Thick rainforest, hissing volcanic vents and jagged mountainous peaks…the island of Dominica is a nature lover’s dream. You don’t come to Dominica for the beaches, you come to explore things like boiling lakes and magical pools filled by mountain waterfalls. A true pirate haven back in the day.

Today’s Photo Friday picture features the famous Emerald Pool on Dominica. Taken by the talented photographers at ISLANDS Magazine, the pool is without doubt one of the most popular attractions, and is perhaps one of Dominica’s most photographed natural sites.

The Emerald pool as its name suggest is also known as the “Crystal Pool”. This small waterfall and natural pool is located on the northern edge of the Morne Trois National Park and is filled with glistening clear spring water. Legend says if you swim in the Emerald Pool it will take 10 years off your life. Whether that is true or not doesn’t matter. Just seeing natural wonders like this on a mysterious tropical island will make you forget about every worry-some care you have. If that doesn’t make you feel younger then I don’t know what will.

The Caribbean isn’t all all mega-resorts, blue water and white sand beaches. Some of the best the Caribbean has to offer is covered by lush rainforest and only visible through tree-filtered sunlight. A pirates world it is, one only need to find where “X” marks the spot.

Have a great weekend Castaways! Let me know if you’ve ever been to the Emerald Pool and what you thought.
Cheers,
RumShopRyan

Quiet, adventure and escape…these are the things I look for when I travel to the Caribbean. I like to so down. Correction. I like to slow WAY down. I escape by running away to an island that lets me stand still, take a deep breath and hear my own thoughts. Occasionally, if every thing is quiet and the stars are aligned just right, you’ll hear your paradise whispering into your soul. That’s the way I like to be seduced.

I found this article by Linda Thompkins that gives people looking for a quiet, off the beaten path type of vacation some ideas. Enjoy.

3 Unique Places to Visit in the Caribbean

Looking for a unique Caribbean destination that is not over developed, and crowded during the peak tourist season? There are a few islands that have maintained much of their original natural beauty, charm, and offer an out of the ordinary experience.

1) Curacao has a unique European charm with an exotic, tropical backdrop. The capital city Willemstad is one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean, and recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. A walking tour of Willemstad will convince you this is one of the prettiest cities in the Caribbean.

The capital city’s famous landmarks is the Queen Emma Bridge, also called the “Swinging Old Lady”. It is the world’s largest floating pedestrian bridge, and opens on a regular basis to enable cruise ships and other sailing vessels to enter and exit the harbor. At night the bridge is illuminated with thousands of tiny fairy lights.

Curacao is home to over 50 different nationalities, which brings a unique flavor to the language, culture and cuisine. The islands sugar white beaches are flanked by massive limestone bluffs rising above the Caribbean Sea, and you’ll find pink flamingos in the lagoons. Curacao offers 70 fine diving sites, and the Christoffel National Park covers 4,500 acres and provides excellent hiking tours.

Unlike other islands, Curacao offers consistent accommodation pricing throughout the year – even at the traditional peak Caribbean tourist seasons.

Curacao is outside the hurricane belt, and often described as one of the Caribbean’s best kept secrets.

2) The tiny island of Dominica can best be described by one word – Green! This is the premier destination for eco-tourists.

Whether you’re into exotic birds, plants, dolphin/whale watching, diving or snorkeling, Dominica is the true nature island of the Caribbean. Surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the island has 365 rivers on land – one for every day of the year.

The island is home to 10 active volcanoes that have been dormant over 1000 years. The world’s second largest boiling lake is located at Morne Trois Piton National Park, a World Heritage Site. A few miles from the boiling lake, you come upon the Valley of Desolation, another unique, hot geothermal spot. Trafalgar Falls and Soufriere Sulfur Springs are both popular visitor spots to experience the soothing therapeutic water.

And don’t think the volcanic activity is limited to land, it can also be found beneath the sea. The locals named the place “Champagne” due to the hot water vents creating a fizzle sound on the coral rocks. Once you are in the water, it does feel as though you have dived into warm, bubbly champagne.

