Morne Trois Pitons and the Boiling Lake

Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the wild, volcanic heart of Dominica, aptly called the Nature Island of the Caribbean. This dramatic expanse of steaming rainforest, jagged peaks, rivers and fumaroles harbours one of the most extraordinary natural wonders in the world: the Boiling Lake, a vast, grey, bubbling cauldron of superheated water, the second-largest hot lake on earth. Reaching it is a strenuous, unforgettable trek through the aptly named Valley of Desolation, a surreal, sulphur-stained wasteland of steaming vents and hot springs, past waterfalls and the deep, warm Titou Gorge.

What you actually see

• The Boiling Lake - the vast, bubbling second-largest hot lake on earth.
• The Valley of Desolation - the surreal steaming volcanic wasteland.
• Titou Gorge - the deep, narrow gorge for swimming.
• The rainforest peaks - the jagged summits and lush jungle.

When to go

December to April, the drier season, for the best and safest hiking conditions, as the trails, especially to the Boiling Lake, become treacherously muddy and slippery in the rains; the Boiling Lake hike is a strenuous full-day trek requiring a guide. Even in the dry season, this is a rainforest, so rain is always possible.

Honest expectations

The Boiling Lake trek is a genuinely tough, full-day hike of some six hours or more each way over steep, muddy and sometimes hazardous terrain, requiring good fitness and a mandatory guide, so it is not for the casual walker; the park is raw wilderness rather than a manicured attraction. For the reward of one of the most extraordinary volcanic landscapes and hot lakes on earth, though, amid pristine rainforest, it is an unforgettable adventure and the crowning glory of the Nature Island.

Nearby

The capital Roseau, Trafalgar Falls and the hot springs are within reach.