Dominica Travel Guide

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Top Things to See

Carnival colors
With February comes Carnival season (Mas Dominik): two weeks of celebrations culminating in a wild, colorful costumed parade. Revel in dazzling sequins, feather-topped masks and glitzy-ritzy skimpy dresses; watch street jugglers, prancing musicians and marching drummers amidst cheering crowds of merrymakers.

Black sand beaches
Striking black sand beaches lie along Dominica's east coast and sections of the island's west coast. While these dark strips of coastline may not be as inviting to sunbathers as the gleaming golden stretches also found on the island, they are without doubt a dramatic sight to behold.

Soufriere Sulphur Springs
See this otherworldly landscape, largely absent of plant life owing to the sulphuric fumes and gushes of hot water. A pool has been built at the bottom of the valley for bathers eager to bath in the warm waters.

Trafalgar Falls
Dominica's most popular waterfalls are incredibly beautiful and many flock to see the waters tumbling down the rocks. After heavy rains the waters can get pretty powerful and the rocks dangerously slippery, so take care if you decide to take a dip.

Emerald Pool
Waters appear glimmering green in the leafy light as the cascading waterfall crashes into the deep pool below; this is one of the most popular points in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park.

Boiling Lake
The Morne Trois Pitons National Park is home to the Boiling Lake: a steaming basin of bubbling liquid found at an altitude of 2,500ft (762m). It can only be reached by foot, and it is highly recommended that anyone undertaking the 7-mile journey from Laudat is accompanied by a guide.

Titou Gorge
Take a plunge in Titou Gorge and swim the clear waters to Titou Falls for an impressive gaze up the magnificent rock face. (If it has recently rained heavily you may not be permitted to swim up to the falls as they can be dangerously strong.)

Central Forest Reserve
This beautiful reserve is home to a vast population of gommier trees whose wood has provided building and craft material to the Carib peoples for hundreds of years; drive through the reserve and enjoy the surrounding greenery, lakes and rivers.

Botanical Gardens
Roseau's well-maintained botanic gardens provide a green escape in the busy city. The grounds have been battered by several hard-hitting tropical storms, such as 1979's hurricane David which brought much devastation; a bus which was crushed by a tree in the hurricane remains as a powerful reminder.

L'Escalier Tête-chien
L'Escalier Tête Chien (which in French Creole means Stairway of the snakes head) is an impressive rock formation jutting out into the Atlantic, and is found in the South of the Carib territory.

Top Things to Do

Jeep safari tour
Explore the hinterland's hidden reaches by a jeep safari tour and experience a tranquil contrast to bustling Roseau. Scour forests for bird-life and marvel at vibrant tropical blooms nestled amongst rock crevices and moss-covered patchy scrub.

Visit Cabrits Historical Park
On the Cabrits Peninsula find the fine ruins of Fort Shirley and Fort George dating back to the 18th century. Visit the small museum near the entrance which features collections of artifacts discovered on the site, and explore the jungle-lined hiking trails around the area.

Hike inMorne Trois Pitons National Park
Stretch your legs amid the lush greenery, towering trees and exotic foliage found along the Morne Trois Pitons National Park's hiking trails.

Whale watching
The waters surrounding Dominica are teeming with impressive wildlife, and they are especially renowned for their prime whale watching; sperm whales, pilot whales and pygmy whales all glide around the Dominican coast, as do Atlantic and spotted dolphins.

Watersports
The clear warm Dominican waters are perfect for scuba-diving and snorkeling, especially in the popular water-sports area of Soufrière where dramatic volcanic cliffs tumble into the sea. Visibility is usually up to 80m (263ft) with some of the best, lesser-known snorkeling spots reached by kayaking along the coast.

Explore Roseau
Explore Dominica's capital, boasting friendly locals and sea views. Join in the hubbub of downtown and then relax in the Botanical Gardens (see Things to see).

Go swimming
Dominica's beaches vary in quality, but there are many seaside spots perfect for diving beneath the waves. If salty sea water isn't your bag, head to the Layou on the west coast for a freshwater dip.

Visit Carib Indian Territory
Discover the indigenous lands of Carib Indian Territory, home to the only remaining Carib community in the Caribbean. Still renowned for their canoe-building skills, the Caribs' long, pointed vessels are hewn from a single trunk of a gommier tree. Visitors may be able to witness a craftsman at work using age-old traditional carving tools. Visit the traditinoa village of Kalinago Barana Aute (www.kalinagobaranaaute.com) for traditional arts and crafts.