3) St Vincent & The Grenadines provides visitors with travel to one destination, and the opportunity to experience over 30 pristine islands.

Upon my first visit to The Grenadines, I experienced the ultimate pristine paradise. The waters are truly crystal clear, with hundreds of colorful tropical fish in easy view just a few feet from shore. On some islands, your footprints will be the only ones found in the sand.

St Vincent is the largest island in the chain, and the location of the capital city of Kingstown. This is a rather lively place with a colonial backdrop amid cobblestone streets. St Vincent is the ideal spot to set sail to the Grenadines. Among the island chain, Bequia, Mayrou, Tabago Cays, Palm Island, Mustique, Petit St. Vincent are the most popular.

Bequia, a small, picturesque seafaring town, is the largest in the chain. For such a small island, visitors will be pleasantly surprised with the choice of accommodations to fit any budget. We stayed at the SugarApple Inn on Friendship Bay beach, which I highly recommend. Another surprise is the variety of fine cuisine, and you can even find a few lively local nightspots.

Mayrou is home to only 200 residents who live high up in the hillside. One of the unique places to visit is Salt Whistle Bay where the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea is separated by just 50 yards. This is a great island hopping spot to reach Tobago Cays, Palm Island, or Petit St. Vincent by boat or charter yacht.

The Tobago Cays are a small group of 5 deserted islands offering a unique, pristine wildlife reserve protected by a reef shaped in the form of a horseshoe. Swim with the turtles, and experience nature at its finest.

Three of the islands in The Grenadines chain cater to the rich and famous. Petit St Vincent is famous for those who desire luxury and privacy. The island offers no airport, telephone, or TV. Visitors use a small colored flagpoles outside the cottages to communicate with the staff. Palm Island is an expensive, all-inclusive private-island resort offering just 43 luxury accommodations. Mustique, another private island offers seclusion in 72 luxury villas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Thompkins

Dominica, West Indies is located in the Caribbean. Dominica is one of the few places in the world where the coral is in beautiful, perfect condition. Dominica is a beautiful island with a high mountain range, underwater hot springs, waterfalls, tropical rain forest and lush vegetation. This island offers an escape into tranquility and peace.

The Commonwealth of Dominica is often mistaken for the Dominican Republic. Dominica is pronounced Domineeca. The language of this island is English although Creole is also widely spoken. The Dominica West Indies is located in the eastern chain of Windward Isles. In 1978 Dominica gained its independence from the United Kingdom.

Interesting Island Tourist facts:

• Dominica is only 29 miles long and 16 miles wide.
• The time in Dominica is one hour ahead of US Eastern time.
• The currency is the East Caribbean Dollar
• Vehicles drive on the left

Tropical Escape:

This island is a tropical escape.  Plan an escape to this island and get the experience of a lifetime.  This small island offers mountain peaks as high as 4,000 feet with rain forests where 175 birds, iguanas, tree lizards, extraordinary butterflies and wildlife live.  Tree ferns, and plant life, flowers and vegetation cover the ground creating a colorful carpet.

Waterfalls form and cascade as 365 rivers and streams intertwine and travel across the island.  Ravines and gorges offer spectacular sites. The waterfalls on Dominica West Indies Island are a sight that will never be forgotten.

Scuba Diving:

Dominica is one of the top three scuba diving sites in the Caribbean and it is one of the top five in the world.   Enjoy scuba diving sites that include the exploration of under water wrecks and sudden under water drop offs.  Hot springs release constant streams of bubbles.  This is locally known as champagne.  Hot springs are enjoyed by all who visit the island but the experience is enhanced by scuba diving.  Snorkeling is also a way to explore the rich and beautiful waters off of the island.

