Dominica is a tiny island, but receives over 300 inches of rainfall a YEAR, and has over 300 rivers. Add that to 4 mountains over 4,000 feet above sea level, and you've got WATERFALLS! Thousands of them...literally. And the island's terrain is so rugged,…Read More

Dominica is a tiny island, but receives over 300 inches of rainfall a YEAR, and has over 300 rivers. Add that to 4 mountains over 4,000 feet above sea level, and you've got WATERFALLS!

Thousands of them...literally. And the island's terrain is so rugged, that (believe it or not) new waterfalls are being discovered all the time as intrepid (and well-equipped) explorers venture up remote and unexplored valleys.

Luckily, there are four major waterfalls on Dominica that you can visit easily.

TRAFALGAR FALLS
Trafalgar is the most famous and easily accessible of Dominica's large falls. It consists of two seperate waterfalls (called Father and Mother) that are separated by a rocky spire that seeps hot water. It is located in the valley behind the village of Trafalgar, a cheap cab or bus ride (10 minutes) from Roseau.

MIDDLEHAM FALLS
Middleham is the highest waterfall on Dominica, at 196 feet. The hike is only about 4 miles roundtrip, but it's a thigh-buster, and many guide services take people on this hike to determine if they think hikers can handle the Boiling Lake Trek. Don't let that scare you, if you're in moderate shape, you can handle this trail. It starts on the road to Laudat, and you'll have to pay park admission ($10EC or $3.70US) to hike the trail. Any cab driver can take you to the trailhead, or catch the Laudat bus and have the driver let you off at the trailhead, he'll know where it is.

SARI SARI FALLS
Sari Sari is perhaps the island's most exotic falls. It is similar to Middleham in appearance (just a few feet shorter) but the hike requires that you scramble up root-choked boulders in the middle of a wild river canyon to reach it. The hike is not far (only 1/2 mile each way) but it takes time to boulder-hop carefully. The falls is located on the east side of the island in the valley above the village of La Plaine. Though there are buses to La Plaine, you cannot reach the village, do the hike, and catch a bus back. And there are no accomodations in this area. So you should either join a tour or hire a driver or cab to take you here.

VICTORIA FALLS
Just a few miles by road from Sari Sari is the Victoria waterfall, the most dramatic falls on Dominica (by volume of water). The White River, which pours from the Boiling Lake, thunders over a cliff and into a warm pool below. The water, choked with minerals from deep within the earth, is a milky white color. The falls is located just up the valley from the village of Victoria, and the hike is very short but rocky. Victoria and Sari Sari are usually visited in one day, whether you hire a cab or join a tour.

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These are just a few of the myriad waterfalls on Dominica. If you enjoy these and thirst for more, try Hidden Falls (hot water in the Valley of Desolation), Sacred Falls, Spanny Falls, Syndicate Falls, Crayfish Falls, and hundreds more.

Ken's Hinterland Tours can provide guides to waterfalls NOT EVEN NAMED.

Dominica is truly paradise for waterfall lovers.

We again dove with Cabrits Dive Centre because they are simply the best. They take great care of us, very uncrowed diving, care where you want to go and what you want to do, and most importantly they have great people. Helen and Pete, the…Read More

We again dove with Cabrits Dive Centre because they are simply the best. They take great care of us, very uncrowed diving, care where you want to go and what you want to do, and most importantly they have great people. Helen and Pete, the owners, are super. They keep everything running smoothly, meet and greet all of the divers, dive with you whenever they can, and make you feel really at home. The instructors/dive master are all excellent. They know the spots, show you tons of stuff, and of course keep everyone safe without getting in the way of great diving. The diving was again spectacular.

Now that we knew some of the sites we liked, we got a chance to explore them more and really enjoy their beauty. Toucari Caves, with its incredible coral heads and swim throughs is a must do. After the swim through you go on the top of the reef to see your bubbles floating up like champagne, very cool. On one boat trip out to Tourcari we saw two turtles and dolphins, then on the dive we heard whale song. Cannon Site has great coral close enough for snorkeling/deco and then a nice little wreck in 70 to 80 feet to explore. Sharks Mouth (shape of the barrel sponges) is a great drift dive. And our favorite is Pole to Pole, going right under the cruise ship dock and looking at each of the poles for the dock is great. Tons of stuff on and around the poles, and lots of fish above the rocks toward shore. Plus, we again saw a seahorse on the poles—thanks to fabulous Fabien our dive master on that one. We did pole to pole twice this time because we loved it so much, once as a shore dive and once off the boat, and both were great.

