Dominica

Location: near Rosalie

Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge is situated directly adjacent to 3 Rivers Eco Lodge in a lush green valley, surrounded by nature and rivers, in unspoiled eastern Dominica. Located deep inside the rainforest, about a mile away from the main road, the Lodge is an extremely quiet and peaceful place. The site is bordered by 3 clean rivers and set against a backdrop of rain-forested mountains, a twenty minute walk from a spectacular Atlantic beach. The rooms are reached after a 15 minute steep uphill hike deep into the rainforest.

Accommodation

Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge offers a range of rustically comfortable cabins and tree houses, as well as full camping and dormitory facilities.
This eco-friendly lodge, which can only be reached after a 15-minute steep hike deep into the Rosalie Rainforest, also offers a jungle restaurant and a wide range of nature, adventure and community based eco tourism activities, as well as a choice of workshops and classes in most forms of renewable energy.

Eco Policies

Eco-design - The lodge was built on forested land where logging had begun, and the land was bought by the lodge to protect it from deforestation. All of the buildings are built from 100% renewable materials such as bamboo and grass for the thatched forest houses.

Energy – The eco-lodge has an array of ten solar panels giving a maximum power of 800 watts and currently uses the solar power produced for much of its green electricity, for pumping water from the river and for heating its hot water. It also has a micro-hydro electricity system to supplement its green solar power at the main property with an extra kw, while a wind turbine is used to power the forest accommodations.

One of the beauties of this area is the night sky, and so outside lighting is of the utmost importance. In order that you can find your way around, but still see the stars, solar powered path lights are dotted around which give enough light to show you the way, but do not distract from your view of the planets. Each light is independent, with its own solar panel and batteries, which are recharged every day by the sun. They have built in sensors and light up at night, and switch off automatically during the day.

Conservation – Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge is set in organic gardens in which the lodge has attempted to plant a wide variety of fruits, vegetable and flowers. The trees are still young, but as they grow and as the fruit trees begin to bear their first fruits, the more birds are being seen on site.

Ecological sustainability – The ecolodge compost all kitchen and garden waste and use that compost to help them grow as much organic food as possible. They try to minimise their water consumption, grey water goes through grease traps to be used in the garden and campers use dry toilets. Whenever possible, the lodge tries to avoid purchasing packaged goods, shop locally, recycle, use biodegradable products and keep waste products to a minimum.
Organic pest control is used in the gardens, such as papaya to attract the slugs away from the greens and seasoning pepper and garlic spray to deter other bugs. Most of the vegetables eaten are grown on the lodge’s land and as time goes on it is hoped that the Lodge will be completely self-sufficient with regards to fruit and vegetables.

Community – All employees at the eco-lodge come from local villages and are trained in sustainable living. The lodge offer a number of community based eco-tourism activities and are trying to showcase environmentally sound practices, hosting free school eco-education visits and giving guided tours and workshops to all interested parties. The lodge is also involved in various community projects such as Computer Mission Dominica which installed 200 computers in schools and workshops.

Facilities

Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge has a jungle restaurant serving local cuisine and fresh local juices and a communal kitchen and bathroom facilities for use by all guests.

There is a Sustainable Living Education Centre (the lodge’s NGO) at the site where both tourists and locals can take part in various renewable energy workshops.

The communal area where guests can mingle, relax, read, or play one of the many games provided, is open any time you want it to be.

There is a large children's play area where the kids (big or small) can have fun, allowing the parents to "free up" and relax.

Finally, if you feel that even in the rainforest of Dominica you really need to stay in touch with the rest of the world, then you can hire a local cell phone for the duration of your visit. It will be cheaper than phoning on roaming! The Lodge also has wireless network facilities so that you can connect via your laptop from anywhere on the main 3 Rivers property but this is not available in the forest accommodations.

Things To See And Do

Guests can bathe in one of the natural river pools, wander amongst the organic gardens and picnic areas, or walk up into the rainforest. Other nearby activities include:-
- nature and adventure holiday activities
- community based eco tourism experiences
- hiking, waterfalls, lakes, nature trails
- diving in the world's best waters

Room Description

Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge provides a range of accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. Choose from:-
- Isolated cabins (Mwena Round House or the Carbet) and Tree Houses (Bamboo Tree House or Chataniere Lodge Tree House) - a true back to nature eco experience
- Mixed dormitory hostel accommodation on the main site (at 3 Rivers Eco Lodge)
- Full camping facilities including tent hire on the main site (at 3 Rivers Eco Lodge)

Prices & Booking Policies

Currency: US dollar ($)
Prices and inclusions: The below prices are based on room only (i.e. no meals included). Taxes are included but a service charge of 7.5% is not included and will be added to your final bill.
Cabins are available for US$44 (approx £22) per night for Mwena Round House or US$55 (approx £27.50) per night for the Carbet. Tree Houses are priced at US$66 (approx £33) per night and sleep up to 3.
A bed in the dormitory is US$22 (approx £11) per person per night while a hammock space is US$11 (approx £6) per person per night if you are bringing your own hammock.
If you’re bringing your own tent a camping plot costs US$16.50 (approx £9) per tent per night, whilst it will cost you an additional US$16.50 (approx £9) per night to hire a small tent or US$22 (approx £11) per night to hire a large tent.
Child prices: Each room has a double bed and a hammock. Extra beds and baby’s cots are available for US$10 per night..
Extra adult prices: Each room has a double bed and a hammock Extra beds are available for US$10 per night.
Special offers: Book 7 nights and only pay for 6 or book 14 nights and only pay for 12!
Check-in / Check-out times: 1pm check-in, midday check-out
Opening dates: Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge closes for the month of September. Bookings are currently being taken until 14th December 2009. Restrictions: There are no minimum night restrictions.
Deposit: A 50% deposit is payable at time of booking. Your booking will not be fully confirmed until this deposit is received.
Cancellation policy: For cancellations more than 2 months prior to the arrival date, 80% of the deposit will be refunded. For cancellations between 1 and 2 months of the arrival date, 50% of the deposit will be refunded. For cancellations within 1 month of arrival, the full deposit will be retained although you will be offered the option of putting half of the deposit paid towards a future booking within the next year.
Payment methods: The balance of your booking is due on arrival and can be paid with cash, by Visa or Mastercard. There is no surcharge for credit card payment.

Getting There And Around

 Please note that the lodge is reached ONLY after a 15 minute steep hike deep into the Rosalie Rainforest.
Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge is situated a mile or so inland from Rosalie, on the east coast of Dominica.
Whether you arrive at one of the airports, or at the ferry terminal, there are normally plenty of taxis waiting. Whichever port of entry, the journey time is around an hour, and expect to pay around EC$180 / US$70 (approx £35) for your taxi. Alternatively, there are buses.
Once you have arrived at the Lodge, it is easy to travel around Dominica. There are regular minibuses serving every village, which are cheap, and are a good way to meet the local people. Alternatively, many locals walk and hitch-hike their way around the island, a safe and easy way to travel in Dominica.
There are also plenty of car rental companies and taxis on the island.