Dominica

A typical Dominican smile...

Dominica is a beautifully lush island of tropical rain forest. The main reason for visiting Dominica would be to appreciate the spectacular rain forest by hiking, walking and visiting the waterfalls, freshwater lakes and sulphur springs. The people are helpful and friendly. Tourism is not as well developed in Dominica but this is its charm, making accommodation and eating places more difficult to find, however it may have been quiet because of the credit crunch. We did self catering in the beautiful house (Harmony Villa) in the middle of the rainforest.

Accommodation:

Traditional House: Harmony Villa, Pont Cassé owned by Carla Armour, UK Tel: +44 1273 273 074. It is a delightful traditional wooden house set in the middle of the rainforest, providing a tranquil setting, which is central to many of the sights http://www.harmonyvilla.com/

Main bedroom at Harmony Villa

Main living room/kitchen with cathedral roof

Claudia, who really 'ran' Harmony Villa!

Apartments/lodges:

Calibishie Lodges Sea View apartments Tel: 001 767 445 8537
http://www.calibishie-lodges.com/

Boutique Hotels:

Beau Rive on the east coast one mile north of Castle Bruce, an elegant boutique hotel run by 'Brit' Mark Steele Tel: (767) 445 8992 http://www.beaurive.com/ or mark@beaurive.com

View from Veranda at Beau Rive

Silks Luxury Boutique Hotel http://www.silks-hotel.com/ Tel: (767)
445 8846 Pagua Valley

Hotel:

Anchorage Hotel + Whale Watch and Dive Centre http://www.anchoragehotel.dom/, Tel: 767 448 2639

Eco Retreats:

There are various eco lodges on the island from very cheap at approx $50 to more upmarket ones at $179 pp.

Three Rivers Ecolodge, Rosalie run by ex-London cabbie http://www.3riversdominica.com/ Tel: +1767 446 1886

Eating places/bars:

Mano’s a little bar on the way to Emerald pool

Purple Turtle Beach Club Bar & Restaurant, Portsmouth, situation right on the beach – locals and boaters frequent

Calibishie Beach

Coral Reef Restaurant & Bar, Main St. Calibishie Tel (767) 445 7432 situation on the beach

Pagua Bay Bar and Grill, only opened last week, great food and atmosphere with the most stunning views, run by Americans Alicia and Rick, Tel: (767 455 8888)

MOG enjoys a birthday drink (She's 21 AGAIN) with Alicia

Alicia also recommended Red Rock Haven run by Gina and Stacey (767) 275 7997

Supermarkets:

Brizee’s Mart in Roseau and HHV Whitchurch in Roseau.

Car rental company:

We used Road Runner Car Rental. Hiring a four by four is essential for this island 235 2952/440 2952 email: roadrunnerrental@cwdom.dm

Beaches:

There are not many sandy beaches on Dominica.

We visited beaches at Portsmouth (pictured) and Batibou Bay

Sights to see:

Dominica’s beautiful rainforest interior makes it an island for walking, hiking and appreciating the flora, fauna and wildlife in abundance. A guide is recommended for a lot of the sights.

Sari Sari Falls – we did it without a guide but maybe if it wasn’t for locals cooking lunch in the rainforest we may have got lost.

Emerald Pool, a fantastic sight but more touristy than Sari Sari.

A drive through the Carib Territory on the east coast.

Trafalgar Falls and the Sulphur Springs.

There are freshwater lakes to visit and hike to such eg Freshwater Lake, Boeri Lake.