{"id":515,"date":"2025-11-20T14:55:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T14:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sailingjuno.com\/?p=515"},"modified":"2026-05-08T15:45:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:45:03","slug":"dominica-the-nature-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sailingjuno.com\/zh\/ports-of-call\/dominica-the-nature-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Dominica – The Nature Island"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We motored the 60 nautical miles from St. Pierre, Martinique, to Portsmouth, Dominica, in the wind shadow created by Dominica\u2019s tall mountains. It was a cloudy and misty day. The scenery reminded me of a moody Chinese Shan Shui<\/strong> (\u5c71\u6c34, “mountain-water”) painting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Dominica is only a few hours\u2019 sail from Martinique, the contrast was immediate as we stepped onto the only main street in Portsmouth, the island\u2019s second largest city. Chickens and street dogs roamed freely while people sat on low stools or gathered around street corners and shopfronts. Near the main fisherman\u2019s dock, a few fruit and veggie stands offered excellent local produce. Our friends called Dominica the \u201cold\u201d Caribbean, and now I understand why: it has not been taken over by fancy hotels, large modern resorts, and shopping malls. It is anything but posh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traveling through the Caribbean always means adjusting to each island\u2019s quirks, like switching between driving on the left and right depending on colonial history. Martinique is French, so you drive on the right. Dominica was British, so it\u2019s on the left. Robert and I are from the US, and it felt a little too adventurous to rent a car and try driving on the “wrong” side of the road on such mountainous roads. So we stuck with taxis, even though prices weren\u2019t clear and they were expensive, and drivers were mostly interested in taking us to the obvious tourist spots rather than where we wanted to go, based on our extensive research. Oh, no, do not attempt to fool us, local taxi drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aside from the daily coaxing of our taxi driver to venture out further to “dangerously” far locations (such as Victoria Falls), and a few blank stares from idle islanders on the street with what I can only describe as proud resentment, the beauty of Dominica wowed us every day during our short stay. We loved stunning waterfalls, jungle hikes, fruit trees, tropical flowers, the daily fresh catches from local fishing boats, and unfamiliar tropical fruits from the friendly local fruit stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Passion fruit season is here!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
We bought one of these beautiful mahi-mahi caught by a local fisherman and made delicious fish tacos!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
This starfruit tree is brimming with fruit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We visited Syndicate, Trafalgar, Middleham, and Victoria Falls. If we had chosen, we could easily have visited another 3 or 4 beautiful falls. Dominica is an island of waterfalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our favorites are Middleham and Victoria Falls. It took a mountainous drive and a moderate hike to reach the Middleham Falls, but the effort was well worth it. The hike to the fall was a wonder in itself. The tropical jungle offered an incredible feast to all senses. As we picked our way to descend carefully, the 275 feet waterfall jumped into view. The sight was impressive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n