Landscapes in Caribbean
Devil's bridge is natural stone arch. The story goes that slaves committed suicide by jumping off the bridge into the crashing waves below. It's a very dramatic legend, but there's probably not much truth to it, as the Devil's Bridge is only a few meters above the sea - but maybe they couldn't swim. Anyway, Devil's Bridge isn't particularly high, but when the waves are strong, they press through the gap and spray up like a geyser.
Lac is a large bay on the southeastern part of Bonaire with an important part under the protection of STINAPA (National Parks Foundation). At Sorobon, on the western side of the bay, the sea is shallow, the waters turquoise, and steady tradewinds blow in the bay, making it the best spot for windsurfing (kitesurfing is not allowed here). This being Bonaire, the area is still very underdeveloped, nothing is overdone or too tacky, and rarely overcrowded (except maybe on cruiseship days). The mangrove area on the eastern side is a protected area, so to discover the fascinating world of these salt water trees, you need to go on a guided kayak tour. It's a great way to learn about the important role they play in the ecosystem, and also to encounter the weird upside-down jelly fish, head firmly in the sand. Even if you're on a budget, go for the two-hour tour instead of the one-hour. The 15 minutes of snorkelling that are included half way through the tour are well worth the extra bucks: the colourful spectacle the algae-covered roots offer underwater is simply amazing.
What once were two plantations now make this national park on the northern part of the island. Bonaire isn't known for its lush vegetation, and the park is no exception, but it still manages to offer a lot to explore: blowholes, lagoons, flamingos, old plantation constructions, turtle nesting grounds, salt pans, iguanas, and tons of cacti. The "long route" follows the coast where most points of interest are, while a few walking trails allow a closer look at some of the features. The hike up the Brandaris trail leads to Bonaire's highest point and offers a great view over the island and beyond. And as everywhere on the island, great snorkelling and dive sites dot the leeward side of the park.
The green lush valley at Viñales, Valle de Viñales, is truly unique and a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the remarkable landscape. Tobacco, coffee, sugarcane, banana and pineapple are grown on flat red soil farmland at the foot of big limestone knolls, so called mogotes, which rise dramatically into the air. Palm thatched barns dot the otherwise green carpet of fields and plantations, which are connected by a network of trails only passable on horseback or foot. There several caves in the area that can be visited, both tourist caves (Cuevas de San Miguel and Cuevas del Indio) and on your own (Cueva de la Vaca, Cueva de Palmerito). To reach some of the more far fetch sights in the valley, a local guide will be useful. Otherwise, local farmers are friendly and happy to point you in the right direction.
Hands down the prettiest beach on Dominica. A crescent shaped bay protected by steep cliffs and mountains covered in rainforest. The long beach has fine sand and is, of course, lined with palms – just the way a paradise beach should be. Apparently, Batibou Beach featured in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' trilogy starring Johnny Depp. A thatched hut beach bar is – at the moment - the only development in the bay. The only access to Batibou Beach is down a bumpy dirt road only suitable for 4x4.
This is Dominica's most famous oddity – a boiling lake. The murky lake sits in a cauldron and when active is bubbling due to emitting gases from the molten lava deep underground. The lake can only be reached by a trek that takes about 6 hours return. It's not an easy trek, but very rewarding with lush rainforest, amazing views over the natonal park, steamy mini geysors, and, of course, the second largest boiling lake in the world (the largest is in New Zealand). The trek goes through a lot of elevation and though there are steps of wooden beams, it can get very muddy and slippery. Some parts need to be scrambled (with hands and feet), creeks need to be crossed several times, and the last section up to the crater rim can be hard to find unless you have a guide or have downloaded a gpx file to your gps device. The trek should not be started after 11 am and begins at Titou Gorge.
Chaudiere Pool is a deep swimable hole below a small waterfall hidden in the jungle. Locals will assure you that's OK to dive in form the surrounding cliffs. Chaudiere is sometimes referred to as the "Emerald Pool of the north", though the two pools are very different. At Chaudiere it's all natural, no entrance ticket, no boardwalks, no rails, just the river, cliffs and the rainforest. With a 4x4 you can drive as close as 10-minute-hike from the pool. Ask for direction when getting to the village of Bense.
Dominica is blessed with several amazing waterfalls. The waterfall at Emerald Pool is among the most beautiful ones. The water cascade gentle over the top of a grotto into a cool crisp natural pool, which is perfect for a refreshing dip on a hot day. To get to it, you need to follow a trail for about 10 minutes through the lush rainforest in Morne Trois Pitons National Park, an UNESCO World Heritage site itself. If you're unlucky with the timing, you might have to share the pool with a busload of cruise tourists.
Probably the most stunning waterfalls on Dominica. Trafalgar Falls consist of two separate waterfalls cascading down a 60 m high sheer rock face covered in jungle. There is a viewing platform, which is easy accessible, from where both waterfalls can be seen. If you want to get up close, you need to climb the big slippery boulders at the bottom. The lower and more gentle waterfall of the two, the one to the right, has a deep pool at the base which is nice for a chilled dip. As a bonus, there is a creek and several natural jungle pools of hot spring water below the platform, which are perfect for a soak.
Lago Azul is a small, but rather deep, natural swimming hole below a limestone cliff. The water is chilled and insane crystal clear. The lake is private own, so there is a small admission fee. During the weekend, the lake is a popular spot for picnicking families, but during the weekdays you can get it to yourself.