Is Dominica Worth Visiting? What We Loved (and Didn’t)

In 2009 Dan had to visit the Commonwealth of Dominica on business and I created an online journal so our family could read about our visit. Our brief stay on this beautiful, natural island reawakened our fondness for travel and Dan's love of photography, and eventually, my online travel journal morphed into the website you're reading now, As We Saw It. This is a version of one of my very first posts. I hope you enjoy it.

“We're visiting Dominica?! Where the heck is that?” I asked when Dan first told me we'd be going there on business. Sure, I'd heard of the Dominican Republic, but it took me a bit of time to fathom that two Caribbean countries would have such similar names.

Anyway, Dan and his business partner had business to do there. Being the thoughtful family men they are, they brought us along (their wives and sons). Field trip!

I tried to search for information about the country, but it wasn’t easy. Google kept throwing in results for the Dominican Republic instead—which pretty much tells you how overlooked Dominica is.

Long story short, the Commonwealth of Dominica is only about 4 times the size of Washington, D.C. Lying between Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Lesser Antilles, this tiny slip of an island has only about 70,000 inhabitants.

And it's pronounced is Dom-in-EEK-a. Glad I learned that before I made a fool of myself in front of the locals.

Is Dominica Worth Visiting?

Dominica is absolutely worth visiting—if you’re looking for raw nature, not a polished Caribbean resort experience. This is an island of rainforests, waterfalls, and rugged coastline, not white-sand beaches and all-inclusives.

We loved it for its unspoiled beauty and quiet, but it’s not for everyone. Getting there takes effort, and if your idea of a Caribbean vacation involves lounging on the beach with a drink in hand, you’ll likely be disappointed.

Why Dominica Isn’t a Typical Caribbean Destination

Here’s what surprised us most about visiting Dominica:

Most people wouldn't choose Dominica as a vacation destination, even if they could find it in search results. First off, you can't get there in one day; you have to fly to Puerto Rico and then fly to Dominica the next afternoon. Plus, there are no resorts on the entire island because it has no beautiful, sandy Caribbean beaches. (Can you say untouched?)

Since it doesn't appeal to resort developers its primary resource is its pristine beauty it has become a mecca for divers and eco-tourists.

What Might Disappoint Some Travelers

Dominica isn’t the kind of Caribbean destination most people picture—and that’s exactly why some travelers don’t enjoy it.

There are no long stretches of white-sand beaches, and you won’t find big resorts or all-inclusive hotels. Getting there also takes more effort than most Caribbean islands, usually requiring an overnight stop.

If you’re expecting an easy, resort-style vacation, Dominica will likely feel like a mismatch.

Who Dominica Is Best For

It’s often said that Dominica is the only island Christopher Columbus would still rIt’s often said that Dominica is the only island Christopher Columbus would still recognize—and I believe it. As we descended between forested mountains and winding rivers, it felt like stepping into another world.

But there was no chaos to greet us, just a small puddle-jumper airport and the desk where we picked up our rental car. From there, we headed straight to Calibishe on the island’s northeast coast.

The guys had business meetings waiting for them in Roseau on Monday, but that felt a long way off. For now, this was our time—a quiet weekend to settle in and get a taste of what Dominica was really like.

So, Is Dominica Worth Visiting?

Dominica is worth visiting if you want something real.

It’s not polished, it’s not easy to get to, and it’s definitely not the Caribbean most people expect. But that’s exactly what makes it special. Dominica is all about rainforests, waterfalls, and rugged coastline—not beach crowds or all-inclusive resorts.

We found quiet instead of nightlife, genuine locals who didn’t see dollar signs when they talked to us, and a kind of natural beauty that’s getting harder to find.

We didn’t go to Dominica by choice—we went because of a business trip. But it ended up being the trip that got us traveling more—and eventually led to this site.