Pirates of the Carribean aside, the island of Dominica is wonderful place to visit for those who are looking for some relaxing time in an unspolit natural jungle setting.
Enter The 3 Rivers , a small award winning, Green Globe certified eco lodge in the eastern part of the island. Owned and operated by Brit Jem Winston (who first came to the island in 1990 looking for a place just like the 3 Rivers), the small hotel and campsite is no ordinary commercial enterprise, but an ecological project which enables humans and nature to live in harmony.
” In keeping with this goal, every aspect of the project has the environment in mind. We espouse a sustainable lifestyle, minimizing our use of all resources, and monitoring all systems. We currently use the sun for much of our electricity, for pumping our water from the river, and for heating our hot water. We also have a microhydro electricity system to supplement our solar power on our main property we use a wind turbine to power our forest accommodations, and run our truck on used cooking oil. We compost all kitchen and garden waste, and use that compost to help us grow as much organic food as we can. We try to minimise our water consumption, grey water goes through grease traps to be used in the garden, and our campers use dry toilets. Whenever possible, we try to avoid purchasing packaged goods, shop locally, recycle and use biodegradable products, and we try to keep our waste products to a minimum.”
Guests at the 3 Rivers have the choice of staying in some pretty interesting accomodation, my favourites being the Bamboo Tree House and Carib Indian Jungle Cabins which are deep in the heart of the surrounding jungle.
If “getting away from it all” is what the doctor ordered, look no further than these secluded abodes which will make you feel like Tarzan (or Jane). Fear not, these jungle homes have electricity, albeit in the simple form of a light powered by the hotel’s wind turbine, and water is supplied to the communal kitchen and shower through the use of collected rainwater.
Carib Indians actually helped the owner of the hotel build these cabins, which are in the rainforest directly behind 3 Rivers. To reach the cabin you need to make it through a steep 15 minute hike up a trail, but when you reach it, the feeling of being inside a real rainforest is exhilarating. The cabins are simply furnished with a traditional Carib log double bed (hammocks can be added for an extra persons) and the only additional western comforts are a mattress and a mosquito net.
Even more remote is the Bamboo Tree House which is perched fifteen feet above the ground, high in the trees in the forest at the back of 3 Rivers. Self-contained cottages set-back within organic gardens and complete with solar powered hot showers are also available, and there is even one with an ocean view.
Its a remote corner of the world and the ideal place for the solitude-seeker. The hotel does however offer a member of their staff to visit you when you need it, and to show you how to live in the jungle.
The Bamboo Tree House sleeps up to 3 people $66/night or $396/week
[tags]backpacking Dominica, budget travel, eco-travel, treehouses[/tags]
