Where to stay in Dominica, the short answer
The best area to stay in Dominica depends on the trip you want, with options spread from Soufriere, Rosalie to Portsmouth. Every stay we recommend below is genuinely sustainable and chosen so your money stays on the island.
Where to stay in Dominica by area, at a glance
| Area | Best for | The vibe | Our sustainable pick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soufriere | couples and divers wanting calm Caribbean water and hot springs | sleepy southwest fishing bay with warm volcanic waters | See guide |
| Rosalie | nature lovers and walkers chasing the wild, untamed side | rugged Atlantic east coast, rivers, rainforest and pounding surf | Rosalie Bay Eco Resort & Spa |
| Portsmouth | first-time visitors wanting a lively northern base and easy day trips | the relaxed second town, river trips and the north’s natural sights | Secret Bay |
Quick picks
- Soufriere: couples and divers wanting calm Caribbean water and hot springs
- Rosalie: nature lovers and walkers chasing the wild, untamed side
- Portsmouth: first-time visitors wanting a lively northern base and easy day trips
Rosalie: Walking and Wild Nature
Rosalie lies on the wild east coast facing the Atlantic, around a 45 minute to 1 hour drive from Douglas-Charles airport (DOM) on winding mountain roads, where a hire car or pre-arranged transfer is more or less essential as taxis are scarce. This is rugged, rainforested Dominica at its most dramatic, with black sand, river mouths, sea turtle nesting and trails into the interior, ideal for nature lovers and hikers who want quiet and raw scenery over swimming beaches, since the Atlantic surf here is rough.
Where to stay in Rosalie
Rosalie Bay Eco Resort & Spa is a top place to stay in Rosalie, Dominica
Rosalie Bay Eco Resort & Spa is the only Green Globe certified resort on Dominica, founded by Beverly Deikel on a black sand beach where leatherback, green and hawksbill turtles nest.
More than 200 solar panels and a 225 kW wind turbine, the first on the island, power the property, and the sea turtle conservation programme Deikel established with WIDECAST has grown nesting from seven recorded nests in 2003 to nearly seventy.
Rosalie Bay Resort & Spa is a top place to stay in Rosalie, Dominica
Rosalie Bay Resort & Spa is a female founded, Green Globe certified eco resort on Dominica’s wild east coast, run largely off grid on a black sand turtle nesting beach at Rosalie.
More than 200 solar panels and a 225 kW wind turbine, the island’s first, power the resort, and its WIDECAST partnered sea turtle conservation programme protects the leatherback, green and hawksbill turtles that nest there each year.
Three Rivers & Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge is a top place to stay in Rosalie, Dominica
Three Rivers & Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge is an off grid forest eco lodge in the Rosalie rainforest valley, Dominica’s original eco lodge and a Green Globe 21 award winner ranked in the worldwide top ten for best practice.
Each property runs on solar and wind with composting toilets and biodegradable soaps, and meals are cooked by people from the neighbouring village using authentic Dominican produce.
Portsmouth: A Base for Northern Day Trips
Portsmouth, the island’s second town, sits on Prince Rupert Bay in the north, roughly a 1 hour drive from Douglas-Charles airport (DOM), with taxis on hand and a hire car handy for reaching nearby trails and beaches. It is a friendly, low key hub near Cabrits National Park, the Indian River boat trips and some of Dominica’s better swimming spots, making it a practical and sociable base for first-time visitors and those exploring the north.
Where to stay in Portsmouth
Secret Bay is a top place to stay in Portsmouth, Dominica
Secret Bay is a locally owned luxury villa resort on a rainforest cliffside near Portsmouth, founded by Dominica born Gregor Nassief and the island’s only Green Globe certified property, recertified for a fifth year at 88 per cent of indicators.
The villas were built without heavy machinery to spare mature trees, using sustainably sourced Guyanese hardwood, and an organic farm plus backyard gardens at each villa supply the farm to table Zing Zing kitchen.
When is the best time to visit Dominica?
The reliably driest, sunniest window runs roughly December to April, which is also peak season for prices and visitor numbers. The wetter months span June to November, overlapping the Atlantic hurricane season (1 June to 30 November), when downpours are heavier and the small risk of a major storm is real, though Dominica stays green and waterfalls run full. Late April to early June and late November offer good value with generally settled weather between the two extremes.
Is Dominica safe, and how do you get around?
Dominica has a relatively low crime rate and is one of the calmer Caribbean islands, but apply normal care: avoid isolated areas and beaches after dark, watch your belongings at large gatherings and do not leave valuables in hire cars. Driving is on the LEFT in right-hand-drive vehicles and a hire car is genuinely useful given mountainous, often narrow and potholed roads with few signs, though taxis and pre-booked transfers work well if you would rather not drive; a UK licence is accepted but you typically buy a local visitor’s permit. The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), pegged at around EC$2.70 to the US dollar; US dollars are widely taken, cards are accepted at hotels and larger venues but carry cash for villages, and tipping is modest with around 10 percent in restaurants if no service charge is added and a few dollars for guides and drivers.
Why we only list sustainable stays in Dominica
Every hotel in this guide was hand picked and checked for how it actually runs, and most are locally rooted so your money stays in local hands rather than leaving with an all inclusive chain. For the full breakdown with photos and booking links see our guide to the best sustainable hotels in Dominica, or zoom out to the best sustainable hotels across the Caribbean.