Dominica is an island of volcanic origin located between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean. The capital, Roseau, is located on the western side of the island.
Dominica has plenty to offer for vacation destinations in the Caribbean such a scuba diving, whale & dolphin watching, hiking, bird watching, exploring a pristine tropical rainforest along our Waitukubuli National Trail, discovering the unique culture or simply relaxing on one of Dominica’s secluded beaches.
Dominica enjoys a mix of cultures, African language, foods and customs mixed with European and Caribs traditions. The largest and most mountainous of the Windward Islands, it has an area of 751 sq km and it is largely covered by rainforest and is home to the world’s second-largest hot spring, the Lesser Antilles mountain with volcanic peaks of lava craters, the largest of these are Morne aux Diables, Morne Diablotins.
English is the official language, but Creole or French-based patois is still spoken by a big part of the population. The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, but you can use US dollars, which are accepted at most businesses, as well as major credit cards and traveler’s checks.
The Caribbean island of Dominica was named by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 countries to visit in 2017.
Photo credit: Bart / Flickr
Waitukubuli National Trail
The Waitukubuli Trail located in Dominica is the longest hiking trail in the Caribbean at 115 miles. The trail showcases the best of the culture and heritage as well as its extraordinary rugged interior.
The Waitukubuli National Trail is part of the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dominica’s Hot Water
Dominica has the highest concentration of dormant volcanoes in the world, which created a number of natural spas and hot pools from the healing sulfur springs. The hot springs offer a relaxing and reviving experience.
Wotten Waven is well-known for its natural hot sulfur springs and mud pools that are believed to have medicinal qualities. Local villagers have created spas with its own special charm and amenities, from private sulfur baths and mud pools.
Photo credit: Kenny Mitchell / Flickr
Scuba Diving
Dominica offers some of the best diving in the Caribbean with warm and clear water and great visibility. Most dive sites are located along the western side of the island.
You can explore calm shallows with curious seahorses and over 20 species of whales that frequent visit these seas. The sperm whales can be explored from November to March.
Some other underwater attractions are the La Sorciere fantastic wall dives or the volcanic ridge of Crater’s Edge, where can make appearances barracuda stalk, tuna, and snapper.
Canyoning
Dominica is packed with some of the mother-natures most exceptional and the impressive canyons and water pools. Canyoning is basically a sport where you navigate a water-filled canyon using abseiling, climbing and jumping.
You can join tours where professional guides take you on a tour of a lifetime with a unique experience to explore the rivers up close, under a rainforest canopy, climbing, swimming and splashing in a cool, fresh river.
Photo credit: Jason Pratt / Flickr
Whale & Dolphin Watching
Whales and dolphins are plentiful in the crystal blue waters along Dominica’s coastline throughout the year. Dominica is the only country in the world the Sperm Whales can be sighted year round with a peak season is between November and June.
Sperm whales are the largest predator on earth, reaching up to 70 feet long, and weighing 60 tons. They can dive more than 6,000 feet deep to hunt in the dark with echolocation for a large and giant squid.
Other species that can be found year-round in the waters off Dominica, includes the pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata, the Fraser’s Dolphin, Lagenodelphis hosei, the bottlenose dolphin
short-finned pilot whale.
Photo credit: Bayukjdr / Wikipedia
The Boiling Lake
The Boiling Lake is situated in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, Dominica’s World Heritage site. It is a flooded fumarole 6.5 miles east of Roseau. It is filled with bubbling greyish-blue water that is usually enveloped in a cloud of vapour. Dominica’s Boiling Lake is the second-largest hot lake in the world. The largest is Frying Pan Lake, located in Waimangu Valley near Rotorua, New Zealand.
Photo credit: Bart / Flickr
Sea Turtle Watching
If you visit Rosalie Bay, Bout Sable, Cabana Bay, Wesley and Calibishie beaches between April and June, you may observe one of the most fascinating rituals – turtle hatching. Dominica’s shores are visited by four of the seven known species of sea turtles – Loggerheads, Hawksbills, Green Sea Turtles, and the huge Leatherbacks.
The female sea turtle will come ashore to lay her eggs and in a few months, the hatchlings will try to make it back to the sea. Unfortunately, there are many hungry predators waiting for this moment and only a few reach out to the sea.
Featured image credit: vision chen / Flickr
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