School kids, most tour guides, and younger people on Dominica speak English with a delightful lilt and occasional French pronunciation of some words. We could talk easily with them, and there was no trouble understanding what was being said. However, your best bet for communicating…Read More

School kids, most tour guides, and younger people on Dominica speak English with a delightful lilt and occasional French pronunciation of some words. We could talk easily with them, and there was no trouble understanding what was being said. However, your best bet for communicating with older folks is to speak slowly and, if necessary, write down what you want to say. We thought we understood one local grandmother when we asked for directions to the Queen Mary Street entrance to the Botanical Gardens. She readily offered to take us to the street, and we cheerfully tagged along behind her and then found she had taken us to her church, which was adjacent to the gardens. Because she was so happy to have visitors in her church, we ended up staying for a rousing service with great singing and rhythmic clapping and foot-stamping. This was a misunderstanding that worked out well, but if we had had to be back at the airport or the docks by a specific time, this kind of confusion could have been a real problem.

A French-English dictionary is not much help because the local French dialect has unique words and phrases. One highly literate young teacher explained to us that much of the local dialect is hundreds of years old, and if compared with English, is very nearly Shakespearian in vocabulary and structure.

Dominica is just about the most perfect manifestion of "escape" that I can imagine. Her people have no desire for the "quick wealth" that tourism brings. In fact, if they TRIED to develop the island for tourism, they'd have a hard time.…Read More

Dominica is just about the most perfect manifestion of "escape" that I can imagine. Her people have no desire for the "quick wealth" that tourism brings. In fact, if they TRIED to develop the island for tourism, they'd have a hard time. There aren't many flat places to build! The only flat place on the island long enough to support an airport is across the island from the town, and even then the planes pull to a dead stop inches from a thousand-foot cliff.

Unfortunately, there are a few words of caution I extend. A decade ago, an American medical school was opened on the north end of the island, and gradually the students have introduced "hard drugs" to the Dominican people. Consequently, many of the desperate youth have become addicted and taken to selling drugs to tourists to support their habits.

Whereas in other parts of the Caribbean -I won't mention any names (*coughJamaica*)-it may be easy and accepted for you to buy pot from a beach vendor, DO NOT under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES purchase it from someone in Dominica OR bring drugs to Dominica. The drug problem has changed the attitude of an island that 5 years ago knew NO crime. Customs searches bags hard, because the islanders DO NOT want more drugs on their island. Purchasing from a street vendor can only lead to trouble (as I experienced second-hand with a friend who bought a small amount...let's just say we were hassled and chased and bothered and scared for 2 days before we finally went to the police, which made things worse!)

That said, most tourists will never experience an uncomfortable or unsafe situation on Dominica. There are many tourist police, and for the most part Roseau is a well-lit, lively, and friendly city. Like everywhere in the Caribbean, people will beg for money. A polite "No, thank you" will usually turn them away.

Dominica is serious about protecting the few visitors it has, and even asking money from a tourist can get a Dominican locked up for weeks. They will arrest a vagrant SIMPLY on hearsay if a tourist says they were hassled. Consequently, the thieves and mischief makers avoid tourists like the plague.

Should you come to Dominica, please respect the island's committment to conservation by not littering and by being respectful of the wilderness. Dominica is truly a dream-come-true for the adventure lover.

The official name for this island is the Commonwealth of Dominica; the name helps people avoid confusing Dominica with the Dominican Republic. The official language is English, but it might take you a few days to get used to the native pronunciations. For months I…Read More

The official name for this island is the Commonwealth of Dominica; the name helps people avoid confusing Dominica with the Dominican Republic. The official language is English, but it might take you a few days to get used to the native pronunciations. For months I thought one of my new found friends was named June. Come to find out her name is Joan.

Population is approximately 72,000, with 20,000 inhabiting the Roseau (a French name for the reeds that grow by the river area), the capital. Dominica sports 365 rivers, some small, some large. They actually export water to neighboring islands. Their electricity is mainly hydro generated.

Independence from Great Britain was attained in 1978. The head of state is the President but the Prime Minister and the cabinet maintain executive power. When we visited the Prime Minister was a woman!

National pride is evident throughout the island. We spent the Christmas holidays there, and I can say without a doubt that is was the most memorable Christmas of my life.

On Christmas Eve the entire island gathers on the Bay downtown in Roseau for the tree lighting and to sing carols. Midnight mass follows complete with drums, guitars and native songs.

General: Dominica, not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, is an independent state within the British Commonwealth, 16 miles wide by 29 miles long. There are three main cities: Marigot in the NE where the main airport is located, Portsmouth in the NW, and…Read More

General: Dominica, not to be confused with the Dominican Republic, is an independent state within the British Commonwealth, 16 miles wide by 29 miles long. There are three main cities: Marigot in the NE where the main airport is located, Portsmouth in the NW, and Roseau in the SW close to the secondary airport. The main cities, as well as the others, are all located near the shore as the terrain inland is quite rugged with 4 mountains over 4000 feet, boiling sulfur lakes and 12 waterfalls. After all, Dominica sits on a volcanic arc of the Lesser Antilles.

Geography: The Island has the dubious distinction of being one of the wettest in the Caribbean. Rainforests steep terrain, narrow rivers, volcanic activity all make for a truly unique island. So much diversity is usually found in much more vast areas than an island. And as far back as 1952, people began protecting this natural wonder, beginning with the first forest reserve, to the first National Park and on to expanding the Forestry Division.

