You don’t have to wait for the end of the year to take a vacation. Better yet -you don’t even have to wait for the weekend! Sometimes, a little midweek break is all you need to reset your internal clocks and start over, feeling fresh again.
A (new) friend of mine visited Dominica for the first time. She had never been to the Caribbean, so Dominica tourism was going to be her first taste of Caribbean life! Despite the fact that we are (all) very busy people, we knew that we had to find a way to help Dominica, in her heart, leave a mark. Brainstorming on my favorite things to do in Dominica that I have enjoyed over the years on the nature isle, in less than 72 hours, we came up with a solid 1-day itinerary to give her an exhilarating experience of the island. On that day, we headed North to spend an exciting, dynamic and memorable afternoon in Portsmouth!
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PS: this itinerary is for you if you:
- Work 24/7, 7 days a week, and get the occasional day off
- Need a day-break or mid-week escape from everything and want to feel renewed and rejuvenated in nature
- Want to do more day-time trips in Dominica, but don’t want to overthink about things to do in Dominica when you have less than 24 hours
- Have a friend coming over and are wondering what they can do/explore in Dominica in a short space of time.
Our official tour guide for this adventure was Mr Dorival, commonly known as Shy Guy Tours! Prominent and sensational tour guide, he is one of the best in Dominica. His genuine energy makes you want to do more, see more, and learn more about things to do in Dominica. And before your tour is over, his passion for the nature isle would have infused in you the subconscious desire to want to visit Dominica again… one more time.
And before you dive in, remember that…
You don’t have to wait for the end of the year to take a vacation. Better yet -you don’t even have to wait for the weekend! Sometimes, a little midweek break is all you need to reset your internal clocks and start over, feeling fresh again.
Live more. Turn simple moments into magic.
Here’s how we did it!
First things first…
Drinks on the way!
Whenever you are driving up to the north side of the island, you will see a few bars on the way, and you have to make a stop! Pick up a rum punch or a virgin drink, it’s really up to you. But make a stop, take a picture, or take a shot! And that, the girls did.
In no time, they made it to Portsmouth and we started our Dominica tourism adventure with…
The Indian River Tour, Dominica
The Indian river tour is one of the river boat tours that every visitor needs to do when they travel to Dominica. Like many rivers you will encounter during your Caribbean vacation, the Indian river in Dominica has a peculiar history. It was one of the routes that the west Indians living on the island used in the past to move from one point to the other, for different purposes such as commerce and trade. Beyond being functional, the Indian river is an amazingly beautiful site to visit in Dominica, especially during the day.
Surrounded by native fauna that pave the way to the river, from the onboarding jetty, you feel purposefully isolated and nestled in the island’s nature. While relaxing on your boat ride, admire the interwoven roots of the bwa mang trees (Pterocarpus officinalis), planted in the area centuries ago to provide natural shade. The Indian river in Dominica was also one of the videoshoot sites for the internationally acclaimed movie series “Pirates of the Caribbean”. So, when you row around there, you’re rowing, you’re not just rowing into nature but also, into history.
Prefer video content? Watch the full vlog of this experience now!
On board our fancy little boat, we made unique memories like rescuing a fish trapped within a fisherman’s net, practicing the tagline of our designated tour guide (over and over again until we eventually got it right: Shy Guy Tours!), taking candid influencer-like photos for our 5 minutes of intimate fame, and singing Hakuna Matata (in choral parts) because truly, we had no worry. It’s in the simplest moments that you realize that happiness truly hangs on to a thread and can be created (and re-created) in a single instant.
Whilst the Indian river boat tour is one of the top things to do in Dominica, it’s possible to also do a walking tour when you get to your terminus. Only 10 minutes from the popular Indian river bar, we took the short walking trail up to the other end. Canopied by the high-rising leaves of the grown trees that pave the trail, it felt like we were taken care of by nature, resting under its own protective shadow.
A wooden sit-down area interrupts the trail halfway, making it the ideal location for an intimate picnic, barbecue, or just… alone time.
But we had something else in mind: memorable influencer-like photos that we would probably share (individually) at some point, when we want to say something deep and reflective about the amazing life we get to live, everyday!
Clem’s top tips for your visit:
- Book your experience with a knowledgeable tour guide who can organize the boat ride for you. We trusted Shy Guy Tours, and were not disappointed!
- The boat ride is very slow, and there is close to zero chance of you getting sea-sick. However, you can walk with your sea-sickness medications.
- Bring your portable cameras along to take beautiful photos: the view is really mesmerizing, and you will blame yourself if you don’t!
- Bring along your shades and sunscreen (for added protection), especially if your skin is prone to sunburns.
- Whether you are planning to visit solo or in a group, book in advance.
- This activity is family friendly and kid friendly.
- Best time to go? Between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
Our next stop was the Cabrits National Park. Cabrits National park is one of the top things to do and places to see in Dominica, and you’ll soon find out why.
Prefer video content? Watch the full vlog of this experience now!
The Cabrits National Park, Dominica
Historically, the “Cabrits” region developed from a (now extinct) volcano which erupted and with time, connected the small peninsula with mainland Dominica. This has contributed to the impressive biodiverse universe of the region (mesmerizing coral reefs and marine fauna), and impressive earthly flora that you can observe and admire during your visit there. The Cabrits national park has two key highlights: Fort Shirley, and the surrounding 1,313 Natural Garden.
