Dominica promotes itself as the Nature Island of the Caribbean. This small single-island country hosts less sandy beaches or international chain hotels than the other Caribbean island destinations, but it offers spectacular mountain landscapes, superb diving opportunities, unspoiled rainforests, exciting volcanic sites and lively Creole culture instead.
The Nature Island. Dominica is a small island country belonging to the Lesser Antilles in the Eastern Caribbean, and is often confused with the bigger Caribbean country of Dominican Republic. It is a rugged mountainous island with volcanic activity and the world’s second largest boiling lake, and home to many rivers, waterfalls and well-preserved coral reefs. The economy of Dominica relies on tourism and agriculture.
Water sports wonderland. There are excellent possibilities for scuba diving in Dominica with a myriad of unspoiled coral reefs and impressive dive sites. There are also several great areas for snorkeling in Dominica, and the island is also a yachting destination. The mainly black sand beaches of Dominica on the West coast of the island are good for swimming, and there are small white sand beaches on the East coast, too. Indian River near Portsmouth in the north of Dominica is a popular destination for boat trips, and kayaking in Dominica can be practiced on many lakes and rivers as well as on the sea.
The capital of Dominica, Roseau hosts charming wooden buildings, a cruise ship pier, a straw market and a national museum as well as many bars and cafés. This charming town also hosts a World Creole Music Festival during the last weekend in October. The second largest town of Dominica, Portsmouth offers nearby attractions of Cabrits National Park and Indian River.
The mountainous interior of the island hosts lush rainforests, several protected areas, impressive waterfalls, mountain lakes, five volcanoes and the geothermally active Boiling Lake located in the World Heritage –listed Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The quieter East coast of Dominica hosts a 3700-acre reserve of the Indigenous Carib people of Kalinago tribe, famous for their wood carving and basket-making skills. With its deep offshore waters, deep sea fishing and whale watching in Dominica are also great activities.
Local transport on Dominica is handled by cheap buses, minibuses as well as taxis that can also be hired for sightseeing tours. However, there are only few buses available in the evening and even less on Sundays. Car rental on Dominica is available and a good way to get around on the island.
Climate. Dominica has a tropical maritime climate moderated by northeast trade winds.
The Nature Island. Dominica is a small island country belonging to the Lesser Antilles in the Eastern Caribbean, and is often confused with the bigger Caribbean country of Dominican Republic. It is a rugged mountainous island with volcanic activity and the world’s second largest boiling lake, and home to many rivers, waterfalls and well-preserved coral reefs. The economy of Dominica relies on tourism and agriculture.
Sights and activities in Dominica: from hiking to diving
Dominica is an island with a great deal of natural beauty. Pirates of the Caribbean movies were mainly filmed in here due to the impressive and untouched natural scenery of Dominica. The island’s rugged interior boasts many diverse national parks and hiking trails. There are many great places for trekking on Dominica, including the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, whereas shorter hikes lead to the impressive Emerald Pool and Trafalgar Falls. Dominica offers plenty of choices for water sports and outdoor activities.Water sports wonderland. There are excellent possibilities for scuba diving in Dominica with a myriad of unspoiled coral reefs and impressive dive sites. There are also several great areas for snorkeling in Dominica, and the island is also a yachting destination. The mainly black sand beaches of Dominica on the West coast of the island are good for swimming, and there are small white sand beaches on the East coast, too. Indian River near Portsmouth in the north of Dominica is a popular destination for boat trips, and kayaking in Dominica can be practiced on many lakes and rivers as well as on the sea.
The capital of Dominica, Roseau hosts charming wooden buildings, a cruise ship pier, a straw market and a national museum as well as many bars and cafés. This charming town also hosts a World Creole Music Festival during the last weekend in October. The second largest town of Dominica, Portsmouth offers nearby attractions of Cabrits National Park and Indian River.
The mountainous interior of the island hosts lush rainforests, several protected areas, impressive waterfalls, mountain lakes, five volcanoes and the geothermally active Boiling Lake located in the World Heritage –listed Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The quieter East coast of Dominica hosts a 3700-acre reserve of the Indigenous Carib people of Kalinago tribe, famous for their wood carving and basket-making skills. With its deep offshore waters, deep sea fishing and whale watching in Dominica are also great activities.
Travel in Dominica: practical tips and information
Traveling to Dominica can be done by air or by sea. There are two airports on the island, both receiving flights to Dominica from other Caribbean Islands. The airports on Dominica are too small to accommodate jet aircrafts, so there are no direct flights to Dominica from outside the Caribbean. There are frequent passenger ferries to Dominica from the neighboring islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Lucia. You can also visit Dominica on a cruise ship or by your own yacht.Local transport on Dominica is handled by cheap buses, minibuses as well as taxis that can also be hired for sightseeing tours. However, there are only few buses available in the evening and even less on Sundays. Car rental on Dominica is available and a good way to get around on the island.
Climate. Dominica has a tropical maritime climate moderated by northeast trade winds.
Photo: Andrew Mawby, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)
There is a rainy season on Dominica between July and October, but rainfall is frequent also in other times of the year especially in the mountainous interior of the island. The driest months are between February and May. The temperatures on Dominica remain constant throughout the year, although the mountain areas are cooler. There is a hurricane season on Dominica from July to November with occasional hurricanes.
Small scale tourism. Dominica does not have any large seaside resorts or international chain hotels, but there is a good number of smaller hotels on Dominica. Rainforest lodges and inexpensive guesthouses are also well available. Restaurants on Dominica can be found in all main towns and villages, serving local Caribbean as well as European and American dishes. There are also some nightlife options available in the capital Roseau.
Safety. Dominica is a quite safe place to travel as it has one of the lowest crime rates in the Caribbean, and there are no poisonous land creatures on the island. However, petty crime such as theft does occur, so practice common sense and protect your belongings. English is spoken by all local people on Dominica, although their accent can sometimes be hard to follow.
History and culture of Dominica
Dominica was first inhabited by the Arawak people. Caribs settled the island they called Waitikubuli in the fourteenth century. Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1493 and named it Dominica as he first saw it on Sunday. Because of the fierce resistance of the Caribs, Dominica was the last island in the Caribbean to be colonized. This finally happened in the 1700s when French settlers arrived from the neighboring islands and France took possession of the island. After a long period of fighting, Dominica was given to the British in 1763. Slavery was abolished in 1834 and Dominica was soon the first British Caribbean colony that had a Black-controlled administration. Dominica became a province of the West Indies Federation between 1958 and 1962 and gained independence in 1978.Local culture. The inhabitants of Dominica are mainly of African descent, but there are also approximately 3,000 indigenous Caribs living mainly in a reservation on the eastern side of the island. The Dominican culture is a mix of English, French, African and Carib influences. Official language of Dominica is English, although French-based patois is spoken commonly.
hint See also these nearby destinations: Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia
