dominica Archives - Fearless Captivations https://fearlesscaptivations.com/tag/dominica/ Austin Food Blogger, Travel, and Lifestyle Blog Wed, 27 Nov 2024 18:51:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.5 https://fearlesscaptivations.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/cropped-Fearless-Captivations-Icon-300x300-1-32x32.png dominica Archives - Fearless Captivations https://fearlesscaptivations.com/tag/dominica/ 32 32 114690705 Dominica Travel Guide + Trip Itinerary https://fearlesscaptivations.com/dominica-travel-guide-trip-itinerary/ Sat, 04 Feb 2023 23:15:00 +0000 https://fearlesscaptiv.wpenginepowered.com/?p=13651 Dominica, the Nature Island, is calling you to visit the Caribbean! This trip to Dominica has been a long time coming! We first talked about visiting six years ago after seeing a random article about the country. Then in 2017, […]

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Dominica, the Nature Island, is calling you to visit the Caribbean!

This trip to Dominica has been a long time coming! We first talked about visiting six years ago after seeing a random article about the country. Then in 2017, Hurricane Maria destroyed 90% of the country’s structures. Dominica is resilient; they’ve bounced back from multiple storms over the past 12 years. While you can see unfinished restoration throughout the island, the island, business, and nature, have built back strong.

You may only know Dominica from hurricane news, but there is much more to discover. I hope this guide helps you plan your trip to this Eastern Caribbean island.

Dominica Primer

Two things before we move on – where is Dominica and how do you pronounce it?

Dominica is a country in the Eastern Caribbean, the Lesser Antilles.

While it gets confused with the Dominican Republic all the time, Dominica is its own country and it’s pronounced DOM-uh-nica.

Why Dominica

You like nature and adventure. Dominica is 60% forest. It’s known as “The Nature Island of the Caribbean” for a reason! Waitukubuli National Trail is a 115-mile trail spanning the country north and south and Morne Trois Pitons National Park has some memorable hikes. Outside of the forest, you’ll find rocky beaches in the south, sandy beaches in the north, and vibrant coral reefs for scuba diving. You’ll definitely get a workout on this vacation.

You want to visit somewhere with fewer tourists. During our week in Dominica, we were typically the only visitors at a site or saw a handful of people while we were there. We did have one day where we visited a site and quickly found out that a cruise ship had arrived – the park was packed. You can plan your days to avoid crowds by checking the cruise ship schedule.

A Little History

Dominica gained its independence in 1978. Prior to their independence, the island was possessed by Great Britain starting in 1763 and France around the 1690s. The Kalinago or Caribs are the indigenous people of the Lesser Antilles islands and their culture is honored on the island. The Kalinago Territory is 3,700 acres on the east side of the island where about 3,000 people live. Visit this website to learn more about the Kalinago.

While visiting sights in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, you’ll see informational areas to learn more about the history.

Quick Tips

  • Visa: None required for US citizens
  • Language: English
  • Currency: East Caribbean Dollars (ECD). $1 USD is $2.70 ECD
  • Credit Cards: Widely used except at gas stations
  • Tipping: Check to see if it’s included in the check, otherwise 10%
  • Water: Tap water is ok to drink. Bring a water bottle.
  • Driving: On the left

When to Visit

Dry season is February through April and the rainy season is June through November. In dry season, temperatures can get to the upper 80s. Cruise ships are frequently docked December through April, like much of the Caribbean.

We visited in the middle of November. While it did rain every day, we were able to find hours when the rain was light to go on hikes. That said, expect to get drenched. While the rain was uncomfortable at times, I would go back and do it again, but maybe with a raincoat and better hiking shoes.

See the river that happened during one of our hikes below! While not every hike was like this, most were definitely muddy.

Is Dominica Cheap to Visit?

Yes, Dominica is more affordable than other destinations, but no, not all options on the island are cheap. In short, we spent around $2,500 per person for the trip. 