Fauna: Wildlife includes over 150 species of birds including the Sisserou Parrot, Dominica’s endangered national bird. Tours are offered specifically for the bird enthusiasts. Personally I’m a fan of hummingbirds like the Purple Throated and Antillean Crested found here. There are several types of bats, but only one variety of snake and it isn’t even a poisonous one. On the other hand, a boa doesn’t make me feel warm and cozy. Other creatures include opossums, frogs and agoutis. There are no bears, deer or crocodiles. The fact that there is good whale watching here is becoming known.

Flora: Banana plantations are so beautiful tours often include them. Higher altitudes in the rainforest provide the perfect setting for a variety heleconias including bird of paradise, antherium, tiger claw and gingers as well as begonias and orchids. Fruits include oranges, grapefruit, avocado, mangos, guavas and more. And let us not forget the lush foliage of Australian tree ferns, ground ferns, gommiers, elephant ears, and a variety of vines.

The port does accommodate semi-large cruise ships so the cattle come ashore periodically. The shopping in town is ok with most souvenir hunters hitting the harborside area. If you want Cuban cigars, head inland about 3 blocks to the department store.…Read More

The port does accommodate semi-large cruise ships so the cattle come ashore periodically. The shopping in town is ok with most souvenir hunters hitting the harborside area. If you want Cuban cigars, head inland about 3 blocks to the department store. You can't beat a corona for about $3 U.S.Close

When one looks at this island from a boat, you think as though you are going be robbed or injured by the inhabitants, or even worse, killed. However, don't be fooled when you step on this island. My wife and I took a tour to…Read More

When one looks at this island from a boat, you think as though you are going be robbed or injured by the inhabitants, or even worse, killed. However, don't be fooled when you step on this island. My wife and I took a tour to see this magnificent island- It was worth every penny.
While on the tour, my tour guide told me that a jaw-dropping crime rate of 3 percent happens every year. Let me tell you, just hearing that made this island that much more safe than what I had originally assumed.
The best chance of you being killed on this island is when you ride in a vehicle. The roads are not made well; in fact, you are more likely to drive on dirt roads the you are paved ones. The roads are very, and let me stress, VERY narrow. If you are not familiar in driving on this island, I would NOT recommend driving on this island, unless you love riding rolling coasters. When I went uphill to see more of the island, the driver of my tour would drive like a bat from hell. He was driving at least 70 miles per hour on mountains with roads that had no guard rails as well as hair-pin turns. I felt like I was in an Indiana Jones movie.
The best part of the tour is going to the see the rain forests of island. I would HIGHLY recommend to see these stunning and amazing rain forests. You get to see all kinds of exotic fruits grow as well as get to eat the freshest fruit ever. I got to eat a banana and, for the first time, sugarcane.
While in the rain forests, the tour stopped at the island's national park called Morne Trois Pitons- This national park is WORTH checking out. The tour took my group to the Emerald Pool, which had a beautiful and amazing waterfall pool. Let me tell you, once you step in the pool, you will feel as like a new person. The water is just right in temperature and is nice to jump into on a hot, humid day. I have never been in a natural pool that had a waterfall. When I went into this waterfall, I felt a renewed, energized spirt. I had a wonderful experience and one I shall not forget.
When I returned to my boat, I saw this beautiful rainbow that made me realize how exotic and wild it was. I hope to return to this island again someday to explore more of its wonders.Close

Some of the diving around Rouseau was beautiful with lots of healthy small fish and turtles. They have a new marine park but no one to police the area so there were fish nets and traps all over the marine reserve on most dives.…Read More

Some of the diving around Rouseau was beautiful with lots of healthy small fish and turtles. They have a new marine park but no one to police the area so there were fish nets and traps all over the marine reserve on most dives. Unfortunately, the area of reefs that was picked for the reserve has an established fishing village on each end. These families were fishing these waters long before the establishment of the marine reserve. We were very disappointed not to see many parrot fish, angel fish, grouper, snapper, and other medium or large fish. The few we saw were usually in a trap. On one dive, we about swam into a huge net that was meant to catch large creatures - it was around a corner in the marine park. It is hard to find fault with the villagers that need to eat and make a living but it is also sad for the dive community. I would have paid extra toward the marine reserve to help fund someone to police the reserve. And, they need to collect extra funds from divers to go toward a much needed chamber also. We've been to many islands that are much more serious about the preservation of their marine reserves (for example St. Lucia and Bonaire)Close

While a little short on high-end shopping and luxury accommodations, Dominica has many small hotels and quaint "guesthouses." Most of these places are located in or near Roseau. We found that the Visit Dominica website was great for hotel info, and Dominica…Read More

While a little short on high-end shopping and luxury accommodations, Dominica has many small hotels and quaint "guesthouses." Most of these places are located in or near Roseau. We found that the Visit Dominica website was great for hotel info, and Dominica accommodation covers just about everything available. Because this is such a small island, I strongly recommend that you have your accommodations booked before you arrive.