Meet Elvis: A Lifetime Guiding Hikers to Boiling Lake

## Born on the Nature Island I was born and raised in Dominica — the Nature Island of the Caribbean. I grew up in the shadow of Morne Trois Pitons, playing in the rivers and rainforests that I now guide visitors through every day. My name is Elvis Stedman, and I have been guiding hikers to Boiling Lake since 1994. ## How It Started I led my first guided hike to Boiling Lake at the age of 22. I had been to the lake many times before — as a child with my father, as a teenager exploring with friends — but guiding that first group of tourists was different. Watching their faces when they first saw the lake, hearing their gasps of wonder, I knew this was what I was meant to do. Thirty years later, I still feel that same excitement on every single hike. ## The Numbers - **30+ years** of guiding experience - **1,500+ guided hikes** to Boiling Lake - **Thousands of guests** from more than 50 countries - **Zero serious incidents** in 30 years - **Government certified** by the Dominica Tourism Authority - **Wilderness First Aid** certified ## What I Know That Others Don't After 1,500 hikes, I know this trail the way most people know their own neighbourhood. I know which rocks are stable and which are not. I know where the Sisserou Parrots nest. I know the medicinal plants that local healers have used for generations. I know the hidden viewpoints that no guidebook has ever mentioned. But more than the knowledge, I know the people. I have guided honeymooners and retirees, Olympic athletes and first-time hikers, families with young children and solo travellers in their 70s. Every group is different, and I adapt to every group. ## After Hurricane Maria Hurricane Maria hit Dominica in September 2017 with winds of 160mph. It was the most powerful hurricane ever to hit the island. The Boiling Lake trail was devastated — bridges washed away, paths buried under landslides, the Valley of Desolation transformed. I spent months helping to rebuild the trail. Watching Dominica recover — watching the forest grow back, watching the birds return — has been one of the most profound experiences of my life. ## My Philosophy I believe that the best way to protect Dominica's natural heritage is to share it. When visitors experience the wonder of Boiling Lake, they become advocates for its protection. Every hike I guide is a small act of conservation. ## What Guests Say "Elvis is not just a guide — he is a storyteller, a naturalist, and a friend. The best guide I have ever had anywhere in the world." — Robert, Canada "Elvis made the impossible feel possible. I never thought I could do this hike, but he believed in me when I didn't believe in myself." — Jennifer, USA ## Ready to Hike With Me? [Book your guided Boiling Lake hike](/tour-booking-checkout?tourType=boiling-lake&transport=with) — I look forward to sharing my island with you.