Dominica Aerial Tram

[DeeDeeRode]

I have been looking around the boards for info on the tram ride. Found some but I am concerned about booking it since I will travelling with my mother who is 85 years old. She can get around okay, but has trouble on rough paths. Does anyone have first hand experience? Is it accessible for mobility impaired? Thanks for any help.

[houlacruiser]

Can't answer your question - but try looking here:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=151

[138east]

I actually took my 90 year old mother on this when she was 85. I think your mom would be fine. As I remember they dropped us off and she had to walk up a path. When we got to the base area, I discovered that there was a paved pickup area there which we could have asked the driver to take us to. If you go, I would definitely ask to be taken as close to the base as possible. There are some concrete steps to get up to the platform. I don't remember how many, but it wasn't a full flight. The aerial tram is basically a ski lift with cable cars instead of ski lift seats. There is room for 4 sets of 2 people with a guide at the back. When you get to the top, there is an optional short hike around the end of the lift and back down the hill on the other side. My mother did not do this, but I did. She just stayed on the cable car as it turned around to go down. Back at the bottom I think there were rest rooms, refreshment stand and souvenirs. The bus was there in the parking area and you had to go down the steps to get to it.

Of all the places I've been in Dominica, this is one of the best for an older person who can do steps. Don't even consider Emerald Pool or Trafalgar Falls. And don't forget your $ Store rain ponchos - they don't call it a rain forest for nothing.

[houlacruiser]

138east - did you get my responses about the Dominica Tour????

[138east]

Elicia - I'm not sure. I've lost the "thread" of our discussion. Let's go back to the M&M board. Tell me again what your plans are.

[The Big Booper]

Since a photo is worth a 1,000 words..........

Base area - with ramp up........



Pathway up to ride.....



Boarding the tram.......



Superzoom of the tram in front of us.....



The way station, where the elderly can wait for the hikers.......




More to come..............

[The Big Booper]

More photos............

Up and down trams passing........



Down tram passing us as we ascended...................



Suspension bridge the hikers cross over..............



The suspension bridge.................



looking down from the suspension bridge, not for those uneasy about heights......................

[The Big Booper]

hiking back down the trail to the way station, to join up with the elderly.......








To repeat, if you are unable to walk the trail down or are nervous about heights, you can still just take the tram up and down, but you will still be floating in the cage 100-150 feet above the forest and waterfalls.

[DeeDeeRode]

Appreciate your response and the great photos. That's exactly the information I needed. Now I know what I'm doing in Dominica!

[olemissreb]

Yes thank you Big Booper! This might be something for my family to do that will appeal to all of us. We range in age from 72 down to 10! My inlaws can stay in the tram while the rest of us walk down (if we want).

Did you book this thru the cruiseline or independently?

[The Big Booper]

We booked thru RCI. You can buy tickets independent of the ship but would still have to get there. And Dominica is not the most developed country.

I would advise booking thru the ship. The tour company provided a bus and driver and guide for the trip to the mountain and back.

The tram is privately owned and operated; the company has 5 of these operating including Costa Rica.