Boiling Lake

YOU DO NOT NEED A GUIDE FOR THIS HIKE - and here’s why (with caveats). You may be told you need a guide for the hike to Boiling Lake: to find and follow the trail, or for reasons of safety, or because it’s compulsory. None of these is valid - and with the price running at c. $75 per person even in a group, it’s worth making an informed decision. The trail is very easy to follow. It is a single track through forest for the majority of the way, with literally no opportunity to turn off the route at all. There is a short section through the Valley of Desolation that requires you to use your eyes to follow the trail but as long as at least one of them works, you cannot get lost. That’s not to say it’s an easy trail to walk, as there are a fair few ups and downs and perhaps 60m total of potential scrambling, but it’s certainly dead easy to follow. You do not need a guide to find and follow the trail. It is also a safe trail. There are some scare stores about distinguishing between scalding or cool streams or pools - but the hot ones have giveaways such as steaming or indeed feeling warm. If you use your common sense, and wear stout boots, you’ll be absolutely fine. It is also worth considering whether the guides could do much for your safety anyway - given none of them carry rucksacks, they clearly don’t carry medical kits, and I seriously doubt any of them are trained first aiders. You do not need a guide to be safe on this trail as long as you take your own common-sense precautions: wear boots, take wet weather gear, carry water and snacks, perhaps take a hiking pole, take a med kit, download the AllTrails map beforehand and have a look at it to plan segments and timings, let people know where you are going. If you are used to hiking in the much bigger, much more dangerous, and much more serious mountainous conditions of Europe or North America, you’ll be absolutely fine. At the time of writing, it is absolutely not compulsory or ‘the law’ to take a guide. Nor are there plans to make it so. The guides will tell you this, but ask yourself: if it’s the law, how come the guides are unlicensed? How come the officials who check your site permits at the entrance don’t ask whether you have a guide? How come the official websites and tourist office don’t agree with them? And why would it be compulsory for this one hike but not for any others on the whole island (including the much more challenging Waitukubuli Trail)? It is not compulsory to take a guide. All that said, you may still want to take a guide, to show you interesting things, answer questions, and explain the geology and nature to you. There is absolutely merit in this. But it should be an informed choice made for your own reasons. That said - great hike and well-worth doing. Stunning scenery and fascinating geological points of interest.

I did the hike on Nov 4 2024. Was the most amazing hike ever. Took us 7 hours to complete. I went with the best Tour Guide. His name was Peter (Bushman Tours). He made me take a lot of pictures/videos, and he also knows a lot about plants. He charged me $120ec. It was tough. Started to had cramps in my legs in my way back. But it was worthy. There are plenty of beautiful plants on the road. Beautiful fresh rivers in the beginning and then hot rivers the closer you get.

A tough but epic hike! I did it solo, but I’d recommend a guide unless you’re confident in your survival skills. The first half is super muddy but manageable, while the second half is steep, slippery, and demanding—proper hiking shoes are a must! 🥾 Nike sneakers won’t cut it—your feet will be soaked within a kilometer. Took me 3hrs 5mins for 10km (996 HM) in one direction and starting below Trafalgar Falls. No internet connection about halfway to the lake, so if you twist an ankle, you won’t be able to call for help. A local guide told me that hiring a guide may soon be mandatory, so if you want to experience this wild beauty with fewer tourists, now’s the time—before the cable car arrives! 🚠 Other than that, the place is breathtaking! Safety first!

Boiling Lake on the island of Dominica is a place well worth visiting. The hike to it is an experience in itself, but it’s physically demanding, with steep elevations, and the return trip can be exhausting. It’s important to consider your fitness level before setting out. I chose to go with a local guide, and I recommend it to others – not only for safety reasons but also for the interesting insights about the area and to support the local community. If you enjoy adventure, Boiling Lake won’t disappoint. The view of the lake and the surrounding nature is definitely worth the effort!

I’ve hiked all over the world and this was my favorite ever! We arrived at 7am and reached the lake at 10. We stopped to have brunch at the lake and then stopped in a hot pool with a waterfall on the way back. Best bath/shower combo ever! The wild orchids and dense plants were full of color. The Island of Dominica is so clean, I did not need to pack water there are delicious fresh water rivers and streams all over. We reached the exit at 12:30pm and then swam up the Titou Gorge. I cannot stress enough that you MUST swim up this gorge. It is a long channel with high walls. When you reach the powerful waterfall at the end (you swim right up to it) the sunshine filter through gorgeous vines and flowers dripping down from the high sculpted smooth cliff walls. All of this & the hike is free. Free life jackets are provided. I recommend going with a guide as the boiling water can be dangerous. Nigel George of Calibishie took me and he was full of knowledge about the plants and island. He was also a lot of fun. His rates were quite low.

This is one of the toughest hikes I've ever done...but so worth it! There is a lot of up and down! I can't emphasize this enough! You will get wet and muddy, so wear something you don't mind ruining- I still haven't gotten all of the mud out of my leggings. It was a rainy, windy day when we did it and I was so glad to have a hiking stick. It's not just hiking, you will be using your arms too(see pics). We hiked with local guide Chadi Symes (IG @chadi.767treks)and he was terrific!! Not only is he so much fun, but also very knowledgeable about the flora & fauna of the island.

I am so glad I did this hike. I was hesitant after reading some of the alltrails reviews, but it was so rewarding and every bit worth it. Although very challenging, there was always a reprieve of a flat section or downhill. We went with a guide, Chadi, and had an incredible adventure. Our group had a variety of age groups (25-75) and Chadi helped set the pace. It took us 7 hours, including a few stops to boil eggs and eat lunch at the lake. We realized the only pictures we have together from our trip to Dominica are the ones Chadi took, so we really appreciate him! You can message him on Instagram to see what days he's going (@chadi.767treks)!

One of the best hikes ever. Our guide from Dominica extreme, Berani, made it such a fantastic experience for us. Smart, funny, open and super helpfull (i suddenly got knee pain during the hike and 5 seconds later Berani fixed me a walking Stick which helped a Lot). Would definitly reckommend to do hiking or canyoning with the crew from dominica extreme. 5 Star Service.