dominica travel forum

• Dominica Tourism
• Dominica Hotels
• Dominica Bed and Breakfast
• Dominica Holiday Rentals
• Flights to Dominica
• Dominica Restaurants
• Dominica Attractions

Dominica Travel Forum

• Dominica Photo
• Dominica Map
• All Dominica Hotels
• Dominica Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Hostels
• Dominica Campsites
• Dominica Green Hotels
• Business Hotels Dominica
• Family Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Resorts
• Luxury Hotels in Dominica
• Spa Resorts in Dominica
• Romantic Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Beach Hotels
• 5-stars Hotels in Dominica
• 4-stars Hotels in Dominica
• 3-stars Hotels in Dominica
• Ascend Collection Hotels in Dominica
• Pet Friendly Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Hotels with a Pool
• Dominica Hotels with Parking
• Resorts with Hot Tubs in Dominica
• Quiet Resorts in Dominica
• Romantic Boutique Hotels in Dominica
• Beach Resorts in Dominica
• Dominica Beach Suite Hotels
• Dominica Cheap Beach Hotels
• Dominica Pet Friendly Campsites
• Dominica Cheap Pet Friendly Hotels
• Dominica Shopping Hotels
• Dominica Hotels with Air Conditioning
• Hotels near Trafalgar Falls
• Hotels near Champagne Beach
• Hotels near Emerald Pool Nature Trail
• Hotels near Middleham Falls
• Hotels near Boiling Lake
• Hotels near Dominica Botanic Gardens
• Hotels near Titou Gorge
• Hotels near Mero Beach
• Hotels near Screw's Sulphur Spa
• Hotels near Indian River
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Holiday Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Dominica Forum

• Caribbean    
• Malaysia Forums
• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Holiday Rentals
• North America forums
• Caribbean forums

• Dominica Tourism
• Dominica Hotels
• Bed and Breakfast Dominica
• Dominica Holiday Rentals
• Flights to Dominica
• Dominica Restaurants
• Dominica Attractions

Dominica Travel Forum

• Dominica Photos
• Dominica Map
• All Dominica Hotels
• Dominica Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Hostels
• Dominica Campsites
• Romantic Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Green Hotels
• Family Hotels Dominica
• Spa Hotels in Dominica
• Business Hotels Dominica
• Dominica Resorts
• Dominica Beach Hotels
• Luxury Hotels in Dominica
• 5-stars Hotels in Dominica
• 4-stars Hotels in Dominica
• 3-stars Hotels in Dominica
• Ascend Collection Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Hotels with Parking
• Dominica Hotels with a Pool
• Pet Friendly Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Spa Hotels
• Beachfront Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Cheap Hotels
• Dominica Hot Tub Suite Hotels
• Boutique Bed and Breakfast Dominica
• Suite Resorts in Dominica
• Dominica Suite Hotels
• Dominica Spa Resorts
• Romantic Bed and Breakfast in Dominica
• Resorts with Hot Tubs in Dominica
• Hotels near Trafalgar Falls
• Hotels near Champagne Beach
• Hotels near Emerald Pool Nature Trail
• Hotels near Middleham Falls
• Hotels near Boiling Lake
• Hotels near Dominica Botanic Gardens
• Hotels near Titou Gorge
• Hotels near Mero Beach
• Hotels near Screw's Sulphur Spa
• Hotels near Indian River
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Holiday Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Dominica Forum

• Caribbean    
• United Kingdom Forums
• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Holiday Rentals
• North America forums
• Caribbean forums

• Dominica Tourism
• Dominica Hotels
• Dominica Guest House
• Dominica Holiday Homes
• Dominica Flights
• Dominica Restaurants
• Dominica Attractions

Dominica Travel Forum

• Dominica Photos
• Dominica Map
• All Dominica Hotels
• Dominica Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Hostels
• Dominica Campsites
• Family Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Green Hotels
• Romantic Hotels in Dominica
• Business Hotels in Dominica
• Resorts in Dominica
• Spa Resorts in Dominica
• Luxury Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Beach Hotels
• 5-stars Hotels in Dominica
• 4-stars Hotels in Dominica
• 3-stars Hotels in Dominica
• Ascend Collection Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Hotels with Parking
• Dominica Hotels with a Pool
• Pet Friendly Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Hotels with Allergy-free Rooms
• Dominica Hotels with Walk-in Shower
• Dominica Yoga Resorts
• Dominica Exotic Resorts
• Dominica Exotic Hotels
• Dominica Snorkelling Resorts
• Dominica Hiking Resorts
• Dominica Yoga Hotels
• Dominica Hotels with Soundproof Rooms
• Dominica Horseback Riding Hotels
• Hotels near Trafalgar Falls
• Hotels near Champagne Beach
• Hotels near Emerald Pool Nature Trail
• Hotels near Middleham Falls
• Hotels near Boiling Lake
• Hotels near Dominica Botanic Gardens
• Hotels near Titou Gorge
• Hotels near Mero Beach
• Hotels near Screw's Sulphur Spa
• Hotels near Indian River
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Holiday homes
• Travel Stories
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Dominica Forum

• Caribbean    
• India Forums
• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Holiday Rentals
• North America forums
• Caribbean forums

17 Things To Know Before Visiting Dominica: Travel Tips For A Hassle Free Holiday

From when to visit and how much things cost, to a few island surprises, these Dominica travel tips will help you plan your trip to this special Caribbean island.

Dominica might be known universally as the nature island, but I’d describe it as the island of surprises. Surprising landscapes, surprising activities and… surprising prices! This is a Caribbean island, but not like the others you know.

