Trafalgar Falls

Introducing Trafalgar Falls

On the western edge of Morne Trois Pitons National Park, Trafalgar Falls are spectacular and accessible via a steep but smooth uphill walk. The 0.4-mile walk to the falls begins at Papillote Wilderness Retreat, about 1 mile east of the village of Trafalgar.

Start the walk at the bottom of the inn’s driveway, where you’ll find a cement track leading east. Follow the track until you reach a little snack bar; take the footpath that leads downhill from there and in a couple of minutes you’ll reach a viewing platform with a clear view of the falls.

There are two separate waterfalls. Water from the upper falls crosses the Titou Gorge before plunging down the sheer 200ft rock face that fronts the viewing platform. At the base of the waterfall are hot sulfur springs. Look for yellow streaks on the rocks to find a good soaking spot.

The lower falls flow from the Trois Pitons River in the Boiling Lake area. This waterfall, gentler and broader than the upper falls, has a deep and wide pool at its base made for swimming.

Guys hang out at the start of the trail, touting as guides. Getting to the viewing platform is straightforward and doesn’t require a guide, so if you plan to go only that far, save yourself the fee (roughly EC$20).

Going beyond the platform is trickier – crossing a river is the only way to get to the base of the falls. Depending on how surefooted you are, a guide could be helpful in climbing down the boulders to the lower pool or clambering over to the hot springs.

Guide or not, be careful because the moss-covered rocks are as slippery as ice. This is a serious river, and during rainy spells it may be too high to cross. Flash floods from heavy rains in the mountains are a real danger – if you’re in the river and the waters start to rise, get out immediately, preferably on the side closest to home.

Cocoa Cottages runs an awesome canyoning trip (448-0412; www.cocoacottages.com; US$150), a half-day of rappelling down waterfalls and floating in pools at the bottom of deep canyon walls. As Richard, the tour leader, puts it, ‘A lot of people come to Dominica to look at waterfalls, but with canyoning you get to taste them, feel them, be in them.’

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009