Dominica
in Caribbean

Not the Dominican Republic. Not Dominique in Guadeloupe. Dominica is its own thing entirely, and the distinction matters. Where most Caribbean islands sold themselves to the beach resort decades ago, this one kept the rainforest, the volcanic peaks, the boiling lake steaming quietly in the interior, and the rivers running cold and clear through gorges that see very few visitors. The diving is among the finest in the region. The hiking is serious. Roseau is a small, unpretentious capital that gets on with its day. Dominica is for people who find the standard Caribbean offer vaguely unsatisfying. It will not disappoint them.

how long to go for

a weekend, a long weekend

when to go

december, january, february, march, april

holidays

independence day (3 nov), carnival (variable feb/mar), august monday (1st mon aug), emancipation day (1 aug)

how to get there

fly via barbados, antigua, or puerto rico to douglas-charles airport, or take a ferry from martinique or guadeloupe.

how to get around

by car, by minibus, on foot

nice to know

hire a car with four-wheel drive. the roads into the interior are steep and worth every metre.

local language

english, antillean creole

currency

eastern caribbean dollar

in an emergency

call 999