Visitor Information
Before you go, Americans and Canadians can contact the Dominica Tourist Office (tel. 866/522-4057; fax 767/448-5840; www.dominica.dm).
In England, information is available from Tom Panagos at the Dominica Tourist Office (tel. 020/7928-1600; fax 020/7928-1700).
On the island, the Dominica Tourist Information Office is on the Old Market Plaza, Roseau, with administrative offices at the National Development Corporation offices, Valley Road (tel. 767/448-2045; fax 767/448-5840); it's open Tuesday to Friday 8am to 4pm, Monday from 8am to 5pm.
There are also information bureaus at Melville Hall Airport (tel. 767/445-7051) and Canefield Airport (tel. 767/449-1199).
National Day -- National Day celebrations on November 3 commemorate both Columbus's 1493 discovery of the island and its independence, in 1978. Cultural celebrations of Dominica's traditional dance, music, song, and storytelling begin in mid-October and continue to Community Day, November 4, when people undertake community-based projects.
Getting There
By Plane -- Neither of the two airports on Dominica is large enough to handle a jet, so there are no nonstop flights from the U.S. or Canada. The Melville Hall Airport (tel. 767/445-7101) is on the northeastern coast, a 1 1/2-hour taxi ride from Roseau on the southwestern coast. The drive takes you across the island through the forest and coastal villages; the fare is around $26 per person when there are four passengers. On your own, the fare could be $60.
The more modern Canefield Airport (tel. 767/449-1199) is about a 15-minute taxi ride north of Roseau. The 600m (1,969-ft.) airstrip accommodates smaller planes than those that can land at Melville Hall. From here, the typical taxi fare into town is $10.
For many from the U.S., the easiest way to reach Dominica is via the daily American Airline (tel. 800/433-7300 in the U.S. and Canada; www.aa.com) flight from American's hub in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
If you're already in the Caribbean, you can fly to Dominica from several other islands aboard LIAT (tel. 888/844-LIAT [5428]; www.liat.com). The little airline flies nonstop from St. Lucia, daily from Antigua, and daily from Barbados. There is one flight daily, but with a stopover, from the islands of St. Kitts, St. Maarten, St. Vincent, Tortola (B.V.I.), and Trinidad.
By Boat -- The L'Express (tel. 767/448-2181; www.express-des-iles.com), sailing from the French West Indies, runs between Guadeloupe in the north to Martinique in the south; Dominica is a port of call along the way. Departures are 6 days a week; call for exact schedules. For schedule information, contact Whitchurch Travel, 5 Great Marlborough St., Roseau (tel. 767/448-2181). A one-way fare costs $25.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
