You won’t find endless white sand beaches, wild nightlife, or duty-free shopping. What you will find on the beautiful island of Dominica is an untouched island paradise.
Home of one of the world’s largest oceanic rain forests, visitors can experience the spectacle of over 17,000 acres of rain forest, crater lakes, rivers and waterfalls and even boiling lakes heated by underground volcanic lava.
Located between Guadeloupe and Martinique in the eastern Caribbean, Dominica is made up of about 290 square miles of land, some of which has yet to be explored.
Among Dominica’s 74,000 residents are 3,000 people said to be the last living pre-Columbian descendants, the island has maintained the natural glory many Caribbean islands have lost to tourism. A breeding facility at the Botanical Gardens is home for some other natives: the imperial parrot and the red-necked parrot, both of which are facing extinction.
So grab your hiking boots and binoculars and experience the true beauty of a tropical island not packed with souvenir-ravishing tourists, but a place to explore uncharted landscapes like no where else in the world.
Dominica Facts
Climate: Temperatures average 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit all year.
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar, but U.S. currency is widely accepted.
Language: English, but locals speak French-based patios.
Banking: Banks are open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
History
Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 on a Sunday, hence the Spanish name “Dominica,” this island has remained the most undeveloped island of the Caribbean. Due to their poison arrows and powerful forces as well as the cover of thick rain forests, the Carib Indians successfully kept Spain, France and Britian from settling the island until 1903 when British forces made the Caribs respect certain boundaries. In 1978 Dominica declared independence from Britain.
Where to Stay
Castaways (Mero): 26 seaside rooms on a gray beach with a dive center, water sports, tennis courts and tours.
Fort Young (Victoria Street): Converted 1770 fort with 33 bedrooms with A/C and a sitting area as well as hardwood decks, swimming pool, restaurant, bar and boutique.
Lauro Club (Salisbury): 10 villas with great views of the coast and a restaurant, pool, water sports and dive center.
Anchorage (Castle Comfort): 32 rooms around a pool facing a dock and small beach, bar and restaurant as well as watersports.
Castle Comfort (Castle Comfort): Family run establishment of 10 rooms, restaurant, watersports and complementary snorkeling gear.
Petit Coulibri Guest Cottages (Pointe Def): 6 secluded cottages on an old sugar and cocoa plantation with pool, TV lounge and bar.
Floral Gardens (near Carib Indian Territory): 18 rooms built in a tropical garden along side a small wildlife park; some guests swim in the nearby river and the hotel can arrange hiking and safari van trips into the rain forest.
Springfield Plantation (near National Park entrance): 6 rooms in the Victorian plantation as well as 3 cottages and 3 apartments in the outbuildings, a river-fed natural pools and several hiking trails.
Getting Around
Bus: No set schedules and they don’t run on Sundays.
Car rentals: Drive on the left side and be careful of narrow roads, if a car approaches in the opposite direction, you must honk the horn or pull over.
Best Places to Visit
Morne Trois Pitons National Park – Guadeloupe is home of one of the world’s largest oceanic rain forests. Here you can experience with your own eyes the spectacular visions of 17,000 acres of rain forests, crater lakes, waterfalls, and magnificent volcanicly-heated boiling lakes.
Cabrits National Park – Set on a 1,131-acre peninsula on the northwest tip of the island, this park has exquisite coral formations throughout the cliffs and an 18th century fortress and museum called Fort Shirley.
Portsmouth – Located on Prince Rupert’s Bay, this small town has a mangrove-lined river where you can hire a rowboat to take you on a tour.
Carib Territory – This culturally captivating area is home to 3,000 native Caribbean people said to be the last living pre-Columbian decendants. Along the main road, the Carib people sell hand-made crafts and woodworkings to passer-bys.
Roseau – An interesting town and the capital of Guadeloupe, Roseau is a great place to wander through craft shops and visit the old courthouse, now serving as the parliament.
Botanical Gardens – This spectacular tourist attraction is landscaped with 40-acres of tropical Caribbean species as well as a breeding aviary for the endangered parrot.
Shopping
Although there is no duty-free shopping on the island, you are guaranteed to find fantastic buys on native products. Here are just a few of the stores worth visiting:
Blooms, located in Roseau: specializes in tropical flower arrangements which can be vacuum-packed for your flight home.
Candle Industries, Canefield Industrial Estate: Unique candles decorated in Caribbean art scenes.
Leathercraft, Roseau: features handmade leather products such as bags and shoes.
Tropicrafts, Roseau: Native-made straw accessories like mats and handbags.
Restaurants
Food prices are reasonable on the island and most menus include creole, continental and North American-style dishes.
Almond Tree, Mero: quaint restaurant overlooking the sea, serving creole dishes.
Coconut Beach, Picard Beach: enjoy alfresco candlelit Dominican specialties of fresh seafood and daily specials.
Castle Comfort Lodge, Castle Comfort: Set in the hotel’s surrounding tropical garden, you can dine on tasty creole seafood while gazing on the sea nearby.
Floral Gardens, outside Carib Indian Territory: Featuring fresh local vegetalbles and fruits that every visitor must try.
Orchard, Roseau: Offers daily specials of chicken and beef pies and fresh island vegetables.
Papillote, Roseau: Outdoor restaurant surrounded by tropical gardens, a walking distance from a waterfall and natural hot bath. Serves fresh salads and seafood.