The biggest cost was our stay. Our 8-night stay in a resort hotel with a daily breakfast buffet for 2 people cost about $2,100 ($131 per person per day). You can bring this cost down by booking a more affordable place with no breakfast. We considered a bare-bones stay that cost $800 for the week but ultimately decided against it because we wanted air conditioning in the room and a reliable restaurant option on the property. There are cheaper options than that! It depends on what you are looking for in your accommodations. 

Other top costs:

  • Roundtrip from Austin to Dominica (one stop in Miami): $635 per person
  • Package of 6 dives for two plus daily gear rental: $650 + tips
  • Car rental for 8 days: $400
  • Canyoning tour for two: $258

Getting to Dominica

You’ll fly into Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM). The main flight from the U.S. is American Airlines from Miami, about 3 and a half hours. The airport is about one hour away from Roseau, the capital.

The airport is very small and you’ll go through a short customs process upon arrival.

How to Get Around – Car Rental 101

There are two ways to get around the island: rent a car or hire a private vehicle. The cities are walkable but you will be limited without a car as the sights are not near each other. Tours are readily available but renting a car is most economical if you can handle the driving, which I don’t recommend unless you are a pro at AWD and defensive driving. We drove around 20-30 mph throughout our stay because of the conditions and we drove at least 2 hours daily.

Driving in Dominica is anxiety-inducing because:

  • Narrow Roads: Most roads are two-way, narrowly fitting small cars. There typically aren’t lanes and cars stay on their side of the road or move over when another vehicle is passing.
  • Passing: In towns, you’ll find parked cars in one of the lanes, which turns the road into one-way, having to stop and move over on one side to let cars by.
  • Mountain Roads: The roads to many sights are windy and steep with drop-offs on one side and ditches on the other. Expect sharp turns with blind spots up and down.
  • Gutters: It would be a lot easier if there weren’t foot-deep gutters on the side of the road! (I assume these are for rain flow.) With drop-offs on the other side!
  • Weather: During the rainy season, consistent showers will happen throughout the day.
  • Lights: Locals use their brights at night which is an added headache!
  • Left-Hand: Adding to all of this, you are driving on the left-hand side so everything in the car is also opposite.

BUT having a car was great because of flexibility; we could set our own schedule and go wherever we wanted. Also, we saw plenty of rentals at our hotel and on the road, so don’t let me scare you away.

Car rental is easy, and our car wasn’t fancy but rugged! There are a handful of car rental companies and we went with Happy Car Rental at the airport. We got a Toyota Rav4 for $400 for 8 days.

Other quick tips:

  • Google Maps for the most part got us to where we wanted to go.
  • Gas Stations: they pump for you and you pay by cash

Where to Stay

This was a bit tricky for us because we planned to do multiple days of diving out of Soufriere in the south of the island. We also wanted to explore Morne Trois Pitons National Park for multiple days, so staying in Roseau or Soufriere would give us the shortest drives. We chose Soufriere in hopes it would be more secluded in nature. 

As I usually do with trip planning (my guide here), I recommend deciding what activities you want to do and finding the most convenient place to stay. Below are four cities that might be of interest and a few places to stay in each place.

Roseau

The capital city, Roseau is bustling and somewhat chaotic, especially when cruise ships are in port, but you’ll also have the proximity to walking to the grocery store and many restaurants. Stay options include: 

Soufriere

A quiet, residential town, Soufriere has a handful of stay options. Jungle Bay Resort, where we stayed, is located here, as well as more humble abodes. We did not do much in Soufriere other than go to the dive shop and drive by to get to Scott’s Head. But our hotel was peaceful and a short drive to restaurant options in Scott’s Head and Roseau. Soufriere stay options include: 

Portsmouth

In the northwest of the island, Portsmouth is the second largest town in Dominica. If you stay in this area, you’ll have easier access to some beaches and to Cabrits National Park. Stay options include: 

Calbishie

In the northeast of the island and 30 minutes away from the airport, Calbishie is an option to be nearer to sandy beaches. Stay options include: 

Other places that I looked at that aren’t in one of the above cities:

What to do in Dominica

If you’re visiting Dominica, you probably enjoy the outdoors. Dominica is known for its hiking, waterfalls, and diving. If you want an active vacation, this is it! For reference, I easily averaged 1 mile; 9,000 steps; and a whopping 50 floors of elevation during the week of the trip.

