The Boiling Lake

Details & Itinerary

Hiking to the world’s second-largest boiling lake is one of the best experiences in Dominica, but it’s also one of the most demanding hikes on the island.

To get to the lake takes about 3.5-4 hours each way. The trail leads through lush rainforest, along a mountain ridge, up a mountain peak and down into the Valley of Desolation before finally reaching the Boiling lake – so hot you can boil an egg.

A must on this hike is to take a dip in the warm, sulphur waterfall pools found along the way.

One of the highlights of the day is to swim up the Titou Gorge which takes you to a hidden waterfall at the end. It is worth mentioning is a scene from Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed here.

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Periodically, there have been fluctuations in the level and activity of the lake. It was all but empty in June 2006, however, as of January 2011, the lake is full and boiling vigorously.

There is no road leading directly to the lake. It is approximately a 13-kilometre hike to the lake from the nearest road, passing sulfur springs, over mountains and through gorges along the way.

On July 6, 2007, adventure-film maker George Kourounis became the first person to ever cross the boiling lake from above, suspended by ropes over the most violently boiling section. This event was filmed for the TV series Angry Planet.

Dominica’s Boiling Lake is the second-largest hot spring in the world. The largest is Frying Pan Lake, located in Waimangu Valley near Rotorua, New Zealand.