Dominica, The Nature Island of the Carribbean, is endowed with countless spectacular waterfalls. However, many of them are hidden in deep gorges that are beautifully sculpted by nature. We learned that there was a way to explore them and explored them we did – thru canyoning!
A hybrid of hiking, rappeling, swimming, diving and climbing – canyoning was a new kind of adventure for us. It sounded unnerving at first but we were so happy we took the plunge and we got to explore and immerse in the hidden beauty and depths of Dominica.
(Please excuse the photo quality in this post. We cannot lag our big camera so we just used our small point and shoot with a crappy waterproof casing, which we don’t recommend for high action pack activity like this one.)
We signed up with Extreme Dominica, a professional outfitter for adventure activities. Our excellent guides, Jeffrey and Nanjie, geared us up with helmet, wetsuit, harness and safety jacket (we used our own watershoes) and provided us with training before the actual adventure.
We then drove to Laudat where we started our hike through lush rainforest to reach the gorges.
Wearing nervous smiles as we reached the mouth of the gorge.
Here we go! Keith all set to rappel on our first wall.
I think he was looking up at me and saying, “And just why did we sign up for this?”
Our first rappel was a bit slow and shaky but we got more comfortable in the succeeding ones.
Relieved after finishing rappel #1.
But our relief wore off quickly as we learned that our next move was – to jump from a waterfall! That was the nervous me about to take my first plunge. Our guides said “Don’t think, just do it.” And it worked.
There were three other couples in our group who were a lot of fun and really courageous. They kept us motivated.
The waterfall on our rappel #2.
Keith walking behind the waterfall with our guide Nahjie after his second rappel.
Relaxing behind the waterfall.
We rappelled from the upper fall and dove from the lower fall. Aren’t they beautiful? By the way, some scenes in “Pirates of the Caribbean” were shot around this area.
Our excellent and fun guide, Jeffrey, whose singing made us more relaxed.
Another rappel. We have lost count but we felt like pros (well, a little bit) at this point.
Looking back at another lovely waterfall where we rappelled from.
A member of our group about to make another dive. Nerves were subdued at this point and it was a complete fun.
Relaxing on crystal clear water while waiting for the rest of our group to finish the last round of rappelling. We were just happy that we were done with all the jumping and roping down.
But then we still had some climbing up to do.
Back at the jungle trail, we were delighted to find abundant fruits along the way…
…as well as some beautiful wildflowers.
Our canyoning trip was a great half-day of fun and a good way to conquer the nerves. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. Stay tuned for more of our adventures in Dominica.
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Travel Notes:
• We highly recommend Extreme Dominica for canyoning and hiking trips. We found their guides highly professional and well-trained and fun! Our safety was their priority. Extreme Dominica has been featured in National Geographic Traveler and New York Times.
• The cost includes the use of wet suit, harness, helmet and life vest. A snack is provided at the end of the trip.
You can now follow us on Facebook!
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Beautiful shots. This sure is awesome experience.
Rajesh recently posted..Yoganarasimha Temple, Devarayan Durga
Thanks Rajesh! It was truly awesome.
what an exciting life you lead! oh to be young and thin again is all i kept thinking… that looks like so much fun, i could never do it now, but i sure loved watching you have a total blast. fun fun fun, love how the world is your playground~
a quiet life recently posted..a beach diary 6-22 thru 6-27
Ha! Ha! Glad you enjoy our adventures. Nice to always see you here.
I don’t recall ever hearing of canyoning specifically. What a true adventure you two have had … the idea of going down a waterfall is fantastic. I love the “don’t think, just do it” advise.
Hi Penelope, canyoning is relatively a new kind of adventure. Going down the waterfalls and be be able to feel and taste them was definitely a lot more exhilarating that just looking at them. Thanks for the visit.
Fabulous pictures of your adventure.
Thank you, Lady Fi!
Wow! So much thrill and fun!! Would love to do it someday!!
magiceye recently posted..Ride the Konkan coast
It really is! We really hope you get to do it soon.
