Lonely Planet ‘Greatest in Journey,’ 2023. Voted Journey + Leisure‘s World’s Greatest Awards 2022 and 2023. Time Journal’s #1 of fifty World’s Biggest Locations of 2023. Some important accolades for an surprising vacation spot in 2023: the comparatively little-visited, mostly-beachless Caribbean island of Dominica.
So what about this tiny island, usually confused for the Dominican Republic, remodeled it into one to journey’s hottest locations in a single day? It completely redefines Caribbean journey, inviting vacationers to go away cookie-cutter resort holidays far behind. Locations in search of to experience the bigger-than-ever summer season journey wave can study a factor from its success.
A New Journey Hotspot
Referred to as the Nature Island of the Caribbean for its lush mountains, gorgeous rivers and waterfalls, and reefs thought-about among the many finest on the earth, the tiny island nation of Dominica has lengthy been a well-guarded secret amongst adventure-seeking vacationers. That began to alter in 2022 when the island gained the coveted prime spot on Journey + Leisure’s World’s Greatest listing of Caribbean islands.
By 2023, the journey awards started rolling in at a dizzying tempo, placing Dominica firmly on the map. The island was named on Lonely Planet’s Greatest in Journey 2023 listing amongst simply thirty locations worldwide, on a Forbes listing of the highest 5 journey locations to maintain in your radar in 2023, and on the prime of Time’s World’s Biggest Locations in 2023.
A buzzy October 2022 opening of the most recent amongst Dominica’s resorts, the ultra-sustainable Colibri Ridge, appeared well-timed for the island’s rising reputation. This boutique luxurious resort is nothing lower than extraordinary; its second-to-none sustainability measures immediately catapulted it to worldwide consideration as one of the eco-friendly luxurious resorts on the earth.
Dominica’s nationwide give attention to sustainability measures fell into focus together with it, incomes it much more acclaim at a time when vacationers more and more clamor for Earth-positive getaways. “In 2023, Dominica stays targeted on its sustainability efforts, which is changing into an more and more common promoting level of the island,” says Uncover Dominica CEO Colin Piper.
The Nature Island of the Caribbean
Sustainability on The Nature Island could also be a giant draw for vacationers, nevertheless it’s simply the beginning of how Dominica has leaned into its strengths and sights to attract vacationers in search of one thing new to its shores. With out the classically Caribbean lengthy, white-sand seashores and mega-resorts that draw many vacationers to the island neighbors, it is a new and profitable technique for the island.
Enjoying into its wealthy jungles, hovering volcanoes, and gorgeous, dramatic shores, Dominica positions itself as an journey journey paradise. With journey journey extra common than ever, anticipated to develop virtually 30% by the tip of the following decade, it is a profitable technique.
Hike the Waitukubuli Nationwide Path, a fourteen-section path reducing over 100 miles throughout the island. It’s the longest and most full mountain climbing path within the Caribbean, providing unimaginable landscapes you’d by no means look forward to finding within the Caribbean. Camp alongside the route or keep at tiny guesthouses and lodges alongside the way in which over the greater than two weeks it takes to hike the entire path.
Alternatively, hit the seas to finish the Waitukubuli Sea Path, a kayaking path on the island’s Caribbean coast that runs your entire size of the island. If you happen to’re in search of only a style of journey quite than an adventure-centric journey, scramble over boulders to swim beneath the dual Trafalgar Falls, kayak on Freshwater Lake, or lower by the rainforest to go to the Emerald Pool with its jungle oasis swimming gap beneath.
Leaning Into the Surprising
The last word in journey journey and adrenaline rushes are completely different from what many vacationers would look forward to finding within the Caribbean. Whereas neighboring islands spotlight their beautiful-if-boring resorts, competing for the largest infinity swimming pools or most well-known cooks, Dominica affords one thing distinctive. After seeing a 308% enhance in guests final yr, it seems to be like a technique that appears to be working.
It is a lesson different locations can take to coronary heart. “When a vacation spot absolutely leans into what makes them distinctive and goes ‘all in’ by way of being true to its model, it finally ends up being a stellar and singular expertise for the company that they’d have a tough time discovering elsewhere,” says Mikkel Woodruff, journey knowledgeable at Typically Crusing. “Usually, company do not know what they’re in search of till a vacation spot presents it, whether or not it is an tour, tradition, or culinary expertise.”
Untouched, Nonetheless
Regardless of the well-deserved buzz across the island of Dominica, in the meanwhile, the island nonetheless appears so untouched. Even on a day with a cruise ship in port on the island’s capital metropolis of Roseau, Dominica’s most lovely and well-known sights stay simply accessible quite than overrun.
American Airways has plans to broaden its direct flights from america to Dominica to each day frequency this summer season after its inaugural direct flight to the island from Miami launched in 2021. The route has already been transformative for the island’s tourism amongst North American vacationers.
Whereas an elevated flight raise to the island guarantees to skyrocket guests much more, it seems to be like a greater time than ever to entry the island for those who’re nonetheless seeking to discover this tropical paradise earlier than it turns into too mainstream. With all the excitement round this island paradise remodeling Caribbean journey, it is unlikely to stay so unspoiled for for much longer.
This text was produced by Explorers Away and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
Carley Rojas Avila is an avid traveler, author, and creator behind Dwelling to Havana. Having traveled to 25 international locations and spent years residing overseas, she shares vacation spot guides, journey suggestions, and hacks to assist vacationers and digital nomads really feel at dwelling when touring off the overwhelmed path, whether or not their travels take them to Havana or past.