Dominica in Pictures: 17 Beautiful Places to Photograph

A still off-the-beaten-path natural paradise, Dominica is known as “The Nature Island of the Caribbean” and is certainly a picture-perfect place to photograph. Although it has a few gold-sand beaches, most of this volcanic island’s beaches are of the black-sand variety, in fact, they are among the best black-sand beaches in the world.

Dominica is more known for its dramatic interior landscape, where you can hike to boiling lakes and waterfalls with emerald pools. Visiting tropical gardens, snorkeling and diving, and soaking up the island’s eclectic cultures are other top things to do in Dominica.

The highest mountains in the Eastern Caribbean are located in Dominica, and the island is filled with lush, green rainforest terrain. Offshore, more beautiful pictures can be found underwater, where there is excellent diving and snorkeling.

Here are our pics for the best places to photograph in delightful Dominica.

1. Soufriere Bay

Beautiful Soufriere Bay, on Dominica’s southwest coast, is one of the prettiest places to photograph in Dominica and features deep-blue-meets-clear-turquoise-water, gold-sand beaches and lush vegetation. There are also two villages on this bay: Scott’s Head and Soufriere.

2. Roseau

Dominica’s capital city, Roseau, pictured here, is on the country’s southwest coast. It is a vibrant and colorful city where you’ll find 18th-century Creole buildings and a cobblestone Old Market area. There is also a port that accommodates cruise ships.

3. Soufriere Church

In the village of Soufriere on the southwest coast, the colorfully painted Soufriere Church, pictured above, is very photogenic with its turquoise and red hues. The Catholic Church was built from volcanic stone in the 18th century. It sits right on the bay.

4. Emerald Pool

One of the most visually stunning natural attractions in Dominica is the Emerald Pool, in the picture above. The waterfall and bright green pool are part of the equally impressive Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The park covers a good portion of the island’s mountainous, primordial rainforest interior.

5. Stairway Pathway

On the three-hour hike to Boiling Lake, you’ll have to climb the Stairway Pathway pictured here. It is also worth capturing a few pictures here, as the steps juxtaposed against the lush green jungle make for a beautiful shot.

6. Scotts Head

Overlooking Soufriere Bay, about an hour’s drive south of Roseau, Scotts Head is a charming little fishing village that is also known as the jumping-off point for many diving and snorkeling excursions around Dominica. Most dives start at Swiss Cheese, a large rock formation that is home to a passage packed with solider fish.

7. Boiling Lake

Inside Morne Trois Pitons National Park, this gray-green bubbling lake is reached after a strenuous hike through thick rainforest that takes about three hours. The water is literally boiling, so you can’t swim here, but it makes an excellent photo.

8. Wavine Cyrique

Getting to Wavine Cyrique, a secluded and stunning black-sand beach and waterfall pictured here, is not for the faint of heart. It requires basically climbing down the side of a thick jungle cliffside to reach. You’ll scramble down holding onto ropes and using a series of ladders, and there are also roots and vines to grab onto should you need a little extra help.

It is highly recommended you pay for a local guide to lead you. Note that after you reach the waterfall, you have to climb back up.

9. Indian River

Take a boat ride down the Indian River, Dominica’s wildest river, which flows between the town of Portsmouth and the Caribbean Sea. Floating down it is one of the top attractions in the country and a wonderful opportunity to capture beautiful images. This picture was snapped near Roseau, and the green of the trees reflected in the murky water makes for a great nature shot.

10. Trafalgar Falls

These twin waterfalls are known as the Mother and Father, and hiking to them is one of the top adventure attractions in Dominica. The hike is easy – about 15 minutes through a scented trail of ginger and vanilla plants. At the base of the waterfalls is a hot mineral-spring-fed pool that you can soak in.

11. Scotts Head Pinnacle

Scotts Head Pinnacle is one of the most famous dive sites in Dominica, accessed via the town of Soufriere. The dive takes you through a grotto passage that is filled with soldierfish, among other species, pictured here. It is an intense and amazing dive experience, where the fish really get in your face.

12. Roseau Cathedral

Officially known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Fair Haven of Roseau, this Roman Catholic cathedral (pictured above) in Dominica’s capital city was constructed around a century ago in Gothic Romanesque Revival style.

13. Fort Shirley

In Cabrits National Park, Fort Shirley is what remains of an 18th-century British base. Here, you will also find pretty views of Prince Rupert Bay. The national park is also home to lush green rainforest, as well as swamps and black-sand beaches.

14. Champagne Reef

Some of the best diving and snorkeling in Dominica is found around Champagne Reef, which is in a marine reserve off the southwest coast. Here, you can see all sorts of marine life, including tropical angelfish like the ones swimming here. There are also batfish, barracuda, sea horses, and squid all in the vicinity.

15. Sperm Whale Watching

Dominica is the only place in the world where you can see sperm whales year-round. The whale pictured here was hanging out off the coast from the capital city of Roseau, although you can also spot them around Scotts Head, Layou, and Point Round.

The most whale sightings happen between November and March. The whales can either be observed on boat tours when breaching, or if you are lucky, while diving or snorkeling in the sea.

16. Red Rocks at Calibishie

This image was taken by Calibishie on Dominica’s scenic northeast coast. The area surrounding the small fishing village is known for its dramatic red rocks (pictured here) as well as steep cliffs and rushing rivers.

This is a great area to visit if you are looking for a slow-paced place to unwind, or you want to partake in a more active adventure like biking, hiking, or diving.

17. Glassy Point

This gorgeous image was captured by a drone, but you can also take a similar photo from the ground (the perspective will just be a little different). The location is Glassy Point on the east coast of Dominica. Also here is the Glassy Trail, which departs from the village of Boetica and is an easy 1.5-mile round-trip hike down to Glassy Pool.