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Interesting Facts About Dominica:

  • The official name of Dominica is the Commonwealth of Dominica. However, the indigenous Carib tribe that settled the island in the 14th century called it Waitikbuli, which translates as Tall is Her Body! It ended up being called Dominica when Christopher Columbus sighted the island during his explorations in 1493. It was a Sunday then, or Domingo in Latin!
  • The native Kalinago people fiercely resisted the colonisation attempts of the Europeans that wanted to settle on the island. In this struggle, the mountainous terrain of Dominica was a strong ally for the Kalinagos, as it provided sanctuary. For that reason, Dominica is the very last island in the Caribbean that was eventually colonised by Europeans.
  • Both France and Britain crossed their swords to gain control of Dominica during the 1600s, but both agreed to give up on their settling intentions in 1660. Nevertheless, a few years later, Britain gained possession of the island after fighting for it for seven years.
  • Dominica was the first and only British colony in 1838 that had a legislature controlled by black people. Things changed in 1896, when the country established a crown colony government. In 1978, though, it became fully independent.
  • The official language in Dominica is English. However, French Patois is widely spoken as well. This Creole language is a mix of English, African, and French and hints at a colonial past.
  • Dominica is one of the very few Caribbean countries that is still populated by indigenous tribes. Also, the fact that nearly 3,000 Caribs or Kalinago people still live on the island makes Dominica the place with the largest indigenous population in the Eastern Caribbean.

Dominica Geography

Many people mistakenly assume that Dominica is the Dominican Republic. These are two different countries, though, with the first being a Lesser Antilles island, while the second is about 965 kilometres (600 miles) far and located on Hispaniola island.

As for its natural wonders, Dominica is home to a rare indigenous bird called the Sisserou parrot which is the national symbol of the country. You will also see it in the centre of the Dominica flag, which also features a green background that represents the lush forests of Dominica, as well as a black, white, and yellow cross that represents the African, Caucasian, and Carib people, alongside the island’s rich soil, waterfalls, rivers, and fruits. Finally, the flag has 10 stars that reflect the Dominica parishes.

Another endangered frog species has also found a loving home in Dominica’s rainforest. The iconic Mountain Chicken or Giant Ditch Frog is the largest in the world, and a now protected, frog species after an early 2000s fungus wiped out almost the entire population of the island (more than 80% of the frogs).

Did you know that…

  • Dominica excites trekkers and hikers with the first long-distance hiking trail in the Caribbean, the 183-kilometre-long (115 miles) Waitukubuli National Trail which is divided into 14 segments.
  • Dominica has nine active volcanoes. This makes it the country with the highest concentration of active volcanoes in the world. However, no major eruption has taken place since 1997.
  • Dominica is also home to the second-largest boiling lake on earth, which is, in reality, a flooded crack in a volcanic crater discovered in 1875, from where hot gases are vented from the lava below. To reach the lake, you will need to hike a challenging 13-kilometre (8 miles) trek (it takes around 6 hours) and go past the Valley of Desolation.
  • Dominica greets visitors with 365 rivers (all surrounded by exotic flowers and plants, with the Indian River being the widest one) and a rainforest that covers almost 75% of its land. Its vast array of geographic features, such as the volcanoes, forest, mountains, waterfalls, and rivers are the reason behind the island’s nickname (“Nature Island”).
  • The Caribs and the Africans were practising herbal medicine for centuries. That valuable knowledge has luckily been passed on from generation to generation until recent years. Often called Bush Medicine, herbal medicine uses herbs like basil, dandelion, and Moringo to heal common illnesses and ailments.

Top Landmarks & Things to Do in Dominica

One of the most fascinating things you can try in Dominica is to swim with sperm whales that live in the waters surrounding Dominica, where they mate and give birth to their babies between November and March! In fact, this is the only place on earth where sperm whales can be seen throughout the year!

Besides that, you may also visit the island’s sulphur springs and experience sunbathing on black volcanic sand, at Mero Beach, near Roseau, the bustling Dominica capital. While there, you also have the chance to sample delicious local cuisine at nearby restaurants and taste local rum punch. Other equally popular shores are Number One Beach, Rosalie Bay, and Purple Turtle, while the sulphur pools at Bongo Baths and Wotten Waven just around the corner deliver on their promise for a mind-blowing outdoor, off-the-sand venture.

Want breathtaking panoramas of Dominica and neighbouring Martinique and Guadeloupe? Then definitely plan a hike to Morne Diablotins, the highest mountain on Dominica, and expect to be wandering through hundreds of different plant and animal species living in the Dominica rainforest.

Extreme adventure seekers, on the other hand, will have no trouble finding an endeavour to boost their adrenaline levels sky-high, considering the fantastic range of beaches, mountains, and rivers in Dominica. For starters, you could go kayaking or river tubing down Layou River, go canyoning to a secret waterfall, snorkel at Champagne Beach and let your body be drifted away by the warm bubbles vented from cracks on the sea bed, or scuba dive around Scotts Head Pinnacle. To push yourself to the limits, you may even consider swimming from the Caribbean Sea all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, on the other side of the island!

For more laid-back and relaxed experiences, horse riding in Portsmouth, turtle watching, bird watching, whale watching, and stepping foot at the absolutely amazing Dominica Botanic Gardens will spoil you for sure.

Lastly, you could sign up for a guided tour to the places where the famous film Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed (the 3rd film in the series – Dead Man’s Chest). If you see resemblances between Cannibal Island in the movie and Dominica, it will be because they are both the same island!