Holidays in Dominica

Understanding Dominica

Climate

Tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall Flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months

Terrain

Rugged mountains of volcanic origin

highest point 

Morne Diablotin 1,447 m

History

Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans, due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which made the island a colony in 1805 In 1980, two years after independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia Charles, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office for 15 years Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean

Talking in Dominica

Languages : English official, French patois

What to see in Dominica

See One week in Dominica for a sample one-week itinerary around the island

What to do in Dominica

• JC Ocean Adventures Mero Village 767-449-6957 wwwjcoceanadventurescom vary varies 1525N 6127WJC Ocean Adventures offers sportfishing, snorkeling, whale/dolphin watching, coastal cruises, scuba diving, and Discover Scuba Diving We cater to small groups with personalized service We provide all needed gear for the trip you choose along with snacks and soft drinks Come enjoy a relaxing day on the sea with us

Hiking trip, biking, ATV tours, or zip lining- Enjoy nature and experiencing the greenery and wildlife in their own habitat Dominica offers a trek through the rainforest on some of the best biking or hiking trails The ATV tours are exhilarating They are a great way to cover a large area of the island And, zip lining gets you right in the middle of the forest with an amazing view and a thrilling ride!

Scuba Diving, waterskiing, jet skiing, kayaking or other water sports- Scuba Diving or snorkeling in Dominica allows you to see ocean life from a whole new perspective Waterskiing and jet skiing are a challenging, fast-paced ride And kayaking or canoeing provide an alternative to the ocean and let you experience the rivers and inland bodies of water throughout Dominica

Whale watching, dolphin watching, or boat tours- See beautiful sea creatures swim the open waters on a Dominica whale or dolphin watching trip And, take a boat tour around the island to photograph Dominica’s exotic scenery and historic site seeing spots

Canyoning or rock climbing- Dominica rock climbing and canyoning is an encouraging and motivating experience It tests strength and agility while experiencing some of the most breathtaking views of Dominica

Festivals or special events- Dominica is known for their many island events The Caribbean Islands love food, music, and celebration Whether it’s a cultural gathering or a music festival Dominica offers it

Spa treatments and relaxation- Many of Dominica’s resorts offer spa vacation services on the premise for a convenient way to get rejuvenated for the next day of activities

Buying stuff in Dominica

The best local handicrafts are Carib made baskets The earth tone colors come from burying the fibers in the ground for different lengths of time US citizens likely others need to ensure that the materials from which they are made allow them to be taken back home

Dominica is also well known for its music, so be sure to buy some local music while you are on the island Genres range from jazz, reggae-dancehall, calypso & soca, to Cadence-lypso and Bouyon and which are popular Dominican genres Visit during the last weekend in October and be treated to the World Creole Music Festival 5 or if you can't make it, ask for the best local artistes, and be aware of pirated copies!

Many kiosks and vendors line the shore at the main cruise ship dock One excellent leather store faces the dock on the other side of the road Just a short block inland lies a packed, open-air market with perhaps the island's best selection of souvenirs

Look out for cacao sticks to make cocoa tea as a nice souvenir to take back home

• JC Ocean Adventures Mero Village, Dominica 767-449-6957 wwwjcoceanadventurescom vary 50-750 US 1525N 6127WJC Ocean Adventures offers sportfishing, snorkeling, whale watching, coastal cruises, scuba diving and Discover Scuba Diving We cater to small groups with personalized service We provide all gear required for the trip you choose along with snacks and soft drinks

Food and eating in Dominica

• Black Boys Bar Newtown end of Newtown before Castle Comfort look for sign on road 8am - 12am Eat and drink local food and rum at this waterside local-style bar Try fried plantains, codfish and bakes, fried fish and tamarind balls under the coconut trees with BlackBoy's choice of reggae music

Drinking in Dominica

Freshly squeezed grapefruit is ubiquitous and is perfect with every meal Coconut water is cheap and readily available by the side of the road Another local specialty is sorrel This red refreshing drink is brewed from the flowers of an hibiscus specie common also in Jamaica The popular locally brewed beer is Kubuli Ask your hotel to set up a tour of the brewery

There are many vendors of fruit juice in Roseau Almost without exception this is non-pasturised fruit juice with water and sugar added The added water is usually chlorinated tap water A juice vendor known as Pal sells his juice by the area where one can find a bus to Portsmouth Pal is one of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable fruit vendors on the island He sometimes has juice from rare fruits

Quenchi is a local soft drink which comes in many different flavors It can be found in every village with diet varieties at the IGA in Roseau

Sorrel, known as the christmas drink for its red colour and because it only flowers around christmas is made from boiled flowers It tastes heavenly

Avocado pear juice can be purchased in some small cafes and is certainly worth a try Other flavours include soursop, passionfruit, grapefruit, orange, lime, beetroot

