Dreaming of a Caribbean getaway as of late, however Cancun, Punta Cana and the like––and their jam-packed resorts and lack of authenticity––simply don’t do it for you anymore?
Fear not: there’s a lesser-known sunny spot within the Japanese finish of the turquoise sea the place the coastal views are simply as stunning, the character way more considerable, and most significantly, there are not any surging crowds to spoil your good seaside day.
Oh, and have we talked about they’re actively encouraging Individuals to go to?
This winter, the laid-back island of Dominica is the place to be. Learn once more, Dominica. Not the Dominican Republic.
This is how they differ:
Wait, So This Is Not Punta Cana We’re Speaking About?
Not even remotely.
For starters, Dominica is a separate nation altogether.
Although it shares an uncannily related title, it has no substantial historic hyperlinks to the Dominican Republic (DR), dwelling to popular resort towns like Punta Cana and Puerto Plata.
It was colonized in numerous intervals by the French and the British, earlier than acquiring its independence as a sovereign nation, whereas the Dominican Republic is culturally Hispanic.
Moreover, the official language is English––with some French inflections––not Spanish, and Dominica is a single-island nation, not like the DR, which shares Hispaniola Island with Haiti.
Lastly, whereas the extra well-known Dominican Republic is characterised by its sprawling espresso plantations and sandy shoreline, Dominica is volcanic in nature:
What Makes Dominica Particular?
It is generally known as the ‘Nature Island of the Caribbean‘, because it performs host to distinctive geological formations and a wealthy wildlife, attracting journey seekers and nature fans alike.
Regardless of being tiny, being barely smaller than New York Metropolis, at solely 29 miles in size and 18 miles in width, with a inhabitants of simply over 73,000 individuals, Dominica suffers from no shortage of natural wonders:
Its most well-known park is Morne Trois Pitons Nationwide Park, boasting a variety of verdant ecosystems, dense rainforests, volcanic peaks, and even dotted with thermal swimming pools.
It could possibly simply be visited from Roseau, the island’s capital, with guided visits costing $140 per particular person on GetYourGuide.
Different must-see sights embody the Valley of Desolation, a partially-challenging hike resulting in a mist-covered Boiling Lake, one of many largest on the earth, Titou Gorge, full of emerald water flowing in from mountain creeks, and the landmark twin Trafalgar Falls, cascading over verdant slopes.
Because the Conference of Organic Variety notes, over 65% of Dominica is roofed by pure vegetation, so there’s actually an infinity of gorgeous preserves to find.
Look At All These Superb Crowd-Free Seashores
It isn’t a Caribbean vacay with out some high quality seaside time, and we’re glad to report seashores in Dominica are nowhere close to as crowded as Cancun’s, or Tulum’s, or Montego Bay’s, or any other Caribbean destination you’ll be able to presumably title.
From the distinctive Champagne Seashore, which will get its title after the volcanic bubbles rising from heat water hugging the shoreline, to the stylish Mero, one in every of a handful of swimming websites on Dominica with eating places and different vacationer facilities, it all the time feels prefer it’s ‘low’ season.
The entire island sees a median 200,000 guests per yr, of whom solely 75,000 aren’t cruise ship guests: in different phrases, it is just about undiscovered, and it is no surprise they’re now launching a winter campaign to draw Individuals.
There are actually a variety of beachfront inns providing ‘Pay for 4, Keep for five’ or ‘Pay for six, Keep for 7′ séjour offers, and even tour operators and automobile rental corporations have joined in, slashing costs by between 10 to twenty%.
Really feel enticed to remain in Dominica for greater than only a stopover?
Try Portsmouth Beach Hotel, with room charges beginning at $108, Coco Mango Suites, the place a personal studio will set you again by $94-a-night, or for those who do not thoughts a little bit little bit of splurging, the luxurious Rosalie Bay Eco Resort & Spa, $242 with breakfast included.
Roseau Is Unbelievable For Tradition!
Should you’re in search of a cultural immersion in your free time in between seaside time and jungle excursions, Roseau is a superb place to be primarily based.
Dominica’s small, compact capital is positioned on the island’s southwest coast. It has well-preserved 18th-century colonial structure, energetic road markets the place you could find the whole lot from freshly caught fish and fruit to meticulously carved handicraft gadgets, and unique Botanic Gardens.
The cobblestone-covered Outdated Market was previously a slave public sale web site, and regardless of its darkish previous, it now homes a fruit market, and it is proper subsequent to the Dominica Museum, a supply of nationwide pleasure, chronicling the island’s complicated Historical past, from its settlement to the slave interval to independence.
Should you’re hoping to pattern the native delicacies whereas in Dominica, Roseau is then positively the place to go:
Lacou Melrose serves scrumptious ceviche and refreshing passionfruit-based drinks, Ruins Rock Cafe is legendary for its value-for-money and signature mountain rooster (not constituted of precise rooster, however a sort of native Dominican frog), and Ocean’s Edge is nice for seafood with a view.
How Secure Is Dominica?
Should you’re involved about security going to the Caribbean this yr, you need to know that nothing units Dominica fairly other than the Dominican Republic than security ranges.
Do not get us improper, the DR’s resort zones are pretty safe for Individuals, however positively do not go about dando papaya as a gringo in a suburban district of Santo Domingo for those who do not wish to get robbed blind.
Dominica is taken into account to be a very low-risk destination in response to U.S. authorities, being listed as a Stage 1 nation, in the identical class as locations like Iceland, Switzerland, Finland and Japan, with low to negligible crime, and no journey warnings in place.
Within the State Division’s own words, you are free to train ‘regular precaution’ when visiting Dominica:
This implies watching out for pickpockets, as unusual as pickpocketing could also be, even, keeping track of private belongings when going to the seaside, and avoiding mountaineering in unmapped areas alone.
This winter, you’ll be able to fly nonstop to Dominica (DOM) from Miami (MIA), 7 occasions every week with American Airways, at a complete flight period of 3h25, and the bottom one-way fare in December being $401.73, as seen on their official website.
From February 2025, United may even be launching nonstop flights from Newark (EWR) once-a-week each Saturday.
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Opinions expressed listed here are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorised or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the put up.