Whenever I am asked the simple question, “Where are you from?” I can predict exactly how the conversation will go 99% of the time.
I’ll tell them, “My mother is from Trinidad and Tobago…” and they have either heard of it or know someone from there. Then I follow up with “…and my father is from Dominica.” The first response of almost everyone is, “Oh, do you mean the Dominican Republic?”
Over and over I would hear people correcting me, and my response is always, “No, I meant Dominica…” It’s a small but beautiful Caribbean island with some of the most luscious nature on the planet.”
So, I’m here to share a bit of history and some highlights of my recent summer trip to one of the Caribbean’s most hidden gems: Dominica.
I was so excited to go on this trip with my grandmother. She was born and raised in Roseau, Dominica, and moved to the United States in her 50s. Every so often, like many foreigners do, she returns to her hometown to visit people she hasn’t seen in years.
To get to Dominica from Washington, D.C., involves a bit of a journey, as currently there are no direct flight routes to the island from here. For the first leg of our journey, we hopped on a two-and-a-half-hour flight to Miami International Airport for our stop. From here, we transferred over to a smaller plane for a three-hour flight to Douglas Charles International.
Douglas-Charles International is currently the main airport located in the northeast of the island in the town of Marigot. However, Dominica International Airport, currently under construction in the nearby town of Wesley, will soon replace Douglas Charles International. The goal of this airport is to stimulate the economy and increase tourism by improving the island’s accessibility.
After landing at the airport, we then had a one-hour-and-seventeen-minute drive across the island to the capital, Roseau. One interesting thing about many Caribbean islands is their windy roads and the driving style of many islanders. It is always best to go with people who know the roads extremely well to make sure you’re safe. As soon as we got to the family house, we unpacked and prepared for the next few days of visiting family and friends and exploring.
Dominica has been nicknamed “Nature Island of the Caribbean,” and I can attest to this. When we weren’t visiting family, we spent our time visiting a couple of the main attractions of the island. Here are those places:
Scotts Head: Located in the southwest of the island, this small fishing village of 721 people is one that truly took my breath away. Attached to the island is a peninsula known as Cacharou, shown in the picture above. It consists of the Scotts Head Lighthouse, where visitors can take the trail to the top to see a beautiful sight: the rough waters of the Atlantic Ocean clashing with the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Red Rocks: We visited the Red Rocks, in the village of Calibishie, on the northeast coast, nearly an hour and 40 minutes’ drive from Roseau. This rock formation is located on the 25-acre Pointe Baptiste Estate. According to Dominica’s Online Community, DOM767, these rocks are made from volcanic ash, and they get their beautiful red color from the iron oxide in the volcanic rocks (“Red Rocks”). Fun Fact: Parts of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men’s Chest were filmed in the Hampstead and Calibishie areas.
Freshwater Lake: One of my favorite parts of the whole trip was visiting Freshwater Lake. Half an hour and many winding roads later, we made it to the top where the lake is located. While driving up 2500 ft above sea level, it felt like entering a completely different planet. We went from blazing heat to an instant cool breeze and thick fog surrounding us. As shown in the picture, you get to see the lake, and though it may look still in the photo, it was so windy we had to hold onto the railings! This lake is located in Morne Trois Pitons National Park, which consists of nearly 17,000 acres of lakes, sulfur springs, waterfalls, rainforests, and hiking trails. I was very grateful to experience such an amazing sight and hope next time to walk the trails that are located around the national park.
Jungle Bay: For two days of our trip, we got the chance to have an amazing experience at one of Dominica’s eco-resorts, Jungle Bay. This 4-star resort is located on the hills of Soufriere and overlooks the Caribbean Sea, as shown above. It features 2 large community pools, with one of them shown in the photo above. We got the chance to relax in the main pool and see the sunset. We stayed one night in their wooden cottage, and it really made you feel lavish. We enjoyed lunch, dinner, and breakfast, with delicious drinks and local foods.
After two wonderful weeks revisiting one of my home islands, I can’t wait for the opportunity to go back and explore one of the most underrated Caribbean islands. I hope this will inspire you to add Dominica to your travel bucket list. You won’t regret it!
Sources Referenced
“Red Rocks.” DOM767, https://www.dom767.com/dompedia/red-rocks/. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.