White sandy beaches? Nope Luxury hotels? Not really…. Honeymoon destination? Nope – well, actually yes, but only if you’re an adventurous couple! Expensive prices? Nope

If you’re planning a trip, I’d recommend reading my guide to the best things to do in Dominica , which gives you the lowdown on the island’s attractions and beauty spots. But first, scroll on to read a few Dominica travel tips to make your first trip to the island totally hassle free!

17 Things To Know Before Visiting Dominica

Don’t expect to laze on the beach… although you can .

While Dominica has plenty of lovely beaches, due to it’s volcanic origins, the majority of the island’s beaches have black, brown and silver sand. They’re still very pretty, with palm trees and clear, Caribbean waters, but perhaps a little different to the Caribbean postcard you have in your minds.

Instead, hike into the mountains, go whale watching , visit the island’s waterfalls, take a dip in the Emerald Pool and learn to cook Caribbean cuisine – the options are endless, so you’ll never be bored!

READ MORE: Top things to do in Dominica, Caribbean

Dominica is NOT the Dominican Republic. Not even close! 

I feel like an idiot for writing this, but when I told people I was visiting Dominica, they thought I meant the Dominican Republic… or that Dominica was the capital of the DR! Nope, they’re completely different islands, with different cultures, landscapes and reasons to visit. Make sure you book a flight to the right place!

Dominica is known as the nature island

As we landed in Dominica, I could see exactly why it’s known as the nature island! With lush rainforests, incredible volcanic landscapes and rugged bays, it looked wild – like a little Jurassic Park! There are nine volcanoes, 365 rivers, 18 named waterfalls and one boiling lake (the second largest in the world after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand). If you love adventures, this is the island for you.

Dominica is one of the cheaper Caribbean islands

First up, I’ll admit I’ve always found the Caribbean an expensive part of the world to travel around, especially compared to regions like South East Asia and Eastern Europe. Despite having amazing ingredients on the doorstep, a lot of items still have to be imported. Plus, once you’re on the islands, you become a captured market. Particularly on smaller islands, there aren’t many tour companies, so the ones that exist set the price they want, and that’s what you pay.

That being said, I found Dominica to be cheaper than most Caribbean islands I’ve visited (Barbados, Antigua, St Kitts, Cuba, St Martin). Here’s a quick rundown of the prices…

How much do things cost in Dominica? 

Main course in a nice restaurant: $12 USD (33 ECD / £9.80) Whale watching tour: $69 USD (186 ECD / £55) Two tank scuba dive: $108 USD (293 ECD / £87) Half day island tour:  $45 USD (121 ECD / £36) Car rental (per day): $50 USD (135 ECD / £40) Taxi from Douglas-Charles Airport (Dominica Airport) to Roseau: $30 USD (81 ECD / £24) Room (sleeping 3) at Picard Beach Cottages: $103 USD (278 ECD / £83) Hostel dorm (at Fort Shirley): $15 (40 ECD / £12) 

Also, there’s a great value pass you can buy if you plan to visit multiple attractions in a week. About that…

It’s CHEAP to visit Dominica’s attractions, yes really! 

Continuing the budget theme here (and a great Dominica travel tip for you!!) you can visit most of Dominica’s natural wonders for just $12 USD (33 ECD / £9.50). The special tourist site pass gives you entry to Trafalgar Falls, Cabrits National Park, Emerald Pool, Middleham Falls, Soufriere Sulphur Springs, Boiling Lake and Morne Trois Pitons Trail just to name a few!

There’s now a luxury hotel in Dominica!

Dominica has never been associated with luxury holidays. Most people visit because they love the great outdoors. They want to go hiking, diving and explore the abundant nature of the island. Those travellers aren’t usually in need of a personal butler or swim up bar, and are happy in a more rustic hotel.

All that has now changed with the opening of Cabrits Resort & Spa Kempinski Dominica , just north of Portsmouth (which opened in 2019). I passed it one day, and saw the vast resort being constructed. It’s in a beautiful location, close to Cabrits National Park, in its own sheltered bay. Rumour has it, the presidential suite is around $15,000 a night – no doubt attracting a luxurious style of traveller to the island.

Just a few minutes away (and also under construction during my visit) was Cabrits Hotel Resort and Spa, which has been financed by the Kingdom of Morocco as a gift to Dominica. It’s in another lovely location, with a beautiful view over Portsmouth. 

Don’t believe what you read – Hurricane Maria hasn’t destroyed this beautiful island

Dominica hit the headlines after category 5 Hurricane Maria swept over the island in September 2017. It was regarded as the worst natural disaster on record for the islands in the region. I was actually supposed to visit in October 2017, but the trip was cancelled to allow the island time to recover. And you know what? It has. Lots of people told us that they learned lessons about construction in the aftermath of the hurricane. It was also an important time to look at the island’s economy and industries. With a combination of positivity and hard work, the island has bounced back.

During my visit in July 2019 some evidence remained, but all major attractions were open, cruise ship schedules were back to normal, and Dominica was definitely ready to welcome tourism again.

There are no direct flights from the UK or US to Dominica  

Don’t worry though – it’s a very simple journey! If you’re visiting from the UK, you’ll need to fly to Antigua (with Virgin or British Airways) and then catch a LIAT flight over to Dominica. The flight from Antigua to Dominica only takes 30 minutes, and on a clear day, the views are amazing. The quickest routes I found from London were around 12 hours (including the transfer). Plus, you don’t need a visa to visit!

You’re guaranteed to see the Queen in Dominica… seriously!

Yes, you’ll spot a very young Queen Elizabeth II on the Eastern Caribbean Dollars – the main currency used on the island. 

