Dominica is an island in the Caribbean and is known for its abundance of outdoor adventures. It’s a hiker’s playground, a diver’s dream, and an adventure-seeker’s ideal vacation. There are so many things to do in Dominica! Plus, the island is not typically overrun by tourists, so you may find you are the only person at a site!
Some quick tips and notes:
- We visited in the middle of November, and while the rainy season is from June to October, it extended to our visit. It rained hard every day, usually early in the morning, and sometimes sprinkled throughout the day. A light raincoat would have been nice for our hikes.
- If you’re hoping to hike, be cautious about difficulty levels. We found that many of the hikes were harder than noted. Good hiking shoes will make your experience a lot better, though I did get through the trip with soaked sneakers. During the rainy season, your waterproof hiking shoes will likely get wet anyways.
- Morne Trois Pitons National Park – This is the park to visit and you can’t miss it. The popular sights within the park include Morne Trois Pitons, Emerald Pool, Boiling Lake, Freshwater Lake, Boeri Lake, and Middleham Falls.
- You will see recommendations to hike Waitukubuli National Trail. This 115-mile trail spans the country from north to south, so there are several places you can hike it. Cabrits National Park, Emerald Pool, Middleham Falls, Freshwater Lake, and Scott’s Head – places I recommend in this post – are all part of it.
- The Week Pass ($12) is the way to go if you’ll be visiting multiple sites as each site costs $5. We visited Emerald Pool, Trafalgar Falls, Middleham Falls, Cabrits National Park, and Freshwater Lake with the pass, and you can also visit Boiling Lake, Boeri Lake, Indian River, and more. The pass is available to purchase at most sites.
- As you’re planning your schedule, I recommend planning around the days cruise ships will be in port. The ships bring hoards of people that can make your experience chaotic. We only experienced this at one place, which might have attributed to why we liked it the least. Emerald Pool and Titou Gorge are two of the most visited for cruise visitors.
- You should find free parking everywhere.
- Be sure to pick up a copy of the tourism paper map. (You’ll get one with your car rental.)
- Did you know scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed in Dominica?
- There is plenty to do and you’ll easily fill up a week’s schedule!
Here are 10 things to do in Dominica to put on your list.
Go Canyoning in Gorges
Hands down one of the coolest things we did during our trip was a canyoning tour with Extreme Dominica. We rappelled into gorges and down waterfalls, traversed through the canyon, and jumped into cool pools. The guides are knowledgeable and safety-focused, and you’ll be able to get to know the other guests on your 4-hour trip. This was a bucket list experience!
- $129 for the basic tour
- You will get fully wet, so dress accordingly, including something to carry your phone. You’ll be able to leave items at the office.
Go Scuba Diving
Of course, one of the top reasons why we chose to visit Dominica was to dive. We went with Nature Island Dive in Soufriere, in the south part of the island. There are numerous excellent dive sites around this area. The reef is vibrant and the creatures are abundant. I was excited to see nudibranchs, a seahorse, scorpionfish, and many other Caribbean fish. The dive shop is laid-back, enthusiastic, and professional.
- The package for 6 dives is $300 and rentals are $25 per day.
- You’ll typically be about 10-15 minutes from shore, so you’ll come back during surface intervals.
- Be sure to try the delicious lionfish sandwich at Bottom Time Cafe, the counter at the dive shop.
- More detailed Dominica diving guide coming soon!
See Waterfalls at Trafalgar Falls
For an easy, 10-15 minute walk to see two waterfalls, visit Trafalgar Falls. You’ll be surrounded by the lush greenery of Dominica.
Hike to Middleham Falls
This hike is more strenuous than advertised! It’s a lot of up and down with big steps. But at the end, you’ll see Dominica’s tallest waterfall at 200 feet. I recommend hiking in the morning so you aren’t trying to beat the sunset like we were. This hike will take about 3-4 hours. See trail info here.
