Dominica is the largest and most mountainous of the Caribbean, Leeward Islands, with a landscape of mountain streams and rivers, lakes, volcanic peaks, golden and black sandy beaches, waterfalls, geysers, steaming volcanic pools and thick forests.

With Roseau as its capital the island’s official language is English, although Creole French is the national language. The island of Martinique lies to the south while Guadeloupe lies to the north.

The interior of the island is covered by luxuriant verdant landscape and tropical forests, where some of the best hiking trails can be taken, notably in the Morne Trois Pitons National park. In the park spectacular sights are the Boiling Lake, the second largest active one in the world, the Emerald Pool, Sari Sari Falls, Trafalga Falls, Freshwater Lake, Middleham Falls, the Boeri Lake and the Valley of Desolation.

The Central Forest Reserve and Botanical Gardens are also magnificent sites to visit, as well as the Sulphur Springs, Titou Gorge and L’Escalier Tête Chien. All these areas also boast a superb fauna and flora.

For water activities the Soufrière area is the best, with scuba diving, snorkeling or kayaking, as well as whale and dolphin watching. Most beaches are of black sand, although there are some white beaches on the northeast of the island.

The climate in Dominica is hot and subtropical all year round, the rainy season going from June to October.