Grand Fond
For hundreds of years, a plantation thrived on the shores of Rosalie Bay. Originally, there were slaves living here that worked the land, growing bananas, sugar cane, coconuts, and other island products, and when slavery was over, the kind plantation owner encouraged the people to establish a town on his land. It was called Rosalie and the ruins are still there. One hundred plus years goes by and the land changes hands to 2 South African gentlemen in a deal of conflicting historical record. The residents of Rosalie found themselves living on private land and were forced to abandon their ancestral homes. They moved up into the mountains to form the village of Grand Fond. This friendly, colorful, and inviting village is still thriving today and is an excellent visit for those interested in organic farming and agricultural production, as well as a rare glimpse into the simple natural daily life of these wonderful people. Highlights include the holistic gardens of Mr. George, Derniere Falls, and the Bamboo café where village leaders share the riches of the earth found all around you. All products here are local aside from a few beverages Western tourists may long for.
Activities in Grand Fond
• Derniere Falls Adventure Hike
• Chemin Letang Trail Adventure Hike
• Southeast Dominica Agrotourism Experience
Delice
Residents of Delice love to share their holistic ways. Vast medicinal gardens and special mineral waters are the star attractions along with, of course, a waterfall with which no destination in Dominica is not complete. The visitor can learn all about and experience herbal treatments, purchase herbal remedies, and rejuvenate the skin along with the soul in the healthful waters of the White River. Locals and other islanders come here to experience the properties of the river that are renowned throughout the Caribbean. The traveler will find a truly local atmosphere amongst a community proud of their organic farming tradition and traditional cassava bread production no longer found on the rest of the island.
Activities in Delices
• Victoria Falls/White River Adventure Hike
• Southeast Dominica Cultural Experience – Herbal Medicine, Rum & Bay Oil Distillery
Boetica:
This isolated location is brand new to tourism, just developed in the last two years with the assistance of the SETDC and Jungle Bay Resort and Spa, who continue to help out with things like trail maintenance. This remote fishing village is hiding three volcanic pools where sea waves bubble up to meet with warm sulfur springs for a unique and soothing experience that is only an easy hike out of reach. Here is where the semi-finals for the cultural groups of the island will take place. Boetica hosts the national traditional music and dance groups for a dance-off and also puts on some of the best shows during the annual Independence Day Celebrations. After the banana industry collapsed, the village branched out into more diversified agriculture and now grows it all, for export and local consumption: plantains; yucca, dasheen and other ‘provisions' , the bay leaf, pumpkins, and all the fresh vegetables you want. The provisions and vegetables are sold to the local hotels, creating a second-tier benefit from tourism dollars for this quaint community.
Activities in Boetica:
• Glasse Trail Adventure Hike
Petit Savane
Petit Savane is where the traditional arts, handi-craft and agriculture production, music and dance are just as alive today as ever. The West African and French influence shines prominent in this community. In Petit Savane, the visitor can see the faming of sugar cane and bay leaves, which are then distilled into rum and bay oil for both local use and export. This is the historic heart of rum distillation on the island with old facilities still standing. There are also numerous small rum operations all throughout the village where locals make their own special versions of rum, using molasses, fruits, and/or spices to create unique new brews. The village is also renown throughout the island for its tasty fish broth and stews.
Activities in Petit Savane
• Southeast Dominica Cultural Experience – Herbal Medicine, Rum & Bay Oil Distillery
La Plaine
La Plaine is the main village located on the South East coast. The village is situated on a wide, gently sloping outflow of an ancient pyroclastic flow from volcanoes in the Grand Soufriere Hills. Dramatic Sari Sari Falls is just one of the many Carib place names here, the orginal inhabitants of the island who are also known as the Kalingo. The Caribs called this area Koulirou but French explorers gave it the name ‘La Plaine' due to the wide area of unusually flat land on an otherwise steep island. The first road to La Plaine was not brought in until 1963, and prior access to the capital city, Roseau, was either by boat or on foot along the Chemin Lateng. La Plaine is the gateway to several of the islands most challenging and most rewarding waterfall hikes.
Activities in La Plaine
• Bolive Falls Adventure Hike
• Sari Sari Falls Adventure Hike
Read an article about people from La Plaine living in New Jersey that demonstrated how the beautiful sprit and values of Dominican persists, even in expatriates. http://www.thedominican.net/articles/hands.htm
River Cyrique
The village of Riviere Cyrique is literally at the end of the road, a road only built up in 1998. Before this time, locals wishing to continue on from Petit Savane to the White River had to travel either by footpath or boat. The dangerous bay at Secret Beach was used for boat landings for hundreds of years to transport agriculture products out of this traditional farming area and was also the primary means of transport of the residents. This isolated community is the gateway to some of the island's most spectacular scenery and is a must for every outdoor adventurer.
Activities in Riviere Cyrique
• Wavin Cyrique Adventure Hike
