TRAVEL continued
foliage. Almost cave like, the canyon stream ends at a cascading waterfall with rock outcroppings where you can sit and view the scenery before swimming back downstream. The tour continues down the mountain, where a short path from the parking lot takes you to the viewing platform of Trafalgar Falls to observe the towering twin waterfalls gushing down through the thick rainforest greenery. If you are nimble enough to scramble through boulders, you can continue from the lookout station and visit the base of the waterfalls for a quick dip in one of the natural pools. The water from the tallest falls on the left originates from Titou Gorge where you were earlier. Since you already have your swimsuit, your tour can finish with a soaking dip in one of the hot mineral baths like at Ti Kwen Glo Cho Hot Springs. For a full-day excursion, a popular trip from Roseau is to go up the coast road to the outskirts of Portsmouth and take a jungle cruise rowboat ride up the Indian River where the guide narrates about the local wildlife and foliage while slowly rowing the boat. The mangrove-lined stream has many white land crabs and iguanas living among the roots trailing into the water. For bird watchers, you might get a glimpse of the sisserou parrot (national bird of Dominica and pictured on the country’s flag) or the jaco (red-necked) parrot with both only being found in Dominica. Before turning around to return to the coast, the river cruise stops at a jungle bar for some refreshments and a chance to stroll along a short nature trail. On the return journey the guide will cut down a short tributary so that you can visit another movie scene where the pirates row up to the voodoo priestess’ jungle hut in the POTC Dead Man’s Chest film and left as a tourist attraction. If time allows after the river cruise, go through Portsmouth and visit Fort Shirley that was built by the British in the 1770s to defend the harbor from French at- tacks. Getting to Dominica The island used to be “off the beaten track” and only accessible with local flights and ferries from other Caribbean islands, but now American Airlines (via Miami) and United Airlines (via Newark) have direct flights to Dominica. International flights arrive into Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM) which was formerly called Melville Hall and is located on a flat stretch of coastal land on the northeast tip of the island. To get to the capital of Roseau from the airport, a transit van must travel ap- proximately 38 miles through scenic winding mountainous roads for about an hour of travel time. To enter Dominica, travelers must first fill out an online im- migration and customs form called a “Landing Card” that can
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