Fort Shirley
Built in 1765, Fort Shirley was constructed as a military outpost to protect the island from opposing invaders. The location was strategic: just like many other similar garrisons around the island (Morne Bruce, Scottshead, Fort Young), The Fort Shirley location gave the perfect panoramic view of the northern coastlines, making it easier to spot the opponent from afar. Conceptualized by British royal engineers (following the Georgian Architecture Style) and built by African slave labor, Fort Shirley was a powerful fortress comparable to other World Heritage UNESCO Sites in the Caribbean, such as El Morro Fortress in San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Ann’s Garrison in Bridgetown, Barbados and Brimstone Hill Fortress in St. Kitts.
When you get inside of Fort Shirley, you will notice two individual house-like structures with an orange roof: they used to serve as barracks (long buildings used to house military personnel and laborers). They were also sleeping grounds and storage units for food and living necessities. Back then, Fort Shirley could house more than 600 men (slaves and soldiers).
The fort also features 11 canons, spread across two locations – they worked both as fortification structures and war weapons.
Fort Shirley is also popularized as having been the place of revolt of the 8th West Indian regimen (slaves who became soldiers), who rebelled against their working conditions at the fort and refused to be sent to work in cane fields.
Cabrits National Park
The national park itself includes the marine national park (featuring coral reefs and marine fauna) and the forest that surrounds the fort. Because of the richness of the marine ecosystem, this region is a common snorkeling site for visitors from around the world. Walking around the forest surrounding the fort gives one a better appreciation of why Dominica is truly the nature isle of the Caribbean.
The Cabrits National Park is also the ending point of the Waitukubuli National trail, the 114 miles trail that spans across the entire island and takes hike lovers along the steps of the first inhabitants who used it to move across different regions of the island for trade, food, commerce and protection.
Finally, the name “cabrits” is derived from the french word “Cabri” which means (baby goat), as they were indigenous to the region. Cabrits were introduced to the northern side of the island by sailors who brought them there to feed on the grass, grow and eventually, serve as sources of meat.
So, a walk around Cabrits National Park is a journey back in history, and a promenade around the island’s greenest pastures.
Clem’s top tips for your visit:
- There is no entrance fee to visit the park for locals. However, these rules are subject to change, so I recommend walking with a $5-10 USD fee just in case.
- Go with a tour guide who is knowledgeable about the area – it makes your visit a lot more interesting and informative.
- You can also visit the park on your own (easy to walk around and access)
- From the entrance of the park, there is a 10 mns uphill walk to get to the top where you can see the forts and barracks. It’s beginner friendly, but will make you sweat. Go with comfortable (and cute) clothes.
- Exploring with a wheelchair? I would recommend driving up as the uphill walk is very likely to be challenging
- Exploring with kids? The park is kid-friendly.
After our throwback walk around history, we almost did not want to leave… but the sun was about to set. So, we stopped at the Roots Rock Bar and Grill for some local bush rum tasting, while watching the sunset.
Prefer video content? Watch the full vlog of this experience now!
Local Rum Tasting at Roots Rock Bar and Grill
This hot spot might have been around for a while, but that day was the first day it came on my radar. Shyguy tours recommended it as a quick stop to rest, relax and catch the sunset. And that, we did.
With one, or two locally made bush rum shots. Our time at Roots Rock Bar and Grill was short lived, but I definitely liked the vibes, the ambiance and the delectable smell of grilled lobster emanating from the kitchen while we were taking our booster rum shots! I’d definitely make a stop there very soon. And if we had stayed there longer, we would have definitely raided the kitchen. Luckily we didn’t need to because we had standing reservations at… The Steak House!
Dinner at the Steak House – Portsmouth, Dominica
Imagine being so busy eating the food that you forget to take photos! (You’re just going to have to watch the vlog for this one!)
Beautiful views, chill atmosphere and a succulent dinner were definitely at the rendezvous for us at The Steak House. A first for the 5 of us, dinner at the Steak House was undoubtedly a savory experience (for the mind and the taste buds), so much so that we took the time to chat with the owner and commend her on a job well done, after having been in existence for only 4 months. This restaurant easily made it on my top list of restaurants in Dominica. From the placing of our order ahead of time to the reminder call about our reservation to the service on site, I was utterly pleased and so were my friends, even Shy Guy! “This is the first time I ever ate fish stuffed with shrimp”, I jokingly told the owner, after having ravenously eaten everything from the servings I ordered. All the sauces were meticulously flavored, and the fish and meat, cooked with intention. We were so taken by how delicious everything was, that we didn’t even bother taking any pictures. Some experiences, you’ve just got to live them. But if you want to relive it with us, check out the vlog of this adventure that will be posted on my Youtube channel soon! (I did a special zoom on the food).
Clem’s top tips for your visit:
- Book your table in advance (at least 48 hours prior)
- Pre-order your food to avoid any delay and ensure that it’s close to ready when you arrive (at least 2-3 hours prior)
- Walk with cash (just in case the card machine doesn’t work – it happens!)
- Go with an empty tummy, because… it’s going to be filled!
- Their plantain fries are not sweet: when placing your order, specifically ask for sweet plantain fries. We were not aware of this, but they were kind enough to offer us new portions of sweet plantain fries. And that truly warmed my heart (and belly).
See? You can create magic in every single moment. You can take a day off the world to reconnect with your world from within. And you can definitely create daily adventures that can last a lifetime.
Want to see more amazing unique things to do in Dominica and around the world? Join my superfam here where I share seasonal adventures, when they happen!
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