Accommodation in Dominica

Many accommodations on the island are outside of the towns For in-city accommodations, see the respective city articles

• Calibishie Cove: 6 Luxurious suites with amazing views of sea, red rock islands, the coastline, and beaches Penthouse has a saline plunge pool overlooking Treasure Island with a rooftop balcony overlooking the incredible eastern coastline All suites have great style and each has a different coastal view

• Belle Côte Villa 7 Luxury 3 Bedroom 2 1/2 Bath air conditioned Villa with private swimming pool at Hodges Beach Sleeps 10 in comfort Beautiful views Great place for swimming, snorkeling, fishing, hiking or just relaxing 15 minutes from the airport and close to Calibishie Best value for a family or group

• 'Jungle Bay Resort & Spa' 8 Choose from 35 treetop cottages at this 'barefoot luxury' resort Try the popular ' Jungle Spa Adventure Package' for the best value!

• Calibishie Lodges 9 $80-130 USD Located on hillside above the beach Pool, gardens, and restaurant

• Veranda View A small guest house located in the north part of the Island, Veranda View is an ideal location to base yourself to tour the island Located 15 minutes from the Melville Hall Airport, the guest house is easy to find on the main road in Calibishie

• 'Pointe Baptiste Villa and cottage' 10 Historic wooden houses on 25 acre property next to Calibishie includes lush coastal forest, landscaped garden, 2 beaches and numerous coves, wild fauna Organic fruit, vegetables and herbs grown on the property

• 'BareFoot Travel' 11 Offers a choice of over 30 properties in Dominica Diving and Adventure Packages

• '3 Rivers Eco Lodge' 12 Individual cottages, dormitory style accommodation, tent rental, as well as a bamboo tree house and two traditional carib Indian jungle huts made from local sustainable materials The tree house and jungle huts are about 15 minutes hike into the rain forest out on the property

• 'Beau Rive' 13 Stunning cliff views in Carib Territory, rooms are large and airy Mark, the proprietor, is a charming host and points visitors to some lesser known attractions nearby Ideal for independent travelers with a vehicle The food and atmosphere in the dining room is impeccable and reflects the owner's cosmopolitan origins

• 'Papillote' 14 Deep in the jungle built atop bubbling hot springs this little enclave puts you at the foot of the hike to Trafalgar Falls and considerably closer to the Boiling Lake trail head On site there are two waterfalls, wild fauna, four beautifully set hot spring pools, resident chickens and peacocks The kitchen serves excellent straightforward healthy fare with a decidedly Caribbean touch

• 'WindBlow Villas' 15 Wind Blow Estate is a villa consisting of three separate suites, each offering total privacy and a full range of amenities for guests The upper Suite #1 and lower Suite #3 feature one bedroom and one bath, a well-appointed kitchen and a spacious living room The middle Suite #2 features two bedrooms and two baths, full kitchen facilities and a spacious living room Wind Blow is designed as a self-catering facility, though you may also wish to enjoy several of our excellent restaurants in the village of Calibishie, an easy 20 minute walk from Wind Blow

• 'Nature Island Eco-village', Possibly the cheapest travel option Only for adventure travellers The site is only accessable by foot, including a river ford or zip line Work trade can be arranged in some cases to cover cost of stay

• Nature Island Eco-village Offers a hands on course in subsistence farming, organic farming and permaculture principles
• Sunset Bay Club & Seaside Dive Resort Batalie Beach, Coulibistrie 767-446-6522 wwwsunsetbayclubcom 2:00 pm 12:00 noon varies 1527N 6128WSunset Bay Club is a cozy beachfront hotel which includes 8 double standard rooms, 4 quadruple standard rooms and 1 stand alone suite set among our lush tropical gardens We offer on-site restaurant, bar, dive center, pool and sauna You can choose from our all-inclusive or bed & breakfast plans to suit your needs Come join us for a quiet, relaxing vacation
• Castle Comfort Sea View Villas http://wwwislandguestscom/content/rent/CastleComfort2htm Spacious holiday home, three bedroom, two bath, large balcony with Caribbean views, combined lounge and dining room, separate games room Up the hill from the Castle Comfort and Anchorage dive resorts and several restaurants On nearly half an acre of land with bananas, pineapple, mangoes and many other fruits in season 10 minutes from Roseau town centre TV and internet access Futon can sleep an extra two people

Working in Dominica

All work permits are valid for one-year duration and can be renewed An application involves the submission of two completed copies of the relevant form together with the following supporting documents;

• Medical certificate;
• Two testimonials;
• Banker's financial reference/statement;
• Police record/statement;
• Proof of return ticket;
• Two 2 passport size photographs;
• Marriage certificate where applicable;
• Letter stating duration and type of employment;

Work Exchange at Nature Island Eco-village Tourist permits do not permit work for money, however, work trade is not forbidden

Cities in Dominica