Dominica’s verdant mountain slopes are perfect for trekking and mountain biking, and its scuba diving abundant. This is the destination if you are looking to be active but not in search of white-sand beaches or sizzling nightlife as there is little of that to be had. So hop on a dive boat and explore the pristine underwater world, snorkel around teeming schools of colorful tropical fish, steer your kayak around pinnacles crusted with corals, visit with pod sof whales and dolphin up close and personal, hike to hidden waterfalls while a chorus of birds serenades you, and at night, fall asleep content with the only sounds around you a gentle surf and the jungle murmur.

Dominica is decidedly away from the mass tourist traffic flow and it shows – the locals are genuinely happy to meet you to share a few stories and the capital Roseau is safe and friendly. Dominica is also the home of the last of the Caribs, the indigenous people who once inhabited most of the Caribbean.