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Flora and fauna take on exaggerated proportions and overwhelming beauty on this undiscovered gem of an island. Exploring this paradise, you’ll also encounter sandy beaches, a pristine underwater ecosystem, hot mineral streams, bubbling pools of therapeutic mud, and volcanic cones and lakes.

The Cabrits cruise-ship terminal is located within the Cabrits National Park, a 1,313-acre reserve on a forested peninsula at the northwest tip of the island. The park was established in 1986 to protect Dominica’s largest tracts of dry coastal forest—where mahogany and teak trees grow—as well as the island’s largest wetland containing marsh, freshwater swamp and mangroves.

At the center of Cabrits National Park is Fort Shirley, a massive 18th-century fortress. It has been partially restored, including the remnants of a powder magazine that now houses a small museum. Views from atop the Cabrits peninsula are breathtaking—looking out across the vibrant blue of Prince Rupert Bay, you can see all the way to the lush green of Morne Diablotin, Dominica’s tallest peak at 4,747 feet.

Located on the eastern coast, the Carib Territory is home to 3,000 descendants of the island’s pre-Columbian inhabitants. Dominica was the only Caribbean island that the indigenous Caribs held control of while European powers conquered the region. Today, it is home to the only surviving Caribs in the world. They live off the land, cultivating bananas, coconuts and other crops and fishing the territory’s rivers and lakes. Highly skilled in basket weaving, wood carving and canoe building, the Caribs display and sell their wares along the main road through the territory.

Morne Trois Pitons National Park, which commands much of the southern portion of the island, is Dominica’s 17,000-acre ecological showplace. Three peaks, usually veiled in swirling mists and clouds, tower above the rain forest; the highest one reaches 4,403 feet. The park itself is a mountainous expanse filled with crater lakes, waterfalls and other geological curiosities and is part of one of the world’s last oceanic rain forests. The amazing variety of plant life includes giant ferns, hanging orchids and sweet-smelling wild ginger.

Among the park’s natural attractions is the Emerald Pool, a grotto fed by a cascading waterfall and surrounded by lush foliage. Boeri Lake is noted for its rim of volcanic rock. A trip to Boiling Lake is a true once-in-a-lifetime experience. The three- to four-hour hike, to be undertaken only with a guide, is rewarded with the view of a spectacular lake more than 200 feet across. Its bubbling gray-blue water, the result of volcanic heat coming from within the crater, is enveloped in a cloud of vapor. Nearby lies yet another of nature’s marvels––Trafalgar Falls, actually two large waterfalls splashing into rocky pools surrounded by tall trees. The walk to the viewing platform is not difficult, but the hike to the bottom of the falls is arduous.

The capital, Roseau, hugs the western shore near the southern end of the island, where the Roseau River flows into the sea. The center of town is full of craft shops and cafés. Also here is the Dominica Museum, which provides a comprehensive introduction to the island and its history. Built of volcanic stone between 1800 and 1916, the Roman Catholic Cathedral is also worth a visit. It features stained glass windows and Victorian murals.

Nearby are the Botanical Gardens, 40 acres landscaped with hundreds of Caribbean species, including orchids and flamboyant trees. The gardens’ aviary serves as a breeding facility for endangered parrots, including the Sisserou, Dominica’s national bird, and the Jaco, or Red-Necked, Parrot. Dominica’s wildlife can also be found in the sparkling waters just off its shores. Seven types of whales and 11 species of dolphin have been identified in local waters. Whale sightings are plentiful off the west coast between November and March; numerous operators offer whale-watching excursions.

Beaches:
If you want to bask in the Caribbean sun, you needn’t go far—there are two charming sandy beaches within Cabrits National Park. The underwater portion of the park also offers excellent snorkeling, particularly under the cliffs lining the bay, where there are interesting coral and rock formations. Other prime locations for snorkeling include Douglas Bay—with its reef less than 200 feet from shore—in the northwest, and Scotts Head in Soufriere Bay in the southwest.

One of the most interesting underwater sights is found off Dominica’s southwest coast: Champagne, an amazing sub-aquatic sulfur spring where hot water and bubbles filter up from vents, attracting a variety of marine life and providing a unique underwater adventure.

Activities:
Scuba diving is a popular and rewarding pastime in the waters off Dominica. Divers are likely to view sea creatures rarely seen near other Caribbean islands, including electric rays, batfish, frogfish, seahorses and the Caribbean reef squid.

Among the most popular dive sites are the Pinnacles at Scotts Head, Dangleben’s Reef, La Bim (sometimes referred to as “The Wall”), Soufriere Pinnacle, Coral Gardens, Rodney’s Rock and Douglas Bay Point. Soufriere Bay is in fact a submerged caldera of a prehistoric volcano; there are steep walls that drop to almost a thousand feet, and pinnacles formed by lava flow along the rim of the crater. Hiking through the island’s national parks is one of the best ways to see the real Dominica—and the only way to see some of its natural wonders. The trails winding through Cabrits National Park, originally laid out by military engineers in the 18th century, include several scenic lookouts.

Morne Trois Pitons National Park has innumerable walking trails, varying in length and terrain. One of the island’s easiest yet most rewarding hikes is the Syndicate Nature Trail, located in the foothills of Morne Diablotin. Though less than a mile long, the trail traverses rain forest and often affords the opportunity to view Dominica’s endangered parrots.

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