The Forest Service lays and maintains excellent hiking trails, but you need to be reasonably fit and agile to enjoy them.
Directions for the Portsmouth Area Hikes (from a 2012 Compass Article)
Indian River:
Leave your dinghy at the main fishing dock. Walk south along the main street. Turn left at the bus station; you will pass the cricket pitch on the way out of town. Turn right onto a lane with a sign marked “Rainforest Riding” on the right and a yard with heavy machinery on the left. You will cross a stream on a concrete bridge; about 100 metres after that, look for an electrical pole marked with a small, yellow plaque numbered “019584” and “SEG II” over “63” in red spray paint. There is a small trail off to the right just after this pole that will take you to the bar. You will need to ford one shallow stream on the way.
Hot Springs:
From the Customs dock just south of Portsmouth, turn left on the lane that leads you to the main road. This lane dead-ends into Michael Douglas Road right where it makes a sharp turn away from the water. Turn right to follow the road up a sharp hill. Just as the road starts curving right, you will see a small, gravel lane on the left with signs reading “Portsmouth Gospel Mission Assembly” and “Car Wash.” Turn left on this lane and follow it through a group of houses until you reach a small, concrete bridge over a stream. Just before the bridge, a small trail leads off to the right. You will cross the small stream three times before reaching the hot spring at the end of the path.
Indian River Tour:
One major attraction of this area is a trip up the Indian River. Take advice on which guide to use. Your guide will drop you off at the Indian River dock, and you will have to purchase a park pass at the gas station (US $5 pp). There is a bar at the end, so be sure to take some cash. Note there are no longer any overhanging trees, so no shelter from the sun.
The Pointe Baptiste Estate:
The Pointe Baptiste Estate - a 25 acre estate outside Calibishie on the north end of Dominica - makes it's very own chocolate. They produce several different types of chocolate from organic cocoa beans grown on the Estate in a large "chocolate farm kitchen". Flavours include lemon grass, ginger, spice, hot pepper, and tangerine. It's well worth a visit, but call the owner Alan Napier first (225-5378) to arrange a time. The buildings are set in magnificent gardens (there is even one cottage you can rent).
Randolph - tour guide and taxi
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
As a free user of Noonsite you are restricted to viewing 3 country formalities per month. You have viewed 0 formalities this month – but can view the countries you have accessed to date as many times as you want.
Become a Noonsite Member and you can view unlimited formalities each month and enjoy additional member benefits. Membership fees help our team keep country formalities information up-to-date in support of cruisers worldwide.
Find out more about membership levels and Become a Noonsite Member.
