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Places to visit in Dominica

For an island that is the same size as Anglesey in Wales, this beauty packs a seriously pretty punch. From rainforest to volcanic voracity, a superb long distance walking trail to sublime birdlife. And, most of all, mountains. It has terrain that keeps you guessing, and so when it comes to making a list of all the places to visit, be prepared for all sorts. It is sizzling, sweaty and totally sumptuous.

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Places to visit in Dominica

It’s hardly surprising that Pirates of the Caribbean was shot on Dominica. So many of the place names sound like they have been lifted straight off a pirate map: Boiling Lake, Valley of Desolation, Stinking Hole or Scott’s Head. In fact, these names are nearly always related to natural wonders rather than horrible histories. Dominica does have its fair share of historical hardships, with colonialism and ensuing slavery leaving their mark on many of the places to visit in Dominica. Most of all, there's pure volcanic virtuosity, thanks to nine volcanoes. Whether they are dormant or extinct, they are still burbling with rich rainforest, geysers and gorges, birdlife and misty mountain tops.

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1. Boiling Lake & Valley of Desolation
2. Cabrits National Park
3. Champagne Reef
4. Emerald Pool
5. Kalinago Barana Autê Cultural Village
6. Morne Diablotin National Park
7. Morne Trois Pitons National Park
8. Rosalie
9. Scotts Head
10. Trafalgar Falls
11. Waitukubuli National Trail
12. Wotten Waven Sulphur Springs

Boiling Lake & Valley of Desolation

1. Boiling Lake & Valley of Desolation

In the heart of the Morne Trois Pitons NP, it’s a serious 3-4 hour hike from Laudat to this natural cauldron. Or ‘flooded fumarole’ to use the technical term. A local guide is a must to lead you up the steep rocky paths of the Valley, following boiling streams and sulphur springs up into cloud forest. The reward – a steaming 60m-wide lake, heated to boiling point by lava way down in the mysterious depths.

Boiling Lake & Valley of Desolation

Cabrits National Park

2. Cabrits National Park

A wild, peninsular national park where, although only 5km², you escape into what feels like microcosm of the island as a whole. With tropical forests, coral reefs and wetlands, lose yourself to nature, be it hiking across it or diving around it. Great for family hikes through rainforest to discover ruins of British Fort Shirley – now thankfully taken over by jungle. Because just like so much of Dominica, nature wins the day.

Champagne Reef

3. Champagne Reef

One of the few places in the world where gas is actually gorgeous. Not only can you snorkel among lobster, trumpet fish, harlequin bass or even hawksbill turtles, but you also flow through sporadic shots of bubbles emitted from the volcanic depths below. Head to Champagne Beach to rent equipment or go on scuba diving trip for total immersion. Best times are early AM or late PM to avoid cruise ship crowds.

Champagne Reef

Emerald Pool

4. Emerald Pool

If you want a stunning waterfall to swim under, this is the one. Located in the Morne Trois Pitons NP, and a magical stop when hiking Segment 5 of the Waitukubuli National Trail. Hard to imagine that part of this trail follows a path built by slaves in 1828, especially when it leads to the most stunning waterfall and exquisitely emerald pool. Get here early morning or evening to avoid cruise ship crowds.

Kalinago Barana Autê Cultural Village

5. Kalinago Barana Autê Cultural Village

Founded 2006 to share the living and ancient culture of Dominica’s indigenous Kalinago people. The village is the tourist hub, part of the 15km² territory belonging to this 3,400 strong population. A place to get a real sense of human survival on this island as well as its ancient heritage, be it cookery or craft, politics or performances, farming or fishing. They also run Kalinago guided tours into the country’s interior.

Kalinago Barana Autê Cultural Village

Morne Diablotin National Park

6. Morne Diablotin National Park

Dominica's newest national park is home to its highest volcano, Morne Diablotin (1,447m). It was founded in 2000 to protect the habitat of the endemic sisserou (imperial amazon) and Jaco (red-necked) parrots, just a couple of the bevy of beautiful birds in the national park’s Syndicate Rainforest. The Syndicate Nature Trail is perfect for birding, or take on the challenging summit trail to the top of this idyllic world.

Morne Trois Pitons National Park

7. Morne Trois Pitons National Park

A volcanic virtuosity with 1,342m Morne Trois Pitons volcano as its Dominican diva. The supporting cast is made up of other volcanoes, hot springs, boiling mud pools, crater lakes, cloud and rainforest, the Titou Gorge and a chorus of 50 fumaroles. Oh, and a boiling lake. It would have been rude not to award it UNESCO status really. The Waitukubuli National Trail meanders through it, with other trails starting in Laudat.

Morne Trois Pitons National Park

Rosalie

8. Rosalie

One of the top beaches, on the Atlantic side of the island, for turtle nesting. Come between end of March until September to watch giant leatherbacks, hawksbill and green turtles laying eggs. Or a few months later to see the hatchlings head down to the water. Conservation of the turtles is monitored by the Dominica Sea Turtle Conservation Organisation (DOMSETCO).

Scotts Head

9. Scotts Head

An island like Dominica just has to have a beautiful village on the end of an isthmus. And one that separates the Caribbean from the Atlantic at that. On the SW tip, Scotts Head is wrapped around the foothills of an ancient volcanic crater. This is ‘walk straight into the sea and snorkel’ territory, with no shark attacks, but plenty of snack shack attacks on the beach. The Waitukubuli National Trail starts here.

Scotts Head

Trafalgar Falls

10. Trafalgar Falls

Dominica is blessed with so many waterfalls, it is literally falling down with beauty and, at Trafalgar Falls, you get two for the price of one. Named the ‘father’ and ‘mother’ falls, the former has a 65m drop and the latter about half that. The mother is the more welcoming, however, with a large bathing pool open to those who dare to scramble down. The falls are easily accessible after a brief rainforest walk.

Waitukubuli National Trail

11. Waitukubuli National Trail

Caribbean’s first long distance trail, the WNT spans 185km from Scott’s Head in the south to Cabrits National Park in the north. Completed in 2011, it not only traverses mountainous rainforest, coastal cliffs and stupendous gorges but also meanders through otherwise inaccessible communities. With 14 segments, you can pick ‘n’ mix or take on a serious challenge and do the whole thing.

Waitukubuli National Trail

Wotten Waven Sulphur Springs

12. Wotten Waven Sulphur Springs

Hot springs are prolific on this volcanic idyll, but Wotten Waven, a village on the Wotton Waven Caldera, one of the island’s active volcanoes, is steaming ahead. If there is a collective noun for natural hot springs, then Wotten Waven should be it, because you can hop from one small locally owned ‘establishment’ to another here, sampling the sulphur springs and all round geothermal gorgeousness.

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Call toll free

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Travel times in Dominica

The following times give you a rough idea of the travel times between the main attractions in Dominica.

Roseau – Emerald Pool: 40 minutes by car St. Lucia – Dominica : 4.5 hours by ferry Roseau – Morne Diablons NP: 45 minutes by car Section 14 Waitakubuli National Trail, Canna Heritage Park to Cabrits Fort Shirley: 4 hours on foot Roseau – center of Morne Trois Pitons NP: 35 minutes by car