A yachting perspective

Porstmouth            Roseau            Customs           Exploring ashore

Dominica is the Eastern Caribbean's most spectacular island. An island of tall mountains, dense rain forests, fast flowing rivers, waterfalls and rainbows. Whether you hike, take a walk, ride a bus or hire a taxi, you will find yourself in some of the most beautiful countryside imaginable. 

This on its own, would be reason enough to visit, but there is something else about Dominica which to my mind makes it an even more outstanding destination. Dominica, while it came up trumps in onshore beauty, lacked the plethora of plentiful palm-backed, white-sand  beaches that are the icon for Caribbean Tourism. Other islands cashed in early on the tourist industry, with a boom of hotels and fancy houses, and lots of of foreign investment. Large developments were geared to those living overseas and now, in some islands, "gated communities" are becoming popular.

In doing so the much of the Eastern Caribbean has done well, but it has also changed, modernized, and became much more international. 

Dominica, it seemed at the time, was getting left behind. Yet Dominica has found its own way. It is not yet as wealthy as some neighboring islands, but it has developed along its own lines, and in doing so it is emerging whole, its essential character, soul and culture intact.

This authenticity is a compelling reason to visit Dominica, to become saturated in the beauty, the feel of the island and to get to know some of the inhabitants, who  have not yet become overwhelmed by outsiders and will greet you with a refreshing interest and honesty.

Cruisers, I feel sure, are bound to visit Dominica at some point on their Caribbean journey, but Dominica is not often suggested to charter customers, yet it is an easy sail from either Guadeloupe to its north or Martinique to its south, both major charter bases. From Guadeloupe in particular it makes a perfect destination which fits in with sailing to the Saintes and Marie Galante. Even for those short of time, a one night stop in Portsmouth which a trip up the Indian River could easily be the highlight of a charter.

Dominica has several anchorages two of which are ports of clearance; Portsmouth, in the north end of the island and Roseau towards the south.

Follow the links at the top of the page to learn more about Dominica from a yachting perspective.