Visit Cabrits National Park
Located in the northwest region of the island, this national park has historical buildings and a few hiking trails. When we went, the trails were a bit overgrown and wet because of the rainy season, but we enjoyed seeing the ruins and various types of mushrooms. The hikes were a bit more challenging than expected but doable. This is a good half-day adventure.
Explore Scott’s Head
At the south of the island is Scott’s Head, a small town with a rocky beach and a pretty lookout point. There are a few great restaurants in the town. Take a quick hike up to the lookout or you can drive up. The beautiful, expansive views are incredible! I also enjoyed taking a walk along the beach, though you need to be comfortable traversing big rocks. This is a good outing for a few hours.
See Bubbles at Champagne Beach
A popular (and free) sight on the island is Champagne Beach, known for its natural bubbles, hence the name Champagne. Park on the side of the road and walk down to the beach. Towards the left is the bay where you can swim and snorkel to see the bubbles. Snorkel gear is available for rent and a small bar has refreshments. Shoes instead of sandals can help you over the rocky beach. This is frequently listed as a scuba diving site but it’s definitely not necessary and would be a waste of a dive. It is a shallow area without a lot of fish life, but keep a lookout for a school of squid! We spotted it here before sunset and it was incredible!
Swim through Titou Gorge
This attraction sounds a bit weird and walking up, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s cooler than expected! Be sure to plan your visit when there are no cruise ships in town. The experience is much better when there are not a lot of people around because the gorge is narrow. When you walk up, you’ll be able to rent a life jacket for $2-3. Then you’ll walk into the pool and swim through the gorge until you reach the thunderous waterfall at the end. The swim there and back should take about 10-20 minutes. Did you know this is one of the filming sites for a scene in Pirates of the Caribbean?
Hike Freshwater Lake
This hike – also a little harder than expected – was incredible because of the surprising fog that enveloped the peaks while we were there. There are some steep areas on the hike and if it’s not foggy, I imagine you’ll get some stunning views of the lake. The loop hike from the parking lot takes about 2 hours. The trail is not clearly marked, but it goes around the lake and you come out at the road where you’ll follow back to the parking lot. We waited through a torrential downpour before we started the hike, and I’m glad we went for it anyways. See more info here.
Relax at Hot Springs
There are a few hot spring options in the Wooten Waven area. We went to Ti Kwen Glo Cho based on recommendations from other travelers. The entrance fee is $10 per person. It has three different sulphur pools of different temperatures. It gets hot! But there are also ice-cold showers near the pools to cool off. Other options nearby are Bongo Baths, Da-S’Cape, and Tia’s Hot Spa. To find Ti Kwen Glo Cho, don’t follow Google maps and turn left off the main road at the pink house.
Bonus: Admire the Flora and Fauna
Similar to what I said in my Big Island, Hawaii guide, the flora and fauna in Dominica were incredible! Big, leafy, tropical plants everywhere, and during the wet season, plenty of cool mushrooms! You’ll also see fauna like hummingbirds, caterpillars, crabs, and lizards. Dominica also has plenty of island dogs and cats.
Other Options
- Boiling Lake – This is the most strenuous hike on the island, about 6 hours, and you’re required to have a guide. We got rained out on the day we were supposed to visit but with all the hiking we ended up doing anyways, we were ok with it. This is the world’s second-largest hot spring.
- Emerald Pool – We stopped by this quick sight on the way to the airport. It is an easy walk/hike like Trafalgar Falls, but you can swim in the pool. (Pictured below)
- Jacko Falls, Spanny Falls – Do a waterfall day! These two are nearby Emerald Pool.
- Mero Beach – There are a handful of sandy beaches on the island and this is supposed to be the prettiest.
- Indian River – Take a leisurely boat ride on the Indian River, in the north of the island, to admire nature.
- Whale Watching – I would be remiss to not talk about this as it is a popular activity. There is a good chance you will see a whale but know seeing the flicker of the tail counts as seeing a whale. Still cool, but be sure you enjoy boat rides and know there is a chance you won’t see anything.
I hope this post gets you excited to visit! Dominica’s nature adventures are waiting for you!
P.S. For more about Dominica, follow this link to more posts.
You might also like