The Eastern Caribbean Dollar is used in: Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

It’s worth downloading an app like XE Currency to convert currency on the go, but as a guide: 1 USD = 2.70 ECD = £0.80 While not exact, I spent the week dividing the ECD amount by 3 to work out the rough cost in £.

English is the principal language in Dominica

It’s the official language of the island, but you might hear a little Creole spoken too. 

Sadly, much of the indigenous Kalinago language has been lost, but there are efforts by the Kalinago people to preserve it, and you’ll occasionally hear ‘Mabrika!’ (welcome) when you meet someone. 

You could use Dominica as a base to explore the Windward and Leeward Islands in the West Indies

The ferry port in Roseau has regular ferries which connect Dominica with its neighbouring islands. You can reach Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Lucia in just a few hours. There’s more info on the ferry website , including timetables and prices. Often it’s cheaper to travel by ferry than to fly, and by the time you’ve travelled to the airport, you might actually find it quicker going by boat.  

Peak cruise season in Dominica runs from October to May

The big cruise shops visit Dominica from the autumn to spring / summer, docking in Roseau. Carnival, Princess, Silversea, Celebrity, Cunard, Azamara and Royal Caribbean all sail there, spending one day on the island. If possible, I’d recommend visiting out of season, as I did. Rather than fighting the crowds at beauty spots like Trafalgar Falls and the Emerald Pool, you could have them all to yourself!

Dominica has an incredible hiking trail going all the way across the island

The Waitukubuli National Trail is a 114-mile hiking trail which guides you through many of the island’s most impressive landscapes. If you were to hike the entire trail from Scotts Head in the south to Capuchin in the north you’d pass through Kalinago villages (where the indigenous people live), up volcanoes, past waterfalls, cross several rivers and more. It’s worth noting that a few parts of the trail are still closed after the effects of Hurricane Maria.

Dominica is the whale watching capital of the Caribbean

If you’re visiting the island, you have to book a whale watching tour . Over 20 species have been spotted in the waters around the island, but the big draw is the pod of sperm whales. There are said to be around 300 in total, and Dominica is the only country in the world where they can be spotted all year round. 

READ MORE: Whale Watching In Dominica

Everybody knows everybody in Dominica

I’m writing this with a smile on my face, as some of my happiest memories from my time on the island are from spending time with the locals. We had some great drivers who took us to see some of the main attractions, and they seemed to know everyone!

They’d stop to say something out of the window, honk the car horn to get a friend’s attention and shake hands with people left, right and centre! It was lovely to see how close knit the island’s community is. As we headed up to a cookery class in the hills, we passed a car, and our driver mentioned the person driving was his old secondary school teacher!    

In general I found people to be friendly and welcoming. They were passionate about their home and keen to share their stories. This left me with a real feeling of warmth towards the island.

Dominica’s water is safe to drink

I always look up whether the water is safe to drink in advance and I’m SO relieved when it is. Dominica’s water is safe to drink, however some people don’t like the taste. Bottled water is available everywhere, and most restaurants will offer you the option of a proper bottle or a glass of water, which is usually filtered tap water.

Dominica is very different to Antigua

These two islands are just a 30 minute flight apart, but couldn’t be more different!

Antigua has 365 beaches (one for every day of the year) while Dominica has 365 rivers. Antigua is famed for its white sands, while Dominica’s beaches are silver and black. Antigua is relatively flat while Dominica is volcanic and mountainous. Antigua attracts families and couples wanting to relax, while Dominica attracts adventurers and nature lovers.

Rather than pick one or the other, I’d recommend a multi-stop holiday with four days in Antigua followed by four days in Dominica. You’ll get the best of both!

I hope you’ve found my guide to Dominica travel tips helpful. If you have any questions, you can leave them in the comments below.

Don’t forget to check out my other Dominica travel blogs: Top Things To Do In Dominica Whale Watching In Dominica

I was invited to explore the island by Discover Dominica , but as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Enjoyed this post? Pin it for later…

Chloe Gunning

With a passion for food, fun and adventure, Chloe is the content creator behind one of the UK's top travel blogs Wanderlust Chloe. From volcano boarding in Nicaragua, to sailing around Sicily and eating her way around Japan, her travels have taken her to some of the coolest spots on the planet. Named Travel Influencer of the Year in 2022, Chloe regularly works with a number of tourism boards, producing inspirational travel content across multiple platforms. Find out more about Chloe here.

4 thoughts on “17 Things To Know Before Visiting Dominica: Travel Tips For A Hassle Free Holiday”

hello! Thanks for the write up. Just started exploring hte idea of Dominica and knew nothing about it until now. Would love to be able to converse via email with you with questions i may have along the way.

Hi Collin – of course. Feel free to email me if you have any more Qs. I’d be happy to help!

What time of the year do you like to go to Dominica? We like to go off season and avoid crowds and cruise ships. But hurricane season doesn’t sound good either.

Hi Pat, I visited in July. It’s probably not peak time to visit but we had great weather and a lovely trip. I’ve travelled to that part of the world during hurricane season and never had an issue. Obviously, you can’t rely on it, but often the weather is fine still, just a few showers etc. I hope that helps. It’s the most wonderful island – definitely recommend!

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Dominica Travel Guide! A Complete Guide To Dominica Travel!

Categories Caribbean , Dominica

Dominica, also known as the ‘The Nature Island of the Caribbean’, is an island with 365 Rivers, 9 Volcanos, 70,000 people and an airport with the smallest runway! Dominica is wild, it feels untouched, undiscovered and this is what Dominica travel is like too! It’s not a Caribbean Island you visit to relax on a beach or in your resort. Oh no, Dominica is the island you visit for adventure, for nature, and some very friendly locals! It’s a must-visit Caribbean island!