See this post about my favorite 10 things we did in Dominica!

See this post about diving in Dominica.

What to Eat

When you’re here, expect hearty meals. Take a look at this post to see some of my restaurant recommendations. Don’t miss Chez Wen, Keepin’ It Real, and Lacou!

Dominica Itinerary Recommendation

How long should you visit? I think a week – Saturday to Saturday or Sunday – is a good amount of time to see much of the island if you are efficient. Because the typical flight in and out of Dominica is around 2 – 3 p.m., you’ll be limited on activities those two days.

  • Day 1: Land around 2 p.m., Get to hotel in Soufriere
  • Day 2: 2 morning dives (3-4 hrs), Scott’s Head (1-2 hrs)
  • Day 3: 2 morning dives (3-4 hrs), Champagne Beach (1 hr)
  • Day 4: 2 morning dives (3-4 hrs), Freshwater Lake Hike (2 hrs)
  • Day 5: Extreme Dominica tour (8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.), Titou Gorge (1 hr), Trafalgar Falls (1 hr)
  • Day 6: Middleham Falls (3-4 hrs), Ti Kwen Glo Cho (1 hr)
  • Day 7: Check out of Soufriere hotel, Emerald Pool (1 hr), Mero Beach, Cabrits National Park (2+ hrs), Stay in Calibishie
  • Day 8: Batibou Bay
  • Day 9: Depart at 3 p.m. flight

I designed the above itinerary with edits from my experience. Some notes:

  • This is a packed schedule! The time estimates are about how long we spent in each place. We had about 2+ hours of driving each day.
  • Driving from Soufriere to the Morne Trois Pitons National Park area, where many of the sites are, is about 40-50 minutes. This isn’t too bad, but remember, driving is not for the faint of heart and may take longer than maps suggest.
  • Soufriere to Calibishie is about two hours. We didn’t visit Calibishie because we drove north to Portsmouth (40 minutes away from Calibishie) and we didn’t want to do that drive again. There are a handful of things in Calibishie that would be fun to do, so I recommend splitting time and staying up north for a few nights. Calibishie is about 30 minutes away from the airport.
  • Boiling Lake is a 6-hr, full-day tour. It’s often listed as a top thing to do, so consider adding this to your schedule.
  • Near Emerald Pool are more waterfalls (Jacko, Spanny, Salton) if you want to visit multiple.

Dominica is a great option in the Caribbean and I recommend it if you want an adventure! You can make the experience as easy (stay at a resort and take guided tours) or adventurous (rent a car and take self-guided tours) as you want!

Want more help with your trip? See these other posts about Dominica:

P.S. Not sure where to travel to? Check out my destinations section.

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What to Know About Scuba Diving in Dominica – Adventure Island https://fearlesscaptivations.com/scuba-diving-in-dominica/ Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:56:00 +0000 https://fearlesscaptiv.wpenginepowered.com/?p=13680 I’m sure you guessed a reason why we chose to visit Dominica was the opportunity to dive! We were excited to finally visit after discussing it for years. We typically combine diving and land activities in our trips and Dominica […]

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I’m sure you guessed a reason why we chose to visit Dominica was the opportunity to dive! We were excited to finally visit after discussing it for years. We typically combine diving and land activities in our trips and Dominica was perfect for that. We were able to have three days of solid diving while also exploring the island.

While you’re planning your Dominica trip, use this guide to give you knowledge about diving in Dominica.

Dominica Diving Quick Tips

Plan ahead because of availability. Book your dives before your trip and plan around cruise ship days. I recommend diving when cruise ships are in port so that you can do land activities on days they’re not there.

