I’m calling it: Wavine Cyrique is my favourite waterfall on Dominica – and that means some tough competition. Why would I pick this one above taller and arguably more impressive cascades like Middleham Falls or Victoria Falls?

Well, in this case, location is key: Wavine Cyrique falls freely down a sheer cliff into the waves of the Atlantic Ocean on a beautiful black sand beach backed by tropical palm trees. That said, reaching the falls is no easy feat, and I was glad to be decently fit and completely free of vertigo.

Read on for everything you need to know about hiking to Dominica’s most unusual waterfall.

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How to Get to Wavine Cyrique?

The trail to Wavine Cyrique starts to the east of the village Riviere Cyrique on Dominica’s southeastern coast. The village can easily be reached by foot from Rosalie or from the camps and lodges near the Clarke’s River.

If you’re travelling from Roseau, you can take a minibus from Kennedy Avenue near the Arawak Cultural Centre, going in the direction of Rosalie. Once you’re in Riviere Cyrique, you’ll have to take a signposted residential road east to the coast that branches off the main road in the northern part of the tiny village.

Do You Need a Guide for Wavine Cyrique?

I didn’t take one, but unless you’re absolutely confident in your abilities, this is a trail where I would recommend going with a guide. Getting to the waterfall involves a climb down parts of the rock face via ladders and ropes, and really is not for the faint-hearted.

You could ask about guides at your accommodation or ask Nicodemus, who lives in a wooden house near the trailhead, to tag along. If you decide to do it yourself, definitely tell someone where you plan to go and when you plan to return, just in case.

When to Visit Wavine Cyrique?

Because the trail to the falls is so adventurous, there’s no risk of running into huge amounts of cruise ship tourists, so I would say that you can go whenever you feel like it.

I went around 11am and was completely on my own, both during the hike and at the falls. Just make sure that you still have enough daylight left to make it back up again (it doesn’t take long, but it’s best not to rush).

How Long Does the Hike Take?

It took me about half an hour each way. Again, it’s not a long hike, just a challenging one. Also, you’re going to want to spend at least an hour at the waterfall and beautiful beach.

How Much Does It Cost?

Nothing at all – it’s one of many fantastic free attractions on the island.

Description of the Hike to Wavine Cyrique

The first part of the trail leads through the trees for about 10 to 15 minutes, and it’s a good idea to occasionally stop to enjoy the view of the sea in the east and to Morne Micotrin and Morne Trois Pitons mountains to the West.

Eventually, the trail leads to the top of a cliff – this is where the tricky section of the hike starts. In this section, you’ll have to climb down some very steep sections of earth and rock with the help of a series of ropes.

Sometimes, I actually found holding on to tree roots and branhes more helpful than the ropes. Just make sure that they are really strongly connected to the trees, if you decide to do the same! At one point, you’ll have to use a rope ladder to climb down a vertical section of rock. It’s a good idea to take your time and use the rope that is fixed beside the ladder to get safely to its bottom.

After that, the toughest part is over and the trail soon reaches the ocean, where you have to turn left and continue along the shore until you reach the waterfall at the northern end of the beach. The location is absolutely amazing with the sheer cliff to the left, the Atlantic Ocean to the right, palm trees at your back and the waterfall right in front of you.

The singular fly in the ointment is that you shouldn’t swim in the Ocean here, as there are some strong undercurrents. Still, it’s an awesome place to hang around for a while and let the beauty of the surroundings sink in, before starting on the adventurous return trip.

Other hikes in the vicinity

Victoria Falls, further south near Delices is the most impressive waterfall I came across on Dominica.

Also, make sure to check out my list of the 5 most beautiful waterfalls on Dominica, as well as The 5 Best Beaches on Dominica.