I was lucky enough to spend 1 week in Dominica with  Discover Dominica and let’s say that Dominica is now firmly one of my top favourite countries!

Here’s my Dominica Travel Guide to help you plan your trip to Dominica or help you convince you that you need to travel to Dominica! It includes things to do in Dominica, is it safe to visit Dominica, where to stay in Dominica and places to visit in Dominica!

Dominica Travel.

Keep Reading for everything you need to know about Dominica Travel!

Find What You're Looking For Easily Here!

About Dominica Island.

The official name of the island is the ‘Commonwealth of Dominica’ and it’s located between the islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Unfortunately, Dominica often gets confused as being the same country as the Dominican Republic and often gets pronounced wrong too (its ‘Dom-in-EE-ka’ by the way).

It was the last Caribbean island to be captured and colonized by Europeans due to its mountainous landscape and fierce Carib people. The British and French battled over it until the British got hold of this natural island and it was a British Territory until 1958. In fact, the young face of Queen Elizabeth is still on the Eastern Caribbean Dollars that are used in Dominica.

Dominica’s capital city is Roseau and its second-biggest city is Portsmouth but you don’t visit Dominica for its cities, just like you don’t visit for Caribbean white-sand beaches!

Scroll to the bottom of the post to see my opinion on- is it safe to visit Dominica!

Roseau shows off the colourful side of the Caribbean

Best Time To Visit Dominica.

September / October to June is the best time of year to visit Dominica and for Dominica travel because hurricane season starts in July lasting until August.

With that being said, I travelled to Dominica at the start of July and it was a great time of year to visit Dominica island. The island was quiet with tourists because it was off-season but all of the tourism spots were open and available. We had a few rain showers in July in Dominica but nothing major and a bit of rain is all part of being on a wild island like this. If you do visit Dominica in the rainy season it seems that staying further South is best as I found the North a lot wetter than the South in July.

High Season in Dominica brings cruise ships to the island from October to April which dock at the port in Roseau. The cruise ship day-trippers can cause the island to get very busy so if you’re planning a vacation in Dominica, visiting outside of these months is a great time to visit if you want to avoid these big groups and it will help you plan your itinerary for Dominica better.

Sun and Cloud in Dominica in July

How To Get To Dominica.

Dominica’s runway and airport are tiny! I always say that the harder a place is to get to, the better it is, and this is the case with this lesser-visited Caribbean island and Dominica travel.

Getting to Dominica By Air

There are no direct flights to Dominica except from the nearby Caribbean islands. I flew from London to Antigua & Barbuda with British Airlines, I had a 2-hour wait in Antigua and then took a small plane with Liat Airlines to Melville Hall / Douglas Charles Airport. The most popular airports to transfer through when travelling from Europe and the USA to Dominica are Antigua, Barbados, Martinique and Guadeloupe.

Getting to Dominica  By Boat

If you’re visiting one of the nearby islands like Martinique and Guadeloupe it’s also possible to get a boat to Dominica which will arrive into the port in the capital city of Roseau within a few hours.

When leaving Dominica be warned that the departure room is extremely small. My recommendation is to get there 2 hours early to check-in but wait in the Oasis Restaurant next door which offers pretty decent wifi and coffee until 45-30 minutes before your flight and then go through security and to the departure gate.

Getting to Dominica  By Cruise

Dominica is included as a day stop on many Caribbean Cruises. In my opinion, the beauty of Dominica cannot be seen in one day but it’s a start.

Here’s a cruise that includes Dominica.

If you are visiting Dominica on a cruise, check out my Dominica Cruise Day Tours Ideas  to help you avoid the crowds!

Things To Do in Dominica.

Hiking in dominica..

Hiking in Dominica is extremely popular and the island has some of the best hiking in the Caribbean so make sure you fit this into your Dominica itinerary. The most well-known hike is to Boiling Lake  which is the worlds second-largest boiling lake. This is an intense hike through forests, rivers, narrow paths and through the valley of desolation taking at least 3-4 hours each way. It is not for the faint-hearted and a local guide is highly recommended.

If you are avid hiker there is the Waitukubuli National Trail (WNT)  which runs the length of Dominica for 115 miles from the South to the North of the island and goes between many Kalinago villages. The Waitukubuli National Trail is the longest walking trail in the Caribbean! Take note that you must obtain a trail pass in advance to do this walk.

For something a bit easier there are plenty more walks in Dominica to places like Middleham Fall,  and there’s a gentle walking trail around Freshwater Lake .

Essentially, make sure you pack your keen for Dominica!

FOR EVEN MORE IDEA’S OF THINGS TO DO IN DOMINICA, READ MY UNIQUE THINGS TO DO IN DOMINICA POST HERE !

Views over Dominica’s Mountains

Waterfalls, Gorges & Rivers.

I was told Dominica has 18 named waterfalls and 365 rivers which means there are lots of chances to bathe and swim in water when in Dominica.

Middleham Fall  is the best waterfall in Dominica in my opinion because you need to hike for about an hour there and back which means it’s not as visited as other waterfalls such as  Trafalgar Falls . Trafalgar Falls is good to see but it’s just a short 5-minute walk from the car park and can only be seen from an observation deck quite far away so it’s not as spectacular to see.

Middleham Fall

Trafalgar Falls

Titou Gorge & Champagne Reef are the most popular and well-known places to visit in Dominica. This is mainly because they are easily accessible for day tourists from the cruise ships that arrive onto Dominica from October to April. Because of this, they can get very busy so if you’re staying on the island of Dominica for more than one day, go early in the morning or later in the day to avoid fighting for space or queuing to get in.