When to Dive in Dominica

You can dive in Dominica year-round! Hurricanes are expected from June through October and this is also the rainy season. Dry season is from February through April, which will be the busiest time for tourists. 

Best Dominica Dive Shops

In researching dive shop options, I found three: 

We went with Nature Island Dive because we also wanted to stay at Jungle Bay Resort, which is closer to the dive shop. We did three days of diving with them and it was excellent. They had professional and attentive guides, quality gear, fun places to dive, and a genuine enthusiasm for diving. The dive shop is 10-15 minutes from most dive shops, so we took surface intervals at the shop and the boat rides were quick. I would visit them again and recommend them.

Where to Dive in Dominica

There are two main areas to dive on the island – Scotts Head Marine Reserve (south) and Cabrits National Park Marine Section (north). There are more dive sites in the south. I leaned more towards the south because Scotts Head Pinnacle is one of the most popular dive sites in Dominica. The reefs – coral and creature life – were vibrant!

Champagne Beach is frequently listed as a scuba diving site but it’s not necessary and would be a waste of a dive. It is a shallow area without a lot of fish life, but keep a lookout for a school of squid!

Where to Stay in Dominica to Dive

With limited dive shop options, where they are located helps you narrow down where you stay. Nature Island Dive is partnered with Jungle Bay Resort in Soufriere and Dive Dominica is on-site at Fort Young Hotel in Roseau, both towards the southern part of the island. This makes access easier if you stay in one of those hotels. Jungle Bay Resort has a shuttle to the dive shop. Cabrits Dive Center is located in Portsmouth, which is in Northern Dominica.

How Much is Diving in Dominica

Diving is fairly affordable in Dominica, costing less than $50 per dive (without tip and equipment rental). The following rates are what were published in January 2023.

Pricing for a package of 6 dives:

  • Nature Island Dive: $300
  • Dive Dominica: $290
  • Cabrits Dive Center: $285

Pricing for daily full set equipment rental:

  • Nature Island Dive: $25
  • Dive Dominica: $45
  • Cabrits Dive Center: $23

What You’ll See Diving in Dominica

Life is vibrant in Dominica! I was amazed by the colorful and varied coral. Volcanoes have created interesting underwater topography and we enjoyed many swim-throughs.

As for new creatures I saw, I was excited to see a lettuce leaf nudibranch and a crab. Some other happy sightings were a seahorse, octopus, and scorpionfish.

I’m so glad we got to dive in Dominica!

P.S. Want to see more posts about diving? Click here!

P.P.S. If you want to see more about Dominica, see the posts here.

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10 Best Things to Do in Dominica – Caribbean’s Nature Island https://fearlesscaptivations.com/10-best-things-to-do-in-dominica-caribbeans-nature-island/ Tue, 17 Jan 2023 12:54:00 +0000 https://fearlesscaptiv.wpenginepowered.com/?p=13602 Dominica is an island in the Caribbean and is known for its abundance of outdoor adventures. It’s a hiker’s playground, a diver’s dream, and an adventure-seeker’s ideal vacation. There are so many things to do in Dominica! Plus, the island […]

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Dominica is an island in the Caribbean and is known for its abundance of outdoor adventures. It’s a hiker’s playground, a diver’s dream, and an adventure-seeker’s ideal vacation. There are so many things to do in Dominica! Plus, the island is not typically overrun by tourists, so you may find you are the only person at a site!

