The beautiful island ‘back from the brink’ as it begs tourists to visit

The island of Dominica is located in the Eastern Caribbean Sea and is brimming with volcanic energy, vibrant beaches, and lively tropical wildlife.

At the same time, out of 150 countries on the Global Climate Risk Index, Dominica is marked as 11th, partly because of its mountainous terrain prone to landslides.

Unfortunately, the Caribbean island has been badly impacted by a major natural disaster in 2017, Hurricane Maria, which caused widespread devastation. The harrowing natural disaster was catastrophic for the people of Dominica.

According to preventionweb.net, the Category 5 hurricane damaged 98 percent of the roofs on the island and caused $1.2billion (£950million) in damage. The storm caused Dominica to lose 226 percent of its GDP overnight.

A similar level of destruction left its mark on the country, but now the island is coming back from the brink and wants tourists to visit again.

Dominica is a truly spectacular destination, described as the Caribbean’s ‘nature island’. Its diverse natural species are what gives it this name, as well as its rainforests and natural hot springs.

One sea mammal that’s often spotted around the island is the sperm whale. Dominica is one of the best places in the world to see sperm whales and the only place you can see them all year round.

It is believed there are around 300 of these whales around the island, with plenty of other whale species to be spotted as well. There is even an opportunity to swim with the amazing creatures, but it will set you back over £2000.

Scuba diving and snorkelling are also popular activities, as Dominica has some fantastic and colourful coral reefs to explore as well as underwater caves.

The landscape also offers a stunning collection of waterfalls you can visit, including Trafalgar Falls, Emerald Pool, and Victoria Falls. Some are more difficult to get to than others.

The island has a rich culture and history, centred around local cuisine and a carnival that includes a celebration of its mixture of French and African heritage. 

There is a unique mix of languages, heritage and culture referred to as the ‘Creole Culture’, which is centred in Dominica.

After the country has experienced such devastation from Hurricane Maria, a thriving tourism sector will help bring it back to its former glory. 

While there are no direct flights from the UK, many British tourists fly to Antigua to begin with, and then from there they take a 30-40-minute flight.

The best time to visit is from December to April, because while Britain might be cold at this time, Dominica is dry and warm – perfect for exploring.