Let’s take a tour on the scenic Indian River

Let’s take a tour on the scenic Indian River

by | Apr 15, 2020 | Nature, River, Travel Tips

Dominica is known as the island of many rivers. The most beautiful one is certainly the Indian River, which became famous for filming movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean.

From Hotel the Champs it’s only a 10 minute ride or 30 minute walk to the bridge just south of Portmouth where experienced boatmen in hand-oared river boats will take you silently past many types of wild life and plant life along the swampy river bank. The 1½-hour return boat ride along this shady mangrove-lined river glides past buttressed bwa mang trees with a chance to spot egrets, crabs, iguanas, hummingbirds and if you are lucky even a flock of Jacko parrots.

 

  

 

The Indian River got its name because Kalinago (Carib Indian) lived along its banks and used it as an access route to the Caribbean Sea. The river was important to their livelihood as they used it to transport goods for trade with sailors and along the island chain.

 

   

 

After rowing for at least an hour you get to a pretty little bush bar where you get a lot of local, exotic rum punches, the most special one is the Dynamite. It’s a mix of sorrel and passion rum, the locals like it a lot!

From here you can make a nice walk through a small garden with different plants, flowers, fruits and if you are lucky some more wildlife. The guides can tell you a lot about the plants and for what medical reason they use it here on Dominica. If you walk long enough you will reach another bush bar for another Dynamite, but this is up to you….

 

  

 

After your walk and maybe a few drinks it is time to go back to the boat and step in and relax for your way back on the river…….

 

     

Take a walk in the Brandy Manor Valley

Take a walk in the Brandy Manor Valley

by | Mar 28, 2020 | Environs, Hiking

Coming off the road that runs from Portsmouth to the east coast of the island is a gentle walk that we can recommend to take in the Dominican countryside, and wildlife. Simply look out for these signs and you can park your car here before you walk or we can arrange to drop you or collect you as one can even walk from the Hotel The Champs but you may prefer to only do the longer walk one way.

 

Gate Brandy Manor horse riding

The Gate to Brandy Manor

 

The beginning of the road is concrete as it traverses a small river, but after that it’s not surfaced fully.

Amongst all this nature there are three businesses down this road – Brandy Manor (horse riding and accommodation on your left, Lily’s Guesthouse  further on to your right(also accommodation) and a prawn farm at the end. Despite this one rarely sees other people.

 

 

You will see a tributary of the Indian River on your walk, amongst all the other wildlife such as mango trees, coffee shrubs, wild flowers and palm trees.

Be sure to look up so you don’t miss bird life, and also down so you don’t trip up on the uneven road.  Also you have to look around you to soak in all the greenery.

palms

Our proprietor – Hans

riverside farming

Riverside farming

If you decide to walk to this trail from Hotel The Champs, the directions are very simple – walk from Picard to Portsmouth and at the bus station you turn right past Benjamin Park (cricket and football field) and walk further for about 30 minutes at which point you’ll reach the signposts on first picture.

If you would like to arrange horse riding we can put you in touch with the Brandy Manor.

 

We think this is a great walk to enjoy for the whole family – really any age can do it as it’s almost totally flat and well shaded.

Daytrip to Salton Falls, a delicious lunch and UNESCO World Heritage Site (PART I)

Daytrip to Salton Falls, a delicious lunch and UNESCO World Heritage Site (PART I)

by | Feb 8, 2020 | Hiking, Waterfall

This will take up the majority of your day, so after a delicious breakfast at Hotel the Champs you can drive southbound following the coast past Coulbistrie and Mero and Layou. On the approach to Mahaut, not long after the Rubis petrol station you can turn uphill onto the Warner Road towards Pont Casse .

You will find Salton Waterfalls entrance on your right. If you get to the Pont Casse roundabout you’ve gone too far. This is a privately owned area and the entrance fee is $5EXD per person. You park at the car park at the top then follow a paved road downhill. You can hear the waterfalls from the first turning and the trail soon becomes unpaved and increasingly wild and ‘jungley’.

 

You will see an array of beautiful plants and flowers of course, and the path gets increasingly steep and sometimes a little slippery – you’ll need more than just flip flops.

flowers orchids

The first falls you come to (lower down) is a double set….

flowers waterfall

Lower falls at Salton

You go back on yourself then up a much steeper path to your right (left when coming downhill)to reach the other waterfall which is much bigger and fall into a great pool for swimming in. Take great care when climbing in as there are slippery rocks

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swim waterfall

Upper waterfall at Salton

a little cold after a swim

 

Enjoy and relax ahead of the steep climb back up the hill towards the most delicious French Creole restaurant for lunch…. detailed in the next blog  next week along with a few other tips!

jungle hike

Steep climb (the part shown is not rocky) but you should bring better shoes than flip flops