Some quick tips and notes:

  • We visited in the middle of November, and while the rainy season is from June to October, it extended to our visit. It rained hard every day, usually early in the morning, and sometimes sprinkled throughout the day. A light raincoat would have been nice for our hikes.
  • If you’re hoping to hike, be cautious about difficulty levels. We found that many of the hikes were harder than noted. Good hiking shoes will make your experience a lot better, though I did get through the trip with soaked sneakers. During the rainy season, your waterproof hiking shoes will likely get wet anyways.
  • Morne Trois Pitons National Park – This is the park to visit and you can’t miss it. The popular sights within the park include Morne Trois Pitons, Emerald Pool, Boiling Lake, Freshwater Lake, Boeri Lake, and Middleham Falls.
  • You will see recommendations to hike Waitukubuli National Trail. This 115-mile trail spans the country from north to south, so there are several places you can hike it. Cabrits National Park, Emerald Pool, Middleham Falls, Freshwater Lake, and Scott’s Head – places I recommend in this post – are all part of it.
  • The Week Pass ($12) is the way to go if you’ll be visiting multiple sites as each site costs $5. We visited Emerald Pool, Trafalgar Falls, Middleham Falls, Cabrits National Park, and Freshwater Lake with the pass, and you can also visit Boiling Lake, Boeri Lake, Indian River, and more. The pass is available to purchase at most sites.
  • As you’re planning your schedule, I recommend planning around the days cruise ships will be in port. The ships bring hoards of people that can make your experience chaotic. We only experienced this at one place, which might have attributed to why we liked it the least. Emerald Pool and Titou Gorge are two of the most visited for cruise visitors.
  • You should find free parking everywhere.
  • Be sure to pick up a copy of the tourism paper map. (You’ll get one with your car rental.)
  • Did you know scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed in Dominica?
  • There is plenty to do and you’ll easily fill up a week’s schedule!

Here are 10 things to do in Dominica to put on your list.

Go Canyoning in Gorges

Hands down one of the coolest things we did during our trip was a canyoning tour with Extreme Dominica. We rappelled into gorges and down waterfalls, traversed through the canyon, and jumped into cool pools. The guides are knowledgeable and safety-focused, and you’ll be able to get to know the other guests on your 4-hour trip. This was a bucket list experience!

  • $129 for the basic tour
  • You will get fully wet, so dress accordingly, including something to carry your phone. You’ll be able to leave items at the office.

Go Scuba Diving

Of course, one of the top reasons why we chose to visit Dominica was to dive. We went with Nature Island Dive in Soufriere, in the south part of the island. There are numerous excellent dive sites around this area. The reef is vibrant and the creatures are abundant. I was excited to see nudibranchs, a seahorse, scorpionfish, and many other Caribbean fish. The dive shop is laid-back, enthusiastic, and professional.

  • The package for 6 dives is $300 and rentals are $25 per day.
  • You’ll typically be about 10-15 minutes from shore, so you’ll come back during surface intervals.
  • Be sure to try the delicious lionfish sandwich at Bottom Time Cafe, the counter at the dive shop.
  • More detailed Dominica diving guide coming soon!

See Waterfalls at Trafalgar Falls

For an easy, 10-15 minute walk to see two waterfalls, visit Trafalgar Falls. You’ll be surrounded by the lush greenery of Dominica.

Hike to Middleham Falls

This hike is more strenuous than advertised! It’s a lot of up and down with big steps. But at the end, you’ll see Dominica’s tallest waterfall at 200 feet. I recommend hiking in the morning so you aren’t trying to beat the sunset like we were. This hike will take about 3-4 hours. See trail info here.

Visit Cabrits National Park

Located in the northwest region of the island, this national park has historical buildings and a few hiking trails. When we went, the trails were a bit overgrown and wet because of the rainy season, but we enjoyed seeing the ruins and various types of mushrooms. The hikes were a bit more challenging than expected but doable. This is a good half-day adventure.

Explore Scott’s Head

At the south of the island is Scott’s Head, a small town with a rocky beach and a pretty lookout point. There are a few great restaurants in the town. Take a quick hike up to the lookout or you can drive up. The beautiful, expansive views are incredible! I also enjoyed taking a walk along the beach, though you need to be comfortable traversing big rocks. This is a good outing for a few hours.

