I’ve all the time had a little bit of a rebellious journey streak, defying the recommendation of the favored 1994 TLC music and chasing waterfalls across the globe. Maybe impressed by childhood journeys to Niagara Falls and Yosemite Falls, I’ve by no means hesitated to go the space to witness the roaring energy of pure cascades, even touring to Zimbabwe for Victoria Falls and to each Brazil and Argentina for Iguazú Falls.

Having witnessed so most of the greats—of all sizes, shapes, and flows—I grew to become considerably jaded to waterfalls. That’s, till I visited the Caribbean island nation of Dominica a number of weeks again.

As quickly as I arrived to Nature Island—which earned its moniker for its lush terrain crammed with verdant rainforests, mountains, and gorgeous shorelines—all of the gregariously welcoming locals requested me if I’d been to Trafalgar Falls. There was a way of delight once they talked about the waterfalls, and my curiosity grew deeper. 

Whereas many waterfalls have names which can be plural as a result of they’re made up of smaller cascades, I discovered that what made this one so distinctive is that it was really a pair of dual falls, tucked inside Morne Trois Pitons National Park. A 17,297-acre UNESCO World Heritage Web site since 1997, the park’s “luxuriant pure tropical forest blends with scenic volcanic options of nice scientific curiosity,” based on UNESCO. With steep valleys, fumaroles, lakes, and volcanos, the bizarre mixture made it a somewhat distinct backdrop that this waterfall chaser couldn’t resist. 

Positioned a couple of 20-minute drive from the capital of Roseau, the slim highway twisted and turned earlier than reaching the modest guests’ heart. From there, a pathway by way of the rainforest served because the opening act, drawing me deeper into the trenches of the valley hugged by the mountain peaks on all sides.

Simply 10 minutes into the stroll, I used to be shocked to listen to the light roar of the falls. Certain sufficient, simply steps later, I used to be on a wood platform, in awe of the sight in entrance of me.

The 2 falls appeared concurrently, nearly as if that they had choreographed their look, positioned on their stage back-to-back. The taller 125-foot one sat on the left and is known as Mom, whereas the 75-foot smaller (however stronger) one on the appropriate is known as Father. (Many individuals reverse the nicknames, going purely by top, based on Discover Dominica.)

With a daring granite stone between them, they appeared like two sides of a coin, so I used to be particularly surprised to study that they really come from two completely different sources, with the Father Falls sourced by Freshwater Lake, whose waters movement by way of Ti-Tou Gorge. In the meantime, the Mom Falls’ water really comes from the Breakfast River. That actual fact made them much more spectacular: it was an act of Mom Nature’s happenstance that joined them at this level. (Certain I had seen a number of falls earlier than, however simply imagining how two fully separate sources led to the identical spot and occurred to create the mesmerizing sight was mind-boggling.)

As I peered on the falls, I noticed there was really one other pair of falls inside them, like one other era of child twin falls, inside the decrease cascades on the left.

For the adventurously spirited, there’s a scorching springs pool inside the Mom Falls the place we noticed a pair of vacationers climbing the rock scramble. The Dominican government’s forestry, wildlife, and parks division says that whereas the 0.12-mile stroll to the viewing platform is simple to average, the one all the way down to the bottom of the falls is tough and that “a tour information is very really useful for accessing past viewing platform.”

On this wet day with slippery rocks, I opted to remain and benefit from the view of the pair collectively within the heat of the thermal warmth, because of the 5 volcanos within the nationwide park.

On my approach again down, I handed the small village of Trafalgar, after which the falls are named, earlier than stopping at Ti Kwen Glo Cho in Wotten Waven to soak in its pure scorching springs swimming pools. Attending to expertise the nice and cozy waters of the world whereas additionally sitting proper within the rainforest amongst native households actually felt like I used to be putting one of the best of each worlds. 

Trafalgar Falls is positioned about 5 miles east of Dominica’s capital of Roseau, accessible by way of Trafalgar or Wotten Waven, and has a $5 admission fee for non-residents, payable on web site.