DOMINICA TRAVEL REPORT.

  

Punctual as never before from Vc Bird Int'l Airport in Antigua at 06.00 my plane n. 581 of the LIAT Airline Company in the direction of Douglas-Charles Airport in Dominica, (ticket price including taxes: USD 86.75).

 

Free drinks and snacks are not served on the plane.

 

I therefore arrive at 06.40 am, at Douglas-Charles Airport in Dominica, located about 47 km north-east of Roseau, the capital of Dominica. There are 5 hours of time zone, compared to Italy.

 

A visa is not required to enter Dominica for tourism purposes and for a period not exceeding 90 days. It is sufficient to be in possession of a passport, with at least 6 months of residual validity at the time of entry into the country. Sometimes you will be asked for a return or onward flight ticket and a hotel reservation.

 

It is necessary to fill out a form to be delivered to customs, part of which must be returned when leaving the country.

 

There is no bank to change money at the airport, but you can withdraw cash with an ATM or credit card.

 

In Roseau, on the other hand, you can exchange money at an exchange office. I changed like this: 1 Euro = 2.7 EC $.

 

The currency of Dominica is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC $), but American Dollars (USD) are accepted everywhere (Hotels, Buses, Taxis, Shops, Restaurants, Supermarkets, Ferries, etc.) American Dollars (USD), even if using the latter. these are considered with the following value 1 USD = 2.5 EC $ instead of the official rate which is 1 USD = 2.7 EC $.

 

In Dominica, the official language is English.

 

In Dominica, driving is on the left and is driven by Minivans, which do not have written on the windshield containing the route number and the final destination, from 6.00 to 19.00. You pay the driver before getting off. The service is very poor on Sunday.

 

To reach the Capital Roseau from Dominica Douglas-Charles Airport, located about 47 km north - east of the same by public transport, you need to walk about 1.5 km southwards, until you reach the northern outskirts of Marigot, where they pass, at least in the morning, quite frequently Minivans for the capital directed to the West Bus Station of Roseau, located near the Roseau River. The journey through the Central Forest Reserve takes approximately 1 hour and costs 10 EC $. You pay the driver before getting off. Another solution is to take the shared taxi that leaves the airport when full (4 people) and costs EC $ 80.

 

In Dominica I slept, at the Chelshayde Apartment and Studio, located in Swez Canal, Salisbury (Baroui), about 23km north of Roseau. Free Wi. Wonderful view of the sea below. Price per night: 40 USD. To reach it from the capital take a minivan from the West Bus Station towards Portsmouth and get off after about half an hour at Salisbury. Travel cost 4 EC $. From there, walk the uphill road for about 700 meters. and ask the locals who know Chelshayde Apartment and Studio very well.

 

If you want to visit Portsmouth, Dominica's second largest city, located 44.5km further north, you need to take a Minivan from Roseau's West Bus Station. The journey through the beautiful east coast takes about 1 hour and costs 9 EC $. You pay the driver before getting off.

 

The most important and most visited waterfalls in Dominica are the Trafalgar Falls, located in the beautiful Roseau Valley over 7km north-east of Roseau. They are open every day from 8.00 to 17.00. Admission to the same costs 13.5 EC $ or 5 USD. To see them it is necessary to walk uphill for about 10 minutes along a path and many steps. The falls have a maximum drop of 60 meters.

 

To reach the above waterfalls by public transport, go to Boyd's Aya in Roseau, near the entrance to the Botanical Gardens and take a minivan to Trafalgar Village (30 minutes, 3.5 EC $) and then walk less than 1 km uphill to the falls. Keep in mind that there are also Minivans going to the falls but less frequently.

 

To make excursions in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is necessary to reach the Village of Laudat, located in the beautiful Roseau Valley over 9 km north-east of Roseau.

 

To do this by public transport, go to the Valley Rd stop in Roseau, near the entrance to the Botanical Gardens and take a minivan to Laudat (40 minutes, 5 EC $). Please note that this minivan also stops at Trafalgar Village less than 1km from the waterfalls of the same name

 

To reach the beautiful villages of Soufriere and Scotts Head, located on the west coast over 10km south of the capital, you need to go to the stop near the Old Market in Roseau, and take a minivan to Scotts Head (30 minutes, 5 EC $). It starts when all the seats are occupied. You pay the driver before getting off.

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2017/11/traversata-dei-caraibi-da-nord-sud.html