See Bubbles at Champagne Beach

A popular (and free) sight on the island is Champagne Beach, known for its natural bubbles, hence the name Champagne. Park on the side of the road and walk down to the beach. Towards the left is the bay where you can swim and snorkel to see the bubbles. Snorkel gear is available for rent and a small bar has refreshments. Shoes instead of sandals can help you over the rocky beach. This is frequently listed as a scuba diving site but it’s definitely not necessary and would be a waste of a dive. It is a shallow area without a lot of fish life, but keep a lookout for a school of squid! We spotted it here before sunset and it was incredible!

Swim through Titou Gorge

This attraction sounds a bit weird and walking up, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it’s cooler than expected! Be sure to plan your visit when there are no cruise ships in town. The experience is much better when there are not a lot of people around because the gorge is narrow. When you walk up, you’ll be able to rent a life jacket for $2-3. Then you’ll walk into the pool and swim through the gorge until you reach the thunderous waterfall at the end. The swim there and back should take about 10-20 minutes. Did you know this is one of the filming sites for a scene in Pirates of the Caribbean?

Hike Freshwater Lake

This hike – also a little harder than expected – was incredible because of the surprising fog that enveloped the peaks while we were there. There are some steep areas on the hike and if it’s not foggy, I imagine you’ll get some stunning views of the lake. The loop hike from the parking lot takes about 2 hours. The trail is not clearly marked, but it goes around the lake and you come out at the road where you’ll follow back to the parking lot. We waited through a torrential downpour before we started the hike, and I’m glad we went for it anyways. See more info here.

Relax at Hot Springs

There are a few hot spring options in the Wooten Waven area. We went to Ti Kwen Glo Cho based on recommendations from other travelers. The entrance fee is $10 per person. It has three different sulphur pools of different temperatures. It gets hot! But there are also ice-cold showers near the pools to cool off. Other options nearby are Bongo Baths, Da-S’Cape, and Tia’s Hot Spa. To find Ti Kwen Glo Cho, don’t follow Google maps and turn left off the main road at the pink house.

Bonus: Admire the Flora and Fauna

Similar to what I said in my Big Island, Hawaii guide, the flora and fauna in Dominica were incredible! Big, leafy, tropical plants everywhere, and during the wet season, plenty of cool mushrooms! You’ll also see fauna like hummingbirds, caterpillars, crabs, and lizards. Dominica also has plenty of island dogs and cats.

Other Options

  • Boiling Lake – This is the most strenuous hike on the island, about 6 hours, and you’re required to have a guide. We got rained out on the day we were supposed to visit but with all the hiking we ended up doing anyways, we were ok with it. This is the world’s second-largest hot spring.
  • Emerald Pool – We stopped by this quick sight on the way to the airport. It is an easy walk/hike like Trafalgar Falls, but you can swim in the pool. (Pictured below)
  • Jacko Falls, Spanny Falls – Do a waterfall day! These two are nearby Emerald Pool.
  • Mero Beach – There are a handful of sandy beaches on the island and this is supposed to be the prettiest.
  • Indian River – Take a leisurely boat ride on the Indian River, in the north of the island, to admire nature.
  • Whale Watching – I would be remiss to not talk about this as it is a popular activity. There is a good chance you will see a whale but know seeing the flicker of the tail counts as seeing a whale. Still cool, but be sure you enjoy boat rides and know there is a chance you won’t see anything.

I hope this post gets you excited to visit! Dominica’s nature adventures are waiting for you!

P.S. For more about Dominica, follow this link to more posts.

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Best Restaurants in Dominica https://fearlesscaptivations.com/best-restaurants-in-dominica/ Sun, 15 Jan 2023 17:10:00 +0000 https://fearlesscaptiv.wpenginepowered.com/?p=13571 Foodies know one of the best things about traveling is trying new cuisine and discovering new restaurants. Here’s a little recap about all the eating and drinking we enjoyed during our trip to Dominica. But before we begin, here’s a […]

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Foodies know one of the best things about traveling is trying new cuisine and discovering new restaurants. Here’s a little recap about all the eating and drinking we enjoyed during our trip to Dominica.

