Canyoning in the Caribbean, diving into the Dominica adventure playground

PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VISIT DOMINICA

Thirty feet below in a dark pool of refreshing water, Berani’s voice echoed through the canyon as he counted me down: ‘3, 2, 1, jump!’ I didn’t flinch, my legs glued to the moss-covered rock edge I was peering over, the only disturbance a bright orange land crab scuttling by my foot.

Come to the Caribbean, I thought. Relax on the beaches, I thought. Have a rum punch, I thought. But no, Dominica had other ideas for me, the first being throwing myself off this canyon edge into the cyan waters, now beautifully illuminated by the sun.

‘No cocktails, no lying on the beach here, no-no. Strap your boots on and go dive in some pools’ Marvin, our hiking guide yesterday hadn’t been lying.

I shut my eyes, screamed a profanity into the dark stone of the canyon around me, and leapt off the edge, crashing into the perfectly fresh and refreshing water below. OH YEAH, this island nation was something special.

Just remember not to use the c-word here, Dominicans don’t like to call their waters cold, they prefer to call them refreshing. And perhaps the most refreshing start to a day is to throw yourself, quite literally, into them.

While I was way too busy having fun to get many photos, I hope this video will give you a quick overview and a huge shoutout to my adventure blogger pal Macca for some of the images/video clips!

It’s no secret that I fell in love with Dominica, and it quickly became one of my top island vacation suggestions for those who want a little more than sandy feet and cocktails by the beach. While I enjoyed my R&R time in both Antigua and Aruba, this Caribbean island felt completely different.

Dominica is packed with some of mother-natures most exceptional work, and the impressive canyons and water pools are a prime example. I’m not going to lie, I was pretty nervous about going Canyoning in the Caribbean for the first, or anywhere in the world in fact, but the team at Extreme Dominica looked after me well.

Dominica isn’t the only place to go Canyoning in the Caribbean; you can do so in the Dominican Republic (which to clear up straight away, is a different country) as well as a couple of nearby islands. But given Dominica is affectionately known as the nature island, you know you won’t be disappointed with the experience here. It’s just one of many amazing things to do in Dominica that you can read about on my full Dominica travel guide.

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The Canyon and Rappel tours run by the team here, of which we had Berani and Benny as our guides, are suitable for a vast array of ages.

From seven-year-olds to those in their eighties, Benny told me of the countless people who have thrown, jumped, and bathed in these Canyons, one of the filming spots for Pirates of the Caribbean.

In 2017, the deadly Hurricane Maria tore through Dominica, leaving destruction in its path. Maria cleared the canopy covering the gorge, which allowed sunlight throw and is why the rocky walls are now a moss-covered green.

The setting couldn’t have been any more perfect for my first Canyoning experience. We started our half-day tour getting kitted out and some essential training, before driving to the starting point near Ti Tou Gorge.

Ti Tou Gorge is an excellent spot for those who don’t want the full Canyoning experience. Here you can enter into the refreshing waters, and swim for about five minutes through the gorge until you reach a small waterfall. No equipment, except perhaps a life jacket, is required for this short stretch.

For those wanting a little more adrenaline though, this half-day tour was an ideal introduction. Dominica has no shortage of rivers, waterfalls and gorges though, so those who seek a more advanced option will be served with full-day options and huge waterfall rappels.

Although I had been pretty reluctant on my first jump, by the time the final zip-line was set up, I was gutted that this awesome day was coming to an end. It indeed was an exhilarating and beautiful experience.

As I’ve mentioned on my Dominica Travel Guide, I visited in the off-season, so no cruise ships were coming in to dock. Without the ships, the island is far quieter and more comfortable to enjoy. If you are visiting Dominica on a cruise ship though, this is one of the most exciting Dominica cruise day-trip activities you can do on the island, and you’ll be picked up straight from the port.

Would I recommend Canyoning in the Caribbean, absolutely. If you love adventure, nature and an unspoilt slice of paradise, Dominica is calling your name!

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Other adventure activities in Dominica

Dominica isn’t an island to shy away from adventure activities though, and if you want an adrenaline buzz, or just some outside sports, there is plenty more to keep you entertained.

Scuba diving is epic in the Caribbean, thanks to the good visability, shipwrecks and warm waters. Dominica is no expcetion and there are a few different dive outlets here that can get you out in the water. Read more about scuba diving in Dominica.

Epic Hiking through rainforests and to incredible waterfalls. Trafalgar Falls, that beauty above, is just around an hours hike that starts near Ti Tou Gorge, so it’s a great one to add on. For super experienced Canyoning fans, you can rappel down it too.

Watching Sperm Whales is a more relaxed, but super epic activity to do in Dominica as the country has a resident population so sightings are pretty much guaranteed. Read more about watching sperm whales in the Carribbean.

The Boiling Lake is one of the most challenging hikes in the country, and I heard various quotes on hiking length from 4 to 6 hours. At the end though, you’ll be rewarded with one of a few boiling lakes on this side of the world, some 200+ feet long!

Swiming in the Emerald Pool is one of the most popular, if not exactly an adventure activity on the island. Well worth it for the views and relaxation! Read more about how to visit the Dominica Emerald Pool.

The Waitukubuli Trail links up Dominica’s hiking and walking trails and spans the country, taking about two weeks to complete all the stages.

*My visit to Dominica was in partnership with Discover Dominica, and you can find more awesome reasons to visit on their website. As always, opinions are my own, and I legit cried on the way to the airport to leave – it has been a while since a new country did that to me!