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DESTINATION: DOMINICA
01
IT’S A NATURAL WELLNESS DESTINATION
Wellness is one of the hottest travel trends. Millions of people around the globe are
opting to take healthy holidays – and Dominica has offered that sort of experience since
long before it became an international trend. Fresh air, rivers clean enough to drink from,
wholesome food, natural wonders, mineral spas, yoga, massage treatments, forest bathing,
outdoor exercise… all combine to make this one of the world’s healthiest destinations.
02IT’S EVEN MORE
COMMITTED TO NATURE
Dominica is known as an island apart:
it is breathtakingly mountainous and
verdant; its lush tropical forests hide
countless rivers and waterfalls; it has
three national parks (one of which is
a UNESCO World Heritage Site) plus
forest and marine reserves. In short, it is
where nature lives, a paradise for lovers
of the outdoors who want to breathe
fresh air, feel well and have their senses
stimulated. And it’s now taking extra
care of its precious environment.
On the front line of climate change,
Dominica has seized the initiative
following two extreme weather events.
Everything is undertaken with climate
resilience in mind, and single-use
plastics are banned.
03ITS HIKING TRAILS ARE
THE REGION’S BEST
No other island in the Caribbean comes
close to the diversity of Dominica’s vast
hiking network. The Boiling Lake Trail
passes through rainforest, up and down
a mountain, over rivers and across an
active volcanic caldera, ending at a
boiling-hot flooded crater. Half-day
hikes take walkers to waterfalls and
heritage sites. And the 200km-long,
14-segment Waitukubuli National
Trail winds its way across and up the
entire island, incorporating forests,
rivers, waterfalls, villages and volcanic
peaks. Attempt it in one go, camping
along the way, or pick a few individual
sections to get a taste of the journey.
New for 2020, check out the official
Hiker’s Log Book and Passport to record
your hikes and even claim prizes for
your achievements.
04
IT’S THRILLING
UNDERWATER
Where Dominica’s mountains meet the
sea, they just keep on going down. Reef
formations, dramatic walls that drop
into the abyss and submerged volcanic
pinnacles remind scuba divers of the
origins of the island. Jaw-dropping coral
reefs and sea mounts are encrusted
with diverse hard and soft corals, barrel
and tube sponges, crinoids and sea
anemones that are home to colourful
fish, seahorses, frogfish, octopus and
lobsters. Visitors to these reefs include
hawksbill turtles, large schools of
Creole wrasse, barracuda and eagle
rays. There are dive operators all along
the west coast offering daily boat and
shore diving, try-dives and tuition.
05ITS WHALEWATCHING
SEASON YEAR ROUND
Sperm whales permanently reside in
Dominica’s deep coastal waters, which
makes the chances of spotting them on
a whalewatching trip very high. Huge
pods of dolphins are also common
sights off Dominica. In addition to
sperm whales, migratory species
include pilot whales, humpback whales
and false killer whales.
06IT HAS A VIBRANT
LIVING FRENCH
CREOLE CULTURE
During colonial times, the cultural
influence of the French islands of
Guadeloupe and Martinique merged
with the traditions, folklore and
language of enslaved Africans to
create a new cultural identity that
is commonly referred to as French
Creole or just Creole. This culture
manifests itself in traditional food,
dance, art, music, dress and language.
Creole Week, in October, is a great
time to experience all forms of French
Creole culture.
07
IT HAS UNIQUE BIRDS
Dominica is home to two species
of Amazonian parrot that can be found
nowhere else in the world: the imperial
parrot (better known as the sisserou)
and the red-necked parrot, or jaco.
Though elusive, both can be spotted in
Dominica’s forested interior, especially
in the foothills of Morne Diablotin, at
1,447m the island’s tallest peak. Four
hummingbird species – purple-throated
Carib, green-throated Carib, Antillean
crested and endemic blue-headed – are
also resident here, along with tremblers,
thrashers, kingfishers, bananaquit,
magnificent frigatebirds, and many, many
more. A birdwatching trip along the
Syndicate Trail in the company of a local
expert such as Bertrand Jno Baptiste
(better known as Birdy) is a must.
08
IT IS AN ISLAND
OF VITALITY
There is a small but culturally
significant population of Rastafarians
in Dominica, who practise a way of life
that is guided by the Old Testament of
the Bible and by the purity of nature.
Bush teas, herbal medicines, Ital food,
and crops grown free of synthetic
additives are vital ingredients of the
Rasta lifestyle. Travellers can learn
about and experience this way of living
first-hand in the company of Moses
James and his family in Zion Valley
near the village of Delices in the
south-east of Dominica.
c
a
e
d
b
f
g
a. Dive among
colourful coral
and dramatic rock
pinnacles
b. Spot four species
of hummingbird
c. Discover the
music, clothes and
dance of French
Creole culture
d. Hike a diverse
range of tracks
– this is the
Freshwater Lake trail
e. The jaco is one
of two beautiful
endemic species of
parrot on Dominica
f. Watch for several
species of whale in
Dominica’s waters
g. Admire the lush
vegetation and flora
PAUL CRASK; DISCOVER DOMINICA AUTHORITY
40 | ZiNG CARIBBEAN www.liat.com | January - February 2020