Portsmouth is the second city of Dominica and a must visit when touring the island. I’m proposing four places to visit in just one day, all within walking distance. Get ready for a day of culture, nature and chilling at the beach, because Portsmouth has it all.
Fort Shirley
Fort Shirley is a renovated fort on a hill in the North of Portsmouth and has been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage since 1986. Both the British and French armies used the fort to defend the island during the 18th and 19th century.
Fort Shirley is situated within Cabrits National Park, which requires a Single (5 US dollar) or Week Park Pass (12 US dollar).
Cabrits National Park
What was once an active volcano is now Cabrits National Park on a peninsula in the North of Portsmouth. The park is rather small and consists of tropical forests and two peaks called East and West Cabrits.
Fort Shirley is situated within Cabrits National Park, which also has a few hiking trails.
Purple Turtle Beach
You’ll come across Purple Turtle Beach when you walk from Cabrits National Park to the center of Portsmouth. The three kilometer long beach is covered with golden sand, which makes a great opportunity to take a rest and dip into the crystal clear water of the Caribbean Sea.
Several cabins provide food and drinks and it’s also possible to rent gear for snorkeling and water sports.
Be careful not to step onto the turtle eggs during breeding season.
Indian River
The Portsmouth Indian River is the deepest river on Dominica and flows directly South of the city center. The scenery along the river is beautiful and some of the scenes of Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed at the Indian River.
Locals organize boat tours for 50 EC dollar (16 euro/18,5 US dollar) per person and you’re also required to buy a Single (5 US dollar) or Week Park Pass (12 US dollar).
My YouTube channel
Watch the video about Portsmouth on my Youtube channel.
