Dominica
The Nature Island
14 nights days from £3,029 pp
Includes: flights via Barbados, car hire, transfers, 7 nights B&B at each of 2 hotels on suggested itinerary below.
Overview & Highlights
The Nature Island of Dominica, is the most heavily-forested island in the Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles. A perfect destination for Natural History lovers. It lies between the French-speaking islands of Guadeloupe, 60 miles to the north and Martinique, 58 miles to the south. We think of Dominica as a cross between The Azores and Costa Rica – a forest clad volcanic island covered in jungles and tropical wildlife.
Originally named WAITUKUBULI by the indigenous Kalinago people, Christopher Columbus renamed the island Dominica as he made landfall on a Sunday in November 1493. 29 miles long and 16 miles wide, Dominica is a little over twice the size of Malta. The highest mountain, Morne Diablotin, stands at 1,447m.
There are nine volcanoes, one of which remains active, and which bubbles away in the Valley of Desolation. The Boiling Lake, a freshwater volcanic crater where a large fumarole superheats the ground water, is one of the largest in the world and is reached by a four-hour trek (you need to be fit, and it is (very!) strongly recommended that you take a guide). In 1997, the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, one of several on the island, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Atlantic Ocean side to the east is wild and rocky and the western Caribbean Sea side of the island has a more gentle feel. Covered in tropical rainforest and cloud forest, Dominica features many waterfalls and some 365 rivers. Flowers, vegetables and tropical fruits abound. Around 200 bird species have been recorded; mammals include agoutis, wild pigs and opossums.
Getting there: Flights to Dominica arrive via Barbados or Miami and also from neighbouring islands Guadeloupe or Martinique (where ferries also connect)
- Rugged, tropical forest covered landscapes
- Spectacular coastline, sandy coves & warm waters
- Challenging trekking and soft adventures
- Pristine waterfalls, rivers & volcanic fumaroles
- World-class scuba diving sites
- Whale, dolphin and turtle watching
- Pre-Lenten carnival and Creole music festivals
- Excellent seafood and superb hand made local chocolate
- Rum punch is a signature drink … and very strong!
- Snorkelling sites such as the Champagne Reef
“Dominica is a Caribbean island like no other – a true nature lovers paradise and tiny hidden gem – I was lucky to see turtle hatchlings entering the sea on my trip there! Make sure you visit soon before the international airport arrives in a couple of years and the world discovers it!”
Coral reefs surround Dominica with seas full of marine life. In the warm waters you can spot whales, dolphins and turtles. Scuba diving here is world-class – and Soufriere, to the south, is also a free-diving centre of repute, having recently hosted the World Championships.
The climate is tropical, with summer temperatures (December to March/April) at 32 degrees Centigrade and winter (May to November) 29/30 degrees Centigrade. The rainy season is from June to October, and August and September are also the most likely period for hurricanes.
All holidays to Dominica are tailor made. Here is just one example of a 14 night twin centre holiday staying in Portsmouth and Soufriere
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- Day 1: Arrive into Dominica and transfer to your first hotel, The Champs.
- Day 2: Relax and plan your experiences!
- Days 3-7: Explore along the Calibishie coast.
- Your car will be delivered to the hotel in the morning of your third day which we will give you the opportunity to explore at leisure. Discover the town of Portsmouth, visit Cabrits National Park and Fort Shirley and drive along the Calibishie coast and take a swim at the beautiful Batibu beach (20 minutes’ walk down from the road). You will find small sea front restaurants in Calibishie and also along Prince Rupert and Douglas Bays.
- Drive to the spectacular extinct volcano of Morne Aux Diables and take a short walk down to the base of the crater to see the cold water bubbling up from many miles beneath the earth’s crust. Visit the artisan chocolate factory at Pointe Baptiste and the volcanic red rocks. Visit Barana Aute, the centre of the Kalinago indigenous community and view their intricate basket ware and have lunch at the centre. The Kalinago are very proud of their heritage and Barana Aute a delightful spot. The restaurant there serves local dishes fresh from their small farms. The activities here are endless including a variety of hikes, bird watching opportunities (with guide if required), fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling and kayaking. The Indian River excursion is a real treat.
- Day 8: The drive from The Champs Hotel to Jungle Bay Hotel would take, under normal circumstances, 1hr 30 min but that does not allow for getting lost on the way (!) and stopping off for a swim at the delightful dark sand Mero beach, lined with a handful of restaurants and bar shacks serving rum punch. Traversing Roseau, the capital, make a stop to visit the botanical gardens and the Old Market Square. Make sure you arrive at Jungle Bay before dark as the roads are better navigated during the day!
- Days 9-14: This is a most beautiful area of the island, tapering to Scotts Head and Soufriere Marine Reserve where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic. The Soufriere area is a more convenient base from which to visit Roseau and all the attractions of the Morne Trois Pitons National Park with its rivers and waterfalls seemingly appearing out of nowhere. This area is considered to be one of the best scuba diving areas in the world and even if you do not want to scuba dive then with a snorkel you will find the water teeming with ocean life. You also have champagne Beach on your doorstep where underground fumaroles bubble to the surface and you feel as if you are swimming in champagne This is also an excellent centre for bird watching, kayaking, for sulphur spring spas and for hiking various sections of the Waitukubuli trail which runs across the length of the island. On day 12 in the afternoon your car will be collected from the hotel (or we can extend the hire if you wish).
- Day 15: Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
This is just one example of a holiday to the Nature Island of Dominica. Contact me for your own bespoke holiday to this beautiful region of the Caribbean. You may also be interested in a holiday to Guadeloupe.
A few impressions…
“We loved exploring Dominica, the jungle filled mountains and tropical gardens were beautiful. Snorkelling in the (very) warm waters was a unique experience feeling volcanic hot springs bubbling around us.”
J & J
Let us begin the journey that will create memories to last a lifetime.