Wow! So much thrill and fun!! Would love to do it someday!!
magiceye recently posted..Ride the Konkan coast
Wow, this really looks like fun! My hubby would enjoy doing this. The scenery is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Eileen recently posted..River walk
Hi Eileen, I hope you and your hubby get to do it sometime soon. It truly is beautiful and a lot of fun.
Great post!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Boom & Gary recently posted..Wet Weather At The Vermilon River.
Thanks Book and Gary.
That looks like so much fun. What an experience. Not sure I would have the nerve to do it though.
Of course you can do it! Our guides told me there were so 75 year olds who did it!:)
This looks like an amazing adventure
Mollyxxx
Molly recently posted..Day 183 – Tunnel Vision
Hi Molly, it was indeed amazing.
Way to go! You guys are badasses! That’s something I would love to try some day, and I was really relieved to see that prior to setting out, you were given a full safety briefing and some training before you confronted the real deal! I’ve read of travelers who sign up for canyoning the first time and have no idea what to expect and are just tossed into it headfirst. This looks like fun, but also a bit dangerous, so having a professional, safety-oriented company looking after you seems critical!
Steph (@ 20 Years Hence) recently posted..Discovering the Quirky Side of Taipei
Hi Steph, you and Tony will enjoy it for sure. Although it was unnerving, we didn’t feel in any kind of danger. The guides were really cautious. They even checked the weather and currents before we started the trip.
This is amazing! The closest I’ve come is rock climbing at the gym, lol, but the gorgeous scenery of Dominica seems SO much more enjoyable!
Jess @UsedYorkCity recently posted..5 Free Things To Do In London, England
Hey Jess, the rock climbing at the gym is actually good practice for this one. It is amazing indeed and yes, scenery is stunning.
Omg! it’s really a memorable adventure tour! actions are fully daring and amazing. thanks for sharing your experience!
Those rates are pretty steep, but I guess the experience is very much worth it. I love extreme adventure activities like this, and if I were there, I’d probably take that on, forget the price. haha
Aleah | SolitaryWanderer.com recently posted..Things to Do in Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Hi Aleah, if you love extreme adventure you’ll definitely enjoy this. I guess canyoning is not a cheap adventure. I read it costs even more in New Zealand for a half-day trip. but you’re right, it’s so worth it.
Looks like a great adventure. That natural water pool is so inviting. If I go there, I know I would just stay in the water pool for hours 🙂
Salika Jay recently posted..Why Choose Dubai For Your Next Holiday?
Hi Salika, it was truly great! Oh, the natural pools with crystal clear water, we still dream about them:)
What an incredible experience! I’d be too terrified to do any of it but it looks incredible all the same!!
Lisa Goodmurphy recently posted..Tall Ships 1812 Tour
Hey Lisa, it may look terrifying but you can sure do it. It’s not as scary as it looks:)
You two! You always have such wonderful adventures to share with us all – it is like a surprise party to open your blog and see where you are and what you are doing! Great photos – what an experience.
Jackie Smith recently posted..Red, White and Blue Road Trip
Hi Jackie,
Ha! Ha! We’re so pleased that you enjoy our adventures.
I’m guessing this was the adventure you were hinting at before! It looks like loads of fun. It’s probably too adventurous for the missus but if I’m lucky maybe one day the kids will be into it. Great pics despite the camera limitations!
Average Traveller recently posted..Plastic Food at Kappabashi Market Tokyo
Hi Ryan, yes this was one of them. It was really a lot of fun and a great way to overcome whatever adventure fear you may have. I hope you get to do it one day with the family (including the misses:)
What a great trip!
Muza-chan recently posted..Japanese samurai armor, Kabuto
OMG…I’m exhausted! I’ve been through every jump and climb with you! There is no way I would do this but what a fabulous adventure to join in vicariously. What are we doing next!!
jenny@atasteoftravel recently posted..A.Ston.ishing Oysters in Croatia!
