Dominica is not like the typical Caribbean island. The visitors won’t find long white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. This is a volcanic island with very rugged terrain. Thick tropical forest covers a vast majority of the land. This is a place for hikers rather than for relaxing. Dominica is called the “Nature Island of the Caribbean” for a reason. Three large national parks cover quite a bit of the island, one making it on the UNESCO world heritage site list. Although the island is quite different from its Caribbean family, there are some usual hazards to be encountered like on any other island.

Travelling info

The citizens of USA, Canada, Australia, and the EU are not required to obtain a visa to visit the island for a stay of up to 6 months however visitors coming from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxemburg, Malta, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK have only a 3 month period free of visa and lastly the citizens of Croatia have only a 28 day stay exemption until having to obtain a visa. All other nationals not referred to, need to obtain a visa in order to enter Dominica. Visitors driving in Dominica are required to purchase a local driving permit for roughly 15 (USD). These are purchasable at car rentals, and of course, in order to be allowed to purchase such document, a domestic driving permit must first be presented.

Travelling hazards

Road conditions in Dominica are fairly good in cities however the mountain roads are narrow, steep and curvy. There has been a fair amount of accidents involving tourists on such roads. It is advised to avoid driving at night on mountain roads due to poor lighting and rarely have guard rails in places with seriously dangerous drop-offs. Road signs are usually limited to urban areas.

Environmental hazards

Dominica is the only island in the Caribbean to retain its native animal population for a couple of centuries however none of the animals poses any danger to humans. The only danger humans face are the mosquitoes that are plenty and may carry dengue or Zika. Marine life is rich due to natural barriers of rocks and coral. Most common dangers to look out for are the sea urchins. Stepping on them is the only danger these creatures pose to humans. It is advised to avoid swimming after dusk although shark attacks are rare, nighttime is when these creatures are most active.
Dominica like all of the Caribbean experiences the cyclone season that begins in early June and ends in late November. During that time tropical cyclones may greatly damage the island’s infrastructure plunging it into devastation.

Health hazards

All visitors traveling to Dominica from the countries with the risk of yellow fever must present proof of yellow fever vaccination. Zika virus has been reported in the country, pregnant women are advised to reconsider travel. There is a number of other vaccinations that are not required however they are recommended. These are routine vaccines, typhoid, rabies, and hepatitis A and B vaccines. Healthcare is not on the same standard as the European or American facilities however it is capable of dealing with emergencies however not all specialist may be available. There are 4 public hospitals and several private clinics however the clinics will charge you for your services up front. In case of a serious emergency, there might be a need for medical evacuation to Miami or San Juan. Make sure to purchase health insurance that covers the evacuation as these come to be extremely expensive.
In case of an emergency dial 999.

Crime

Dominica does not face a high rate of violent crime however pickpocketing and theft are common. It is worth mentioning that keeping common sense helps to avoid such situations. Wearing money belts protects from being pickpocketed. Leaving valuables in the hotel room safe, especially expensive jewelry and money is advised as exposing it attracts thieves. Wandering around at night can also be dangerous. Drugs of any kind are illegal. No matter the amount, being caught is punishable by a jail sentence.

Summary

Although Dominica is different than most Caribbean islands and what most visitors would expect, there are still many wonderful places to visit. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/caribbean/dominica/passport-visa/
(Vaccines)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/dominica
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2018/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/yellow-fever#5291