Titou Gorge especially is cool because you swim through the gorge to a waterfall at the back and it’s one of the many filming locations on Dominica for the Pirates of the Caribbean film! In fact, this film is one of the reasons why Dominica travel is so popular!

Titou Gorge

Emerald Pool is another popular place to visit and swim in Dominica. It’s known as the Emerald Pool thanks to the colour that the surrounding rocks give it when the sun shines on the water, and it has 40ft waterfall rushing into it!

River Tubing is a popular thing to do for cruise day tours in Dominica, I heard it can get very busy but it sounds like a lot of fun and a great way to see 1 of the 365 rivers that Dominica has!

Just be warned that the water isn’t warm in these rivers and waterfalls but the word ‘cold’ is not allowed to be said on Dominica, its called ‘refreshing’ according to the locals and you’ll remember this Dominica travel guide when you get in and hear them say this!

Snorkelling and Diving in Dominica.

Diving in Dominica is big! The locals are very proud of their marine life and dive sites. Diving was much more popular on the island before Hurricane Maria but thankfully there are some Dive Shops back open ready to take you into the clear Caribbean water because diving is a big reason why Dominica travel is so popular!

Simon runs the dive shop Nature Island Dive down in the southern tip of the island in the village of Soufriere. He’s from England and has been living in Dominica for 25 years so he knows a lot about the island! I went out snorkelling with Nature Island Dive while Sarah who runs Girls that Scuba  went out on two dives. She said it was incredible (and she knows her stuff) because she saw many schools of fish, soft coral, two turtles and the ocean was warm! Bonus!

Nature Island Dive not only offers snorkelling and diving but kayaking and standup paddle-boarding too. They can help arrange a taxi to pick you up from where you’re staying or if you fancy testing out the local transport, there’s a cheap, local bus that goes from Roseau down to Soufriere right outside the dive shop!

If you want to dive in Dominica with a female-run dive shop, check out SALT Dominica run by Kayla who is based in Toucari.

It’s worth packing some snorkelling gear for your holiday to Dominica as you can snorkel in many different parts of the island including down at Scotts Head, Champagne Reef and Mero Beach which are all easy to access if you’re hiring a car in Dominica. Read more about Diving in Dominica .

Snorkelling in the Southern tip of the island

Whale Watching in Dominica.

Dominica is the only Caribbean island where you can see Whales all year round thanks to the huge trench that lies off its coast. Sperm Whales migrate through here and on a Whale Watching Tour in Dominica it’s very likely that you’ll see them!

I went Whale Watching in Dominica with Dive Dominica , they leave Roseau in the South of the island every Sunday afternoon and I’d recommend going with them as they are very professional and respectful of the Whales. So when planning your Dominica itinerary and Dominica travel be sure to include this bucket list activity on your Sunday in Dominica.

Indian River Boat Tour in Dominica.

To see another one of Dominica’s 365 rivers head to Portsmouth to the start of the Indian River. A local guide will take you out on the Indian River to a Bush Bar where you can get a Rum, or two. It’s a beautiful and relaxing experience travelling in a small canoe boat between palm trees getting you even closer to nature. This was one of my favourite Dominica day trips !

The Indian River

It’s only a small canoe boat and remember to put mosquito spray on!

Caribbean Cooking Class in Dominica.

If you like Caribbean Food why not get involved and take a Caribbean Cooking Class with Cooking Caribbean ! The JTAS Experience takes you to Daria’s house and kitchen where she’ll teach you to cook local foods such as Titiri Fishcakes, Plantain, Rice and Beans. She likes to cook with Rum too so you’ll be in for a few Rum tastings!

The cooking class lasts just a few hours so it’s a great activity to do in Dominica if you’re on a Caribbean Cruise stopping at Dominica for the day ! You can contact Daria on her Facebook Page here  and you might recognise her as she was on the famous Ainsley’s Cooking in the Caribbean series and a lot of Dominica travel was inspired by her alone!

Daria who runs Caribbean Cooking – photo from Wanderlust Chloe

Self-Drive Pirates of the Caribbean Tour.

You may already know this and if you didn’t you’ll hear about it a lot once you get to Dominica, but the Pirates of the Caribbean film Dead Man’s Chest was filmed mostly in Dominica. It sounds like a lot of the locals got involved when the filming happened and there are lots of places you can visit in Dominica to see where scenes were filmed.

It’s worth noting that Hurricane Maria did destroy some of the iconic filming locations and some haven’t been well kept but if you’re a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean it’s worth getting a map of the locations from your accommodation to do to a self-drive Pirates of the Caribbean Tour around Dominica to see what you can find. Plus you’ll see so much of the island at the same time!

Explore Roseau.

Roseau is a small, simple and colourful Caribbean City. It’s located right on the ocean and is where the cruise ships dock. There are markets from souvenir markets to fish markets, and on a Saturday there is a local Saturday Market selling fresh Fruit and Vegetables. There aren’t many things to do in Roseau apart from walking its main streets, taking in the 18th Century Creole buildings and the local shops. You may find a local spot to try out some Rum though!

To get a great view of Dominica’s capital city Roseau you can drive or walk up  Morne Bruce . Just below Morne Bruce are the Botanical Gardens which is another one of the things to do in Roseau.

Best Beaches in Dominica.

Just because Dominica isn’t known for its beaches it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have them. TripAdvisor will tell you that Mero Beach is Dominica’s best beach, I liked Mero Beach with its black sand but it didn’t impress me that much, to be honest so let me tell you in this Dominica travel guide which beach in Dominica did impress me!