Things to Enjoy:

Dominica's Valley of Desolation

Dominica offers whale and dolphin watching year round.  You can hike through Dominica’s forested mountain highlands. Hike to the Titou George, Panorama Viewpoint and the Valley of Desolation.  Hike to the world’s second largest Boiling Lake.  Hikers must be accompanied by a certified hike guide.  Many of the Islands most beautiful water falls and sites are hidden deep in the lush forests.  Hiking is necessary to see these incredible natural sites.  Visit the Champagne and Forest Hot Springs.  Enjoy local foods such as green bananas, paw paw, red snapper, tuna and so much more.

Dominica, West Indies is a spectacular escape from the rush and hurry of the modern world.  Hide away and escape in this enchanted tropical island.  Enjoy the natural beauty of Dominica, West Indies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Stiles

Here is a nice little article I found on Dominica, the nature island.  I have been doing a lot of reading on this rugged rock, located in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean.  It has captured my imagination.  Here are 10 “must do” things when visiting Dominica.  I hope it captures yours as well.

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Dominica is a country that is also known as the Nature Island of the Caribbean. It has a vast variety of floras and faunas that are protected by its natural park system. There are also a lot of places and a lot of things to do here in Dominica, among them are these ten things one should do when in Dominica.

Dominica's Famouse Boiling Lake

1.) Visit the Boiling Lake

This is a wonderful tourist destination that you should visit when you are in Dominica. You will definitely enjoy the sight of this great lake as it boils because of the heat coming from the volcanic vent. If you are a novice when it comes to hiking, then you will definitely need a guide to tour you around the lake because of the rough terrain.

2.) Hike the Glassy

This is a hike that will take about two to three days to be finished. During this hike, you will be going through farmland then you will pass through a deep jungle before you reach the coast and the cliffs. The hike only ends when you reach the point where the old volcanic flow meets the ocean, and here, you have to take care because there are big waves that are known to sweep people away and smash them against the rocks.

3.) Do the Jaco Steps

It is not really clear why the Jaco Steps where built, but it is a good walk nonetheless. This will give you a good hike and exercise. Plus, you will also get to appreciate the wonderful scenery Dominica has to offer.

Dominica's Emerald Pool

4.) Visit the Emerald Pool

A little cold for a swimmer’s taste, but Emerald Pool is still a grand place to visit. There is a short walk before you reach this little grotto. But the short walk is worth it as you are greeted by a magical sight.

5.) See the Boeri Lake

Nature lover or not, nobody can resist the raw beauty of Boeri Lake, which is a crater lake. As you hike the trail going to Boeri Lake, you will see magnificent views of the Atlantic coast. You are also going to go through a montane forest, a forest with a vast abundance of tree ferns and cabbage palm.

Dominica Titou Gorge

6.) Swim in the Titou Gorge

Before you start your hike towards the Boiling Lake, you will encounter this small waterfall. This is a perfect place for you to swim in and is a famous tourist spot. It can also be the perfect finale for your Boiling Lake hike as there is also a small hot spring nearby.

7.) Visit the Morne Trois Pitons National Park

This national park is also listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will get to see a myriad of floras and faunas native to Dominica here. The many attractive locations it offers are enough to make anybody fall in love with the magical place.
8.) Enjoy Trafalgar Falls

About half an hour drive from Roseau is this popular twin waterfalls. You do not need to have a guide to reach these twin falls as you can easily reach it. This is a famous tourist spot where they can take a swim in the smaller waterfalls or, if they find it, take a refreshing and relaxing swim in the taller waterfalls’ hot spring.

9.) Go diving in Cabrits Marine Reserve

Dominica is also known as a famous scuba diving destination. Here, you will see a wide variety of marine animals. But they are very strict in their rule of no touching the animals.

10.) Visit Scott’s Head

This is a wonderful village that offers a great scuba diving experience in the bay. You can also go snorkeling here. You will see here bountiful sea creatures that live in its corals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Williams

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Let me know if you have visited Dominica and what adventures it brought you.

Cheers to the Salt Life,
RumShopRyan