Dominica has numerous natural attractions and plenty of things to do for those who want an activity-filled vacation. Dominica is a ruggedly beautiful Caribbean island whose landscape has changed little since the first European explorers.

Dominica is often called the whale watching capital of the world This whale of a tale has 6 pages of photos

Dominica calls itself "The Nature Island," an accurate description since two-thirds of it remains covered in some of the world's last untouched rain forest. This lush, rugged terrain is best know for its superb hiking, the largest remaining settlement of Carib Indians in the Caribbean and of course the whale watching.

Located between Guadeloupe and Martinique, Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-EEK-a) offers natural attractions that you normally see only in adventure movies: Tall cascading waterfalls, hidden fern grottoes and mysterious regions of volcanic activity make this seem like a Lost World only now being explored.

Dominica's mountainous terrain made it impossible to grow sugar cane here. As a result, it was never scalped of its vegetation, making Dominica one of the most natural islands in all the Caribbean.

Because its name is often confused with the Dominican Republic, located a considerable distance away on the island of Hispaniola, Dominica's official name is the Commonwealth of Dominica. Its capital city is Roseau (pronounced ROSE-oh).

If you take only one Caribbean hike in your lifetime,do it here on the demanding, roller-coaster assault through the mountains that takes you first into the Valley of Desolation. This craggy, sulphur-spewing piece of earth so primordial you feel time- warped to the days of the dinosaurs, that it would be no surprise if a lumbering Tyrannosaurus Rex suddenly appeared and chased you.  

Reinforcing the eerie, prehistoric mood is the even more amazing phenomenon called The Boiling Lake, a large cauldron of steaming water reaching three-quarters of a football field across. Depending on your sources, this is the world's first or second largest boiling lake. The only other one of note is located in a different hemisphere, in New Zealand.

With assets like these, Dominica understandably promotes itself as "The Nature Island."

Dominica also is the last stronghold of the once-fierce Carib Indians, whose own dreams of expansion and domination of the region were interrupted by the colonialists from Spain and England. The Caribbean (pronounced) is named after them.

Finally, the underwater scenery is just as spectacular as that on land.

Detailed Background Facts & Map
Courtesy of the CIA

Dominica Arrival Briefing
What You Need to Know If you Go

Dominica Road Map
From our Skyviews link partner

Major Attractions

Boeri Lake Trail
This hike is an extension of Freshwater Lake

Botanical Gardens
Which is stronger? A baobab or a school bus?

Cabrits National Park
Featuring Fort Shirley instead of high mountains

The Carib Reserve
This is where the Caribbean's largest group of "extinct"
Carib Indians live

Emerald Pool
The most popular woodlands walk in Dominica

Freshwater Lake Trail
Good birding around the lake

Hidden Assets
From guest houses to Emerald Pools

Middleham Falls Trail
Both trails lead to the 275-foot high falls

Morne Diablotin National Park
Take the special trail to see parrots

Morne Trois Pitons National Park
A list & description of all the hikes

North Coast Hiking & Walking Trails
Bense Heights Trail
North Coast Trail
Simpa Heights Trail

Sari Sari Falls
Can be dangerous in the rainy season

Trafalgar Falls
Very impressive and easy access

Valley of Desolation &
Boiling Lake Hike
Over the river and through the woods

Victoria Falls
Among the island's most photogenic

Whale Watching
Whales are here year-round

Wacky Rollers Adventure Park
View nature a different way

World Creole Music Festival
The first of its kind