villages 
of Atkinson and Sineku, the area was 
officially granted to the Caribs in 1902. It 
is a bit difficult to know when you have 
arrived at the reserve because there are 
no signs and little changes in the way of 
dwellings and landscape. However you 
may notice a proliferation of craft shops 
selling traditional basketware and signs 
of the ancient Carib craft of canoe 
making. 
In 1952 a Carib Council was created 
and there are elections every five years 
with the chairman of the council chosen 
as the Chief. The Carib Territory has a 
Parliamentary Representative, also 
elected every five years. 
The church of St. Marie in Salybia Bay 
has an altar carved as a canoe. 
Fifteen minutes on foot from Sineku, 
you will find L' Escalier Tete Chien or the 
snake's staircase rising out of the sea like 
a huge sculpture making a staircase up 
the hillside. Tete Chien is the creole 
name for the boa constrictor and Carib 
legend says that the Master Tete Chien 
made the staircase when the earth was 
still soft. 
NORTHERN I 
FOREST RESERVE 
Since 1977, 22,000 acres land on the 
northern end of Dominica have been set 
aside as forest reserve. In contrast to a 
national park which prohibits any kind of 
tree felling or plant picking, tree 
harvesting and other agricultural 
practices do take place within the 
reserve. 
The island's two indigenous parrots, 
the Jaco and the Sisserou, are found 
predominantly in the forest reserve and it 
is the location of the headwaters for 
several of Dominica's vital rivers. Morne 
Diablotin, 4,747 feet high and Dominica's 
highest peak, sits majestically in the 
northern forest reserve. 
The government is currently enacting 
legislation that will turn 5,000 acres of 
the reserve into a new national park. This 
area is mostly favored by the two parrots 
and plans are expected to be finalized 
this year. An interpretation center, 
research shelter and a rest house for 
national park staff and visitors will be 
built near the start of the trail to Morne 
Diablotin. 
Parrot watching tours and hikes to the 
top of Morne Diablotin are popular 
activities within the reserve. Just 
remember it is a big place with some 
pretty wild terrain and it is definitely 
recommended to hire a guide when 
venturing into this part of the island. 
OLD MILL 
CULTURAL CENTER 
At Canefield is the headquarters of the 
Cultural Division of the Ministry of 
Community Development. The first mill 
was built in here 1770 and in 1908 it was 
taken over by an American millionaire 
who completely modernized the plant. 
Old photographs are displayed at the 
center and there is a small museum 
containing pre-Columbian and traditional 
artifacts. Local artists show off their work 
and the Woodcarving Training School is 
situated on the grounds where students 
learn under the tuition of Haitian sculptor 
Louis Desiree. 
The museum documents Dominica's 
history and traditions and as the mill is so 
well preserved, it is iike taking a step 
back in time. 
PORTSMOUTH 
Portsmouth, Dominica's second largest 
settlement, is popular among the yachting 
crowd and local sloops and schooners are 
still built on the shore. The British colonists 
wanted to make the town the capital of 
They used to build ships in Portsmouth. 
Dominica but never succeeded and since 
then there has always been a north versus 
south mentality especially at election time. 
There are several beach bars and 
restaurants in and around Portsmouth and 
river rides up the Indian River, a mighty 
body of water that originates at Mount 
Diablotin, can be arranged here. 
ROSEAU 
Dominica has been ravaged by hurricanes 
and wars between the French and the 
English and as a result much of Roseau's 
early architecture has been destroyed. But in 
addition to the wealth of restaurants in the 
capital, there are still some interesting sights 
to enjoy. 
The city of Roseau. 
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