Hi Jenny, we’re glad you enjoyed the adventure. We’re going for a hike next. It’s strenuous but less terrifying than this one, we promise:)
You’re very brave! This looks and sounds like a lot of fun, Marisol.
The last time I did a cave tour, the guide said we could dive into the water. It was too dark for me to trust it but he and a few others on the tour did. They all said how refreshing the water was but they couldn’t get me to go in. I’m chicken, I guess.
Marcia recently posted..Newcastle Jamaica
Hi Marcia, yes it was lot of fun! Well, I can’t blame you for not going in to that water if it was too dark. I wouldn’t trust it myself.
wow, that looks amazing, jumping off a waterfall, now that’s a great adventure!
noel recently posted..Hamakua estate and garden – a photo tour
Hi Noel, it was a great adventure indeed!
What an adventure, and so rewarding. B.H. would love to do this trip. Liked you on facebook 🙂
budget jan recently posted..Exploring Lisbon on Foot
Hi Jan, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this adventure with B.H: I hope you guys get to do this trip.
Ooh, how exciting and fun! Bit of a wimp myself, but my daughters would love to do this. Dominica is beautiful. isn’t it?
Sophie recently posted..Cheetahs and other rescue animals at Inverdoorn
Hi Sophie, yes Dominica is stunning! I hope you can join your daughters in this adventure: It’s really a lot of fun and worth conquering your fear.
Those are incredible shots!
Thank you!
You are quite the adventure couple! Looks like lots of fun and an exciting experience, but I’m afraid the diving part doesn’t work for me. My loss! Enjoyed your adventure vicariously. 😉
Cathy Sweeney recently posted..Part of the Family in Portico di Romagna
HI Cathy, it was really a lot of fun and we’re glad you enjoyed it vicariously.
those rock pools look so beautiful! straight out of a movie
denise recently posted..So this is what Kyushu looks like
Hi Denise, those pool were spectacular indeed.
Kuddos for trying such a new adventure, Marisol! I can imagine your hesitation when you thought of whether signing up for that was the right decision or not. But we all know that some of the best things in life do not require our brain, only our guts. 🙂
Bama recently posted..Candi Gunung Kawi: A Shrouded Grandeur
Hi Bama,
Thanks! We feel quite happy we did it. It was a great experience but most of all, we were proud that we overcame our nerves:)
Amazing travels. Thanks for sharing them!
Our pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it.
I also went in New Zealand, and enjoyed it. I don’t know if I’d go again because the it is nerve racking too!
Sensibletraveler recently posted..Cheap Breakfast on the Las Vegas Strip
Well, if you ask us now we definitely would love to do it again. But ask us down the road after the excitement wears off and we get to thinking how crazy it was, we may feel the same way as you do 🙂
Wow! Brave of you guys to rappel down that sheer cliff!!! Must have been mighty satisfying after the event though 🙂
Madhu recently posted..Weekly Photo Challenge – Nostalgic
Hi Madhu, it was nerve-wrecking in the beginning but and yes, it felt rewarding in the end:)
That looks really amazing!! What an adventure! I’d love to try that one day! 🙂
Michelle recently posted..A birthday weekend in Luxumbourg
Hi Michelle, I really hope you get to do it one day. It’s really a lot of fun and we have no doubt that you will enjoy it.
This looks awesome! I’ve recently been canyoning and caving in New Zealand on two separate trips and that looks like a combination of the two! I would love to give this one a go!
Arianwen recently posted..Black Odyssey caving with the Legendary Blackwater Rafting Company
Holy guacamole! Love your adventure here! I’ve bought Dicapac housing for my DSLR but haven’t even used it much – it’s tedious lugging around and makes it difficult to operate the camera, much more in challenging conditions like the one you were in!
Dennis recently posted..Valparaiso
Hi Dennis, we really regret not buying a new underwater camera before the trip. We wanted a really good one but we didn’t have much time to research before the trip so we settled for a Dicapac casing for now.