Fodor's Expert Review Morne Trois Pitons National Park

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this 17,000-acre swath of lush, mountainous land in the south-central interior (covering 9% of Dominica) is the island's crown jewel. Named after one of the highest (4,600 feet) mountains on the island, the park contains the island's famous Boiling Lake, majestic waterfalls, and cool mountain rivers and lakes. (Dominica claims 365 rivers and an equal number of waterfalls, and many are within the national park.)

There are four types of vegetation zones in the park. Ferns grow 30 feet tall, wild orchids sprout from trees, sunlight leaks through green canopies, and a gentle mist rises over the jungle floor. A system of trails has been developed in the park, and the Forestry Division works hard to maintain them—with no help from the excessive rainfall and the profusion of vegetation that seems to grow right before your eyes. Access to the park is possible from most points, though the easiest approaches are via the small mountaintop villages of Laudat (pronounced lau-DAH) and Cochrane.

About 5 miles (8 km) out of Roseau, the Wotten Waven Road branches off toward Sulphur Springs, where you can see the belching, sputtering, and gurgling releases of volcanic hot springs. And at the base of Morne Micotrin, you'll find two crater lakes: The first, Freshwater Lake, is 2,500 feet above sea level; according to a local legend, it's haunted by a vindictive mermaid and a monstrous serpent. Boeri Lake, farther on, is fringed with greenery, and purple hyacinths float on its surface.

On your way to Boiling Lake, you pass through the Valley of Desolation—a sight that definitely lives up to its name. Harsh sulfuric fumes have destroyed virtually all the vegetation in what must once have been a lush forested area. Small hot and cold streams with water of various colors (black, purple, red, orange) web the valley. Stay on the trail to avoid breaking through the crust that covers the hot lava. During this hike, you'll pass rivers where you can refresh yourself with a dip (a particular treat is a soak in a hot-water stream on the way back). At the beginning of the Valley of Desolation trail is the Titou Gorge, where you can swim in the pool or relax in the hot-water springs along one side. If you're a strong swimmer, you can head up the gorge to a cave (it's about a five-minute swim) that has a magnificent waterfall; a crack in the cave about 50 feet above permits a stream of sunlight to penetrate the cavern.

The national park also contains some of the island's most spectacular cataracts, including Sari Sari Falls, accessible through the east-coast village of La Plaine. The 45-minute hike to them can be hair-raising, but the sight of water cascading some 150 feet into a large pool is awesome. So large are these falls that you feel the spray from hundreds of yards away. Just beyond the village of Trafalgar and up a short hill is the reception facility, where you can purchase passes to the national park and find guides to take you on a trek through the rain forest to the twin Trafalgar Falls; the 125-foot-high waterfall (hot water, because it emanates from hot springs) is called the Father, and the wider, 95-foot-high one (cold water, because it flows from a river), the Mother. If you like a little challenge, let your guide take you to the riverbed and the cool pool at the base of the falls. (Check whether there's a cruise ship in port before setting out; this sight is popular with the tour operators.)

You'll need a guide for the arduous 75-minute hike to Middleham Falls. It's best if you start at Laudat (the turnoff for the trailhead is just before the village); the trip is much longer from Cochrane Village. The trail takes you to another spectacular waterfall, where water cascades 100 feet over boulders and vegetation and then into an ice-cold pool (a swim here is absolutely exhilarating). Guides for these hikes are available at the trailheads; still, it's best to arrange a tour before setting out.