Dominica
Itineraries
We would recommend a stay of at least one week to see the main sights and appreciate the island's relaxed pace. Because Dominica is relatively small, you could make one place your base for the whole trip. But, remember that the mountainous landscape and poor roads can make a journey of only a few miles into an arduous trip.
We would recommend spending a few days snorkelling/diving and whale-watching in the south where you could stay at the Zandoli Inn with its beautiful sea views, followed by a few days exploring the rainforest in Morne Trois Pitons National Park staying at Papillote Wilderness Retreat. If you're looking for a beach, Pointe Baptiste in the northeast is your best option (but don't forget, Dominica is not really a beach holiday destination).
For longer stays venture into the Carib Territory and maybe take a trip to the Layou Valley and it's gorges. A boat trip on the mangrove lined Indian River is also a must if time is no problem.
If you have two weeks, you might want to consider spending one week in Dominica and one week on one of the nearby islands (you will probably need to pass through one of them anyway as there are no direct flights to Dominica from outside the Caribbean). Our preference would be St. Lucia, which is a stunning island with some lovely hideaways; from there, you can get a short connecting flight or ferry to Dominica.