The beach that did impress me and I highly recommend because it must be the best beach in Dominica is Batibou Bay . Its located in the North East of the island not far from the airport and you’ll need to drive there as it’s down a long bumpy track but once you’re there you’re welcomed into paradise. Batibou Beach in Dominica is a quiet, wild beach with palm trees, soft sand and gentle waves. Visiting this beach in Dominica was one of my highlights!

It seems that the beaches in the North East are all very quiet and very beautiful so take some time to drive around seeing which ones you fancy stopping at.

Other popular beaches in Dominica are  Picard Beach and Secret Bay which are on the West Coast not far from Portsmouth.

Batibou Bay before the drive down

Mero Beach said to be the best beach on the island

Dominica Site Pass.

‘Is the Dominica Site Pass worth it??’

Dominica offers a weekly site pass which covers entrance fee’s into various sites and national parks. A pass is very reasonable in price costing $12.00 USD / $32.04 ECD . Dominica National Park site passes can be purchased from tour operators and car hire agencies in Dominica, and from official sites around the island such as the Forestry, Wildlife & Parks Division on Valley Road or in the Botanical Gardens in Roseau.

These passes will really help you save money on attraction fees in Dominica and encourage you to see more of the island so I recommend for your Dominica travel in this Dominica travel guide that you get one!

This is what the site pass looks like.

Where To Stay in Dominica.

Dominica hotels.

The main thing to know about Dominica is that it is not a resort island, there are lots of nice hotels, cottages and bungalows but you won’t find huge all-inclusive resorts in Dominica (just yet, at least). The two major cities of Roseau and Portsmouth offer the most places to stay in Dominica and more Dominica accommodation can be found in the villages and towns around the island. Luckily there’s accommodation in Dominica and hotels in Dominica to suit all budgets!

Dominica’s capital is Roseau and is a popular place to stay in Dominica because of its location. I stayed for 4 nights at Fort Young Hotel which appears to be one of the best hotels in Dominica and most popular places to stay in Dominica. It has a pool looking out onto the ocean, ocean-view bedrooms with balconies, a bar and a restaurant. It’s quiet with amazingly friendly staff and from my experience there I’d highly recommend staying here!

Check out rates and availability at Fort Young Hotel here!

Fort Young Hotel Pool

Jungle Bay is a new hotel and resort in Dominica which opened in July 2019. It’s located up on a hilltop overlooking Soufriere and Scotts Head which is the most southern point of the island where the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean meet. Jungle Bay is an upmarket, eco-friendly, wellness resort with an incredible infinity pool, a spa, a restaurant, a yoga studio and huts and bungalows with a view.

It’s pretty secluded location wise which makes it a great place to relax and they offer day tours of Dominica so you can still see the island while staying at Jungle Bay Dominica.

Check out rates and availability at Jungle Bay here!

Jungle Bay Dominica Pool

Dominica is not that well known for its beaches but if you want to stay on a beach, from my trip to Dominica travels I can recommend  Picard Beach Cottages  as good Dominica accommodation. They’re pretty basic cottages but they are right on the black sand beach of Picard Beach. The cottages can sleep up to 3 people and have self-catering facilities helping you to visit Dominica on a budget. There’s a restaurant on-site and they are in walkable distance to Portsmouth city.

Check out rates and availability at Picard Beach Cottages here!

Picard Beach Cottages

Dominica Hostels

If diving is your thing or you’re visiting Dominica as a backpacker and looking for a hostel in Dominica, be sure to check out Soufriere Guesthouse  because it’s extremely well located to Nature Island Dive which is a dive shop I recommend in Dominica.

Soufriere Guesthouse has private rooms and dormitory rooms starting at $23.00 USD as well as a garden, bar and shared kitchen meaning you can stay in Dominica on a budget here, meet cool people and focus on your diving!

For more Dominica Hotels to suit all budgets and style of travel, have a look at Booking.com !

How To Get Around Dominica.

The best way to get around Dominica is to  hire a car  and drive yourself around. The only thing to be aware of is that the roads are very windy and hilly so you do need to be a confident driver. Plus, if you’re from the US or Europe you’ll be driving on the other side of the road as they drive on the left side of the road in Dominica, the same as in the UK.

For the best car hire in Dominica, I recommend  Happy Car Rentals . They have a range of cars on their website which are perfect to use on the island as well as being cheap and affordable.

If you want a driver you can speak to Happy Car Rentals too. They drove my group all around the island and the drivers were so friendly and knowledgeable.

Alternatively, there are plenty of taxi’s available in Roseau ready to take you around the island and your accommodation can help book taxis for you.

There is a public bus system all around the island which is cheap to use. Just be aware that buses stop running at about 5:00-6:00 pm.

I really recommend Happy Car Rentals!

What To Pack For Dominica.

Hopefully, you can tell that you’ll need more than just swimwear and nice shoes on this Caribbean Island and for your Dominica travel trip!

Make sure you pack trainers and if you plan to do more intense hiking like going to the Boiling Lake, hiking boots will be best. I love KEEN hiking shoes .

Take a waterproof jacket as you’ll find it tends to rain in the rainforest of Dominica and there can be bursts of rain all over the island throughout the year because of how tropical it is.

Mosquito spray should be on your Dominica packing list, as should UK adapters (hotels do have US plugs but mostly they’re UK plugs).

If you suffer from travel sickness, pack some motion sickness tablets as the roads in Dominica have a lot of bends and you may need it for Whale Watching too!

Activewear is a must-pack!

Is Dominica Safe To Visit?

