IN THIS STORY
But Wait—There's More
Find other great ideas in these related stories:
- Car-Free Destinations for Your Big Summer Trip ›
- The Best New Hotels with Great Food ›
- The Best New Hotels of 2013 ›
- Go Bananas for Asia's Adorable Monkeys ›
- 12 Stunning Asian Stupas ›
- Top Islands in the World ›
- Romantic Travel Spots Off the Beaten Path ›
- The Most Colorful Cities ›
- The Platinum Circle ›
- Must-See Christmas Trees Around the World ›
- Madrid's Best Restaurants and Bars ›
Dominica
If Cancún is the Caribbean's Britney Spears—all shiny surfaces, easy pleasure, and something of a mess—then Dominica is Fiona Apple: intense, idiosyncratic, and a little rough around the edges—but still sexy. With the highest mountains in the eastern Caribbean, black–sand beaches, and a primeval rain forest perfect for hiking, there's nothing average about these natural assets. You've got to work for them, though. The interior roads are narrow and windy, only one of the 365 rivers and streams is navigable: and many a foot trail vanishes into nothingness. A guide will ensure your arrival at such evocatively named spots as Boiling Pit, Valley of Desolation, White River, and Emerald Pool. These are real places, not locations from Lord of the Rings: a lake gurgling with gray–blue water, a geyser–filled vale, a sulfuric river, and a sparkling waterfall grotto hidden in the green forest. Hit me baby one more time? Take in the lush 17,000–acre expanse of Morne Trois Pitons National Park. Or the excellent reefs, which include a submerged volcanic crater in Soufrière Marine Park. In December 2004, Green Globe 21, an organization that bestows ecotourism awards, typically on single hotels or sites, decided the whole country was worthy of designation. And there are some great new ecolodges here, the best of which may be the newish (March 2005) and slightly crunchy Jungle Bay, a series of spacious, light–filled cottages on stilts with open–air showers and a yoga studio, all of it constructed from reclaimed volcanic rock and wood. Recycled trash: Even Ms. Spears can appreciate that.
Jungle Bay
Tel: 767 446 1789
Fax: 767 446 1090
Email: reservations@junglebaydominica.com
Dominica Tourist Board
Tel: 767 448 2045
Tel: 888 645 5637
Email: dominicany@dominica.dm
RSS Feeds