But before we begin, here’s a quick introduction to Dominica. Pronounced “DOM-uh-nica,” this country is part of the Eastern Caribbean. You’ll find familiar Caribbean-style dishes here and lots of tasty options.

What to Eat in Dominica

A typical plate is loaded with protein and sides. Expect protein like lamb, shrimp, pork, chicken, and fish. Sides include potatoes, yuca, lentils, plantains, and more. For example, see this menu at one restaurant, Keep’ It Real.

You’ll find hot sauce on the table! The brand will vary and restaurants may make their own, but local hot sauce can be HOT.

We ate the breakfast buffet at our hotel every morning, which was a great way to fuel up for the day. It had a wide selection, including scrambled eggs, pastries and fried dough, sauteed chickpeas, and fruit.

What to Drink in Dominica

Sorrel punch was one of my favorite discoveries during our trip. It was available on our breakfast buffet. A red juice popular around Christmas, sorrel punch is made by boiling the sorrel plant and adding ginger and spices like cloves and allspice. Sorrel is called roselle in other parts of the world and is a type of hibiscus.

You’ll likely find tropical cocktails like rum punch on menus. These taste better when you have a view of the ocean. 😉

For local beers, Kubuli and Carib are the options. Kubuli is Dominica’s beer while Carib is available all around the Caribbean. They are both lagers.

While you can drink the water in Dominica, many restaurants serve plastic water bottles.

Restaurants in Dominica to Try

We had some good eats in Dominica! 

Quick tips:

  • I recommend asking locals and other tourists you meet for restaurant options. You’ll likely find some surprise spots.
  • We rented a car, which I recommend so that you have more flexibility to visit restaurants. If you want flexibility without a car, I recommend staying in Roseau to be within walking distance of more options.
  • Sunday nights seemed very quiet at night and we had trouble finding something open. Dine early!

Here are the restaurants we visited:

Keepin’ It Real (Toucari, North) – While you’re exploring the north of the island (we were visiting Cabrits National Park), make a stop for some delicious plates at Keepin’ It Real. You’ll find ocean views as it’s on the beach and hearty, flavorful seafood. We wish we stayed closer to be able to dine here more than once!

Chez Wen (Scott’s Head, South) – We dined here several nights of our trip! The menu is simple – pick a protein and two sides. This restaurant was a short drive from our hotel and it was always a laidback experience.

Lacou (Roseau) – For finer dining, you’ll love Lacou in the capital city. Seasonal, local ingredients are combined into beautiful dishes by a talented Canadian chef. The building is also remodeled and is a lovely place. One of our favorite meals of our trip!

Roger’s (Scott’s Head, South) – A solid lunch spot similar to Chez Wen. You’ll pick a protein and they load up the plate with sides of the day.

River Rock Cafe (Trafalgar) – If you’re seeing the sights near Morne Trois Pitons National Park, stop by River Rock Cafe for a hearty plate with a great view.

Petite Bistro (Marigot) – For eats close to the airport, Petite Bistro is a good stop. We got a plate with one protein (chicken) and two sides. Since flights out are around 3 pm, this was perfect for a last meal. Airport options are minimal.

Bottom Time Cafe (Soufriere) – For the best lionfish sandwiches, stop by this cafe inside Nature Island Dive Shop.

Perky Pizza – It’s nothing unique but these pizza slices were satisfying for a quick and easy dinner.

Palisades at Fort Young Hotel – The biggest hotel in Roseau, they have a rooftop restaurant with ocean views. We stopped here for a drink and were a little puzzled by their loud party music at 5 pm.

Creating these recaps is a fun way for me to look back on my trip. It reminds me of flavors, settings, and moments, like devouring a grilled lobster on the beach while feeling the sunshine on my skin. No matter if you visit Dominica or not, wherever you go, I hope you enjoy good food and find a way to remember it. 🙂

For more travel eats, follow this link!

Planning a Dominica trip? Check out these posts to help you plan:

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