Tourism and Dominica travel declined a lot in Dominica after Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Maria destroyed much of the island taking many homes, lives and left the island looking brown rather than lush green like it did before.

From my experience visiting Dominica in 2019, I can tell you that the island is bouncing back , and fast. Much of the island is now cleared with roads in good condition, houses have and are being rebuilt, and nature is, of course, doing her thing and bringing the island back to life in the most incredible way.

While the locals will tell you that Dominica was much greener before Maria, I must say it looks pretty good now and to think of it looking even better is pretty amazing.

In terms of asking if Dominica is safe to visit? Well, it’s no safer and unsafer than the other islands in this area of the Caribbean. Hurricane Season in Dominica happens in August and September which are not the best months to visit Dominica anyway due to the wind and rain so if you’re concerned, be sure not to visit during these months.

As for safety in terms of theft and travelling to Dominica as a female. I felt very safe at all times in Dominica.  During my one week in Dominica, I was with a group, and either a guide or driver, a lot of the time but had I been on my own I believe I would have still felt safe. The people of Dominica were very lovely and welcoming. I received a few stares and comments from men at times, especially in Roseau but that’s the same all over the world and I never felt threatened.

Our driver told us about some tourists he had met who were driving around the island, they had some issues with their car but said to him that someone was always willing to help and they couldn’t believe the kindness of the people.

Remember that you’ll need travel insurance before your trip to Dominica. Most policies exclude the Caribbean unless you choose this area so if you have annual cover already, make sure your policy includes it or take out another policy for your trip. In addition to this, you’ll probably be doing some adventure activities in Dominica so make sure your travel insurance covers you. Standard cover is not likely to cover canyoning for example.

Dominica Travel Tips.

The currency on the island is Eastern Caribbean Dollars . You can pay in US Dollars too but it’s likely you’ll get ECD in return.

Although you may hear locals speaking in a local Creole language known as Kokoy, English is the main language spoken in Dominica making it very easy to get around and get a better understanding of the island.

Eastern Caribbean Dollars with young-looking Queen Elizabeth

Sunset from Fort Young Hotel in Roseau

There you have it! My Full Dominica Travel Guide for your Dominica Travel to the nature island of the Caribbean and I’m not sure if there’s anywhere more special in the world!

If you’d rather SEE Dominica, have a watch of my YouTube video here !

• For more posts on Dominica see:
• 10 Unique Things To Do in Dominica.
• 6 Dominica Day Tours For Cruise Ship Tourists To Avoid The Crowds!
• What To Pack For A One Week Holiday in The Caribbean!

My trip to Dominica was with Discover Dominica and Traverse Events however all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

If you liked this please share it! 🙂

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. *

• Search forums

News & Weather

Daily headline news new.

• Yesterday at 3:47 PM

Travel & Tourism News New

• Apr 8, 2024

Covid-19 in DR

• Jan 20, 2024

Weather & Beyond New

• Apr 6, 2024

Calendar New

• Thursday at 4:07 AM

New Members Introductions New

• Friday at 4:54 PM
• TravelOverSky

Technical Help & Info

• Mar 5, 2024
• Today at 6:06 AM

• Aug 6, 2021

Transportation

• Mar 24, 2024

Santo Domingo New

• Yesterday at 6:20 PM

East Coast New

• Monday at 11:56 AM

North Coast New

• 13 minutes ago

South Coast New

• Yesterday at 6:57 PM
• bob saunders

Central New

• Apr 7, 2024

North East Coast New

• Yesterday at 2:01 AM

South West Coast New

• Apr 13, 2024

Travel Questions

• Feb 19, 2024

North West New

• Apr 15, 2024

Trip Reports New

• Yesterday at 9:09 PM
• Joseph NY2STI

The Rendezvous Point

• Jan 1, 2024
• NanSanPedro

Travel Directions

• Feb 12, 2024

Airline Info New

• Friday at 12:23 PM

Business Questions New

• Tuesday at 10:29 PM

General stuff New

• Yesterday at 7:31 PM
• Yesterday at 12:03 PM

Government New

• Apr 19, 2024

Environment

• Sep 24, 2023

Real Estate New

• Apr 14, 2024

Dominicans Abroad New

• Yesterday at 7:16 PM

The BEST of the DR

• Jan 12, 2024

• Nov 11, 2023

DR Photo Walks New

• Apr 11, 2024
• Mar 23, 2024

• Yesterday at 2:04 PM

Just for the ladies

• Nov 20, 2023

Men from mars and women from venus

• Ask "badpiece"

• Feb 24, 2024
• Aug 12, 2023

Spanish 101

• Mar 13, 2024

Dominican Baseball New

• Monday at 1:40 PM

Community Support New

• Yesterday at 3:52 PM

The Clown Bin New

• Yesterday at 9:06 AM

Classifieds

Items for sale.

• Mar 26, 2024

• Nov 19, 2023

Advertising & Marketing New

Message archives, 2001 archive.

• Feb 23, 2024

2000 Archive

• Apr 25, 2022

1999 Archive

• May 8, 2022

Business 2001

• Jan 16, 2001

Pan American Games 2003

• Dec 20, 2023

Election 2004

• Aug 16, 2004

Latest posts

• Latest: SantiagoDR
• Latest: josh2203
• Today at 5:55 AM
• Latest: JD Jones
• Yesterday at 9:50 PM
• Latest: Joseph NY2STI

Forum statistics

Share this page.

