Portsmouth · Dominica

Indian River

River Half day difficulty: Easy with kids: yes

A wide, calm river near Portsmouth that you travel by rowing boat —no motor, so as not to scare the wildlife— through tunnels of giant white-mangrove roots. Shade, herons, crabs and iguanas, and the calm of moving forward with only the splash of the oar.

The pop wink

In Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Tia Dalma's (Calypso's) hut was built on the bank of this river. The boat enters the very swamp where the sea witch lived.

With kids

Find the bank where Tia Dalma's hut once stood
Spot crabs, iguanas and herons among the roots
Listen to the silence: the boat runs with no motor, only oars
Dip your hand in the cool water beneath the mangroves

Accessibility: All ages; a gentle, shaded boat ride with no physical effort

With family

Hire a local guide who rows and tells the river's story
Carry on to the jungle bar at the end of the route
Go early for more birds and less heat
Pair it with a beach afternoon in Portsmouth

Full listing, routes and recommendations at Mi País — Indian River. ← All destinations