Dominica

Exploring Dominica's cultural heritage

Eschewing white powdery beaches and rum-fueled pool parties for dense tropical forests and hidden waterfalls, Dominica is nicknamed ‘nature island’ for a reason, luring largely ecoadventurers with its Boiling Lake, Champagne Reef, rainforest-shrouded volcano and other eccentric natural wonders. But those who need a break from the trail or the water will find plenty of ways to plug into the island’s captivating history and contemporary culture.

A traditional carving of a face at the Touna Kalinago Heritage Village © Rachid Dahnoun / Getty Images

Andrea Schulte-Peevers

Lonely Planet Writer

Affordable Caribbean adventure: Dominica on a budget

The Caribbean’s self-proclaimed nature island, Dominica is a small seedling on the map in the same garden as honeymoon favorites St Lucia and Antigua, yet a world away in spirit. It’s also definitely not the Dominican Republic, which is a fact that (understandably) confuses quite a lot of people.

Two people jump into the pool at the foot of Victoria Falls near Delices, Dominica © Nick Ledger / Getty Images

Lorna Parkes

Lonely Planet Writer

Dominica: adventures on the Caribbean's 'Nature Island'

There’s a flotilla of lounge chairs docked by the infinity pool and along a white sand beach. The menu at the sprawling hotel’s swim-up bar includes frosty local favorites all day long. You have an all-inclusive choice of food and activities, as long as you stay on the manicured resort grounds. All you have to do is laze in the sun, dip your toes in the bathtub-warm water and discover the wealth of shopping experiences at hotel boutiques—when you’re not golfing.

Is that your Caribbean vacation dream, or is it a sanitized travel nightmare?

Jill Robinson

Lonely Planet Writer