• Dominica Tourism
• Dominica Hotels
• Dominica Bed and Breakfast
• Dominica Holiday Rentals
• Flights to Dominica
• Dominica Restaurants
• Dominica Attractions

Dominica Travel Forum

• Dominica Pictures
• Dominica Map
• All Dominica Hotels
• Dominica Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Hostels
• Dominica Campsites
• Dominica Green Hotels
• Business Hotels Dominica
• Family Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Resorts
• Luxury Hotels in Dominica
• Spa Resorts in Dominica
• Romantic Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Beach Hotels
• 5-stars Hotels in Dominica
• 4-stars Hotels in Dominica
• 3-stars Hotels in Dominica
• Ascend Collection Hotels in Dominica
• Pet Friendly Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Hotels with a Pool
• Dominica Hotels with Parking
• Dominica Exotic Resorts
• Dominica Exotic Hotels
• Dominica Yoga Resorts
• Dominica Snorkelling Resorts
• Dominica Hiking Resorts
• Dominica Yoga Hotels
• Dominica Hotels with Soundproof Rooms
• Dominica Horseback Riding Hotels
• Dominica Hotels with Game Room
• Dominica Hotels with Lounge
• Hotels near Trafalgar Falls
• Hotels near Champagne Beach
• Hotels near Emerald Pool Nature Trail
• Hotels near Middleham Falls
• Hotels near Boiling Lake
• Hotels near Dominica Botanic Gardens
• Hotels near Titou Gorge
• Hotels near Mero Beach
• Hotels near Screw's Sulphur Spa
• Hotels near Indian River
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Holiday Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Dominica Forum

• Caribbean    
• Singapore Forums
• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Holiday Rentals
• North America forums
• Caribbean forums

• In Our Nature
• History & Culture
• Must-See Dominica

• Itineraries
• Tour Operators
• Events Calendar
• voluntourism
• Work In Nature

SAMPLE ITINERARY

• Restaurants
• Guest Houses

Featured Hotel

• Travel Advisory

Cruise Guests

Island Hopping/Ferries

Island Transportation

Useful Information

The journey starts here, Dominica Awaits!

Dominica will let you discover untold treasures. it will take some patience to get to see them..

Dominica isn’t your typical Caribbean island, thick with tourists and traffic. The Nature Island will let you discover untold treasures and amazing experiences. These tips will make planning easier.

Your journey will often entail a stop at one other island before you take a ferry or regional airline to Dominica.

Getting Here:

From the United States/Canada , getting here is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

• Make a one-stop connection from up to 42 cities in North America served by American Airlines into Miami International Airport.
• Take a direct American Airlines flight from Miami International Airport and fly direct to Dominica on Mondays through Sundays in December 2023.
• Flights will increase to 4 per week in February 2023.
• Make a one-stop connection through San Juan, Puerto Rico into Dominica daily in December 2023.

American Airlines , Delta and JetBlue have codeshare agreements with Silver Airways, making your trip as simple and easy as possible.

From Europe , international flights connect through hubs in Antigua (ANU), Barbados (BGI), Martinique (FDF), St. Maarten (SXM), Puerto Rico (SJU), Guadeloupe (PTP), St. Lucia (SLU), and Trinidad (POS).

Learn more about how to get here and other airlines.

View How to Get Here |  View Trave l Entry Protocols

 Ensure that you visit our travel page

for newly relaxed entry protocols.

• Dominica Tourism
• Dominica Hotels
• Dominica Bed and Breakfast
• Dominica Vacation Rentals
• Flights to Dominica
• Dominica Restaurants
• Dominica Attractions

Dominica Travel Forum

• Dominica Photos
• Dominica Map
• All Dominica Hotels
• Dominica Hotel Deals
• Last Minute Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Hostels
• Dominica Campsites
• Romantic Hotels Dominica
• Dominica Green Hotels
• Dominica Family Hotels
• Spa Resorts Dominica
• Business Hotels Dominica
• Dominica Resorts
• Dominica Beach Hotels
• Dominica Luxury Hotels
• 5-stars Hotels in Dominica
• 4-stars Hotels in Dominica
• 3-stars Hotels in Dominica
• Ascend Collection Hotels in Dominica
• Dominica Hotels with Parking
• Dominica Hotels with a Pool
• Pet Friendly Hotels in Dominica
• Spa Hotels in Dominica
• Beach Resorts in Dominica
• Hotels with Complimentary Breakfast in Dominica
• Dominica Hot Tub Suite Hotels
• Boutique Bed and Breakfast in Dominica
• Suite Resorts in Dominica
• Suite Hotels in Dominica
• Spa Resorts in Dominica
• Romantic Bed and Breakfast in Dominica
• Resorts with Hot Tubs in Dominica
• Hotels near Trafalgar Falls
• Hotels near Champagne Beach
• Hotels near Emerald Pool Nature Trail
• Hotels near Middleham Falls
• Hotels near Boiling Lake
• Hotels near Dominica Botanic Gardens
• Hotels near Titou Gorge
• Hotels near Mero Beach
• Hotels near Screw's Sulphur Spa
• Hotels near Indian River
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Dominica Forum

• Caribbean    
• Canada Forums
• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• North America forums
• Caribbean forums

White House's Sullivan expects to travel to Saudi Arabia in next few weeks

• Medium Text

Sign up here.

Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Steve Holland; editing by Jonathan Oatis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. New Tab , opens new tab

World Chevron

Abbas says only US can halt Israel's attack on Rafah, expected in days

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday only the United States could stop Israel attacking the border city of Rafah in Gaza, adding that the assault, which he expects within days, could force much of the Palestinian population to flee the enclave.

Oleksandr Taran's mobile artillery unit isn't officially part of Ukraine's military, but that hasn't stopped his men from destroying Russian targets on their own dime.

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.