The Rain Forest of Dominica | Morne Trois Pitons National Park

Thanks to its steep terrain and abundant rainfall — about 40 inches a year — more than a dozen significant waterfalls lace Dominica’s jungle-clad mountainsides. Many are located in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park in the southeast of the island.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the 17,000-acre preserve also contains well-known Boiling Lake, the second-largest hot spring lake in the world. Energetic hikers opt for a 75-minute trek through the rain forest to impressive Middleham Falls. Alternatively, you can take an undemanding stroll to the double cascade of Trafalgar Falls: the “Father,” at 125 feet, and the “Mother,” at 95 feet. The falls are reached from the visitor center by a 15-minute walk on well-maintained trails to a viewing platform. We were rewarded along the way with sightings of several hummingbird species.

This article appeared in the November 2014 print edition of Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report under the headline “Sightseeing: Rain Forest Splendors.”