Commonwealth of Dominica

Key facts

• Region: The Caribbean
• Capital: Roseau
• Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
• Languages: English (official) and Antillean Creole (Kwéyòl)
• Main airport: DOM — Douglas-Charles Airport, serving Marigot
• Best time to visit: December to April, the dry season; Dominica is one of the wettest islands in the Caribbean and rains year-round in the interior

Overview

A rugged, volcanic island between Guadeloupe and Martinique, Dominica is steep and heavily forested, with few beaches and little large-scale resort development. It is not the Dominican Republic, which lies far to the northeast on Hispaniola. Its main draws are hiking, rivers, waterfalls and diving.

Airports

Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM), formerly Melville Hall, on the northeast coast is the main international airport and serves Roseau. Canefield Airport (DCF), about 5 km north of Roseau, handles small regional aircraft only. Because DOM has no long-haul service, most visitors connect through other Caribbean islands such as Antigua, Barbados or Puerto Rico.

Main cities

Roseau is the capital and main town, on the southwest coast, with a market and the old French Quarter. Portsmouth in the north is the second town and lies near Cabrits National Park. Marigot, Castle Bruce and La Plaine are small east-coast settlements along the cross-island road. Soufrière on the southwest coast is the island's main diving base.

Places to go

Morne Trois Pitons National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing the Boiling Lake, reached by a long guided hike. Trafalgar Falls and the Emerald Pool are shorter walks from the Roseau area. Champagne Reef off the southwest coast is a snorkelling and diving site fed by volcanic gas bubbles. Indian River near Portsmouth is a mangrove boat trip, and Titou Gorge is a narrow slot you swim through. Cabrits National Park and Fort Shirley are in the north. Scotts Head protects a narrow isthmus at the southern tip.

Getting there

Cheapest cached round-trip fare into Commonwealth of Dominica, refreshed every 6 hours:

Where to stay

Practical information

Frequently asked