First, let’s get the pronunciation right. It’s Domi-neek-ah, as in nothing to do with the Dominican Republic. Dominica, the birthplace of my parents, is a remote, wild, and hilly island, a cross between Costa Rica, Jurassic Park, and New Zealand, and where “Pirates of the Caribbean” was filmed. Packed with wonder, the following is merely an amuse-bouche of things to do and see on this appropriately nicknamed “nature island.”
Boiling Lake, vast and steaming, is a full-day’s hike there and back, but with several warm-water pools for a restorative soak.
Trafalgar Falls and the Emerald Pool, two of the island’s most photographed and visited natural attractions, are set within idyllic rain forest and rivers.
Visit the semi-autonomous Kalinago Territory, where the Indigenous tribe that inhabited the island when Columbus arrived still have their own king and queen.
For “Pirates of the Caribbean” fans: a gentle boat ride along the mangrove-lined, Indian River while sipping a traditional Dominican rum punch, made with lime and spices.
At the Scott’s Head peninsula, the choppy Atlantic Ocean meets the tranquil Caribbean Sea. Hike to the top of the cliff for 360-degree views, then down to the beach and dip your toes on both sides.
Snorkel in Champagne Reef, where bubbles from the thermals rise from the seabed so you feel as though you’re swimming in champagne.
For hotels, I recommend two secluded, luxurious ecoresorts: Jungle Bay in the south, and the exclusive seven-star Secret Bay in the north.
Locals boast that Dominica is the only Caribbean island that Columbus would still recognize today. But, change is afoot with an international airport coming in 2027. Go now before the crowds arrive.
— Sharon Julien is an enterprise transformational leader in London