Each island in the Caribbean is so unique but all are flippin’ hot yet still worth a visit. Recently I island hopped 3 of them in the Caribbean, St. Lucia, Martinique and Dominica.

Having been separately to other islands in the Caribbean (Puerto Rico, US Virgin, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Barbados – Curaçao and Aruba if those count) it was interesting to visit more than one at a time and island hop. Doing so made me realize how diverse the region truly is which was harder to see when just visiting one island at a time on a trip.

To hop around I took a ferry that runs several times a week stopping on 4 islands with occasional specials during the year with offerings to other islands. On each island I explored many parts, hiking running, swimming a lot on each of the Caribbean islands. I obviously had beach days too and I certainly didn’t do everything on each island. I moved around by local bus mainly and I was able to see a lot but I would recommend a car rental for at least a couple of day. Even though things are not that far away there are plenty of hills in between so to see more therefore a car will get you farther without much hassle, plus AC is nice.

Below I detail what I did and saw on each island, the subtle differences, lots of useful information and a few stories.

St. Lucia

Honeymoon sweep for obvious reasons as it is breathtakingly beautiful, full of excellent beaches and easily accessible by plane, cruise ship and boat.

Expect lots of hilly curvy roads, left sided driving, expensive resorts yet still option at all prices, tough ass hikes, hot springs and mud baths, British outlets, East Carib currency (EC), greetings of good morning, good afternoon or good night in passing, endless views of the famous Pitons and stunning sunsets.

I spent a week in total on St. Lucia but separated it out between ferry rides since my flights were out of here (cheapest option from most US cities for this part of Caribbean). I made a base mainly in Soufriere as this was near the famous Pitons, the waterfalls and hot springs/mud baths. Gros Islet (20 minutes from Castries) up North was another good area to stay as it is where most tourists stay in their resorts and where some of the best beaches and a bunch of great services are available. I stayed two nights in Gros Islet and Rodney Bay area and this was also great for activities but ultimately ended up in Soufriere again. Lastly I stayed a night in Castries as this is where the ferry to other islands leaves from as well as some hiking and historical points of interest are located.

The main hike here is Gros Piton! Of all the hikes I did in the Caribbean on this trip this was the hardest yet most popular one. It costs $50, you must go with a guide (provided in price), it is well maintained and though a short distance it is very steep, will have you sweating a pool with your heart in your throat but knowing you conquered it will feel like you earned a medal and bragging rights for sure! It is 1.6 miles basically up and up which progressively gets harder and takes about 4 hours round trip. Though I think the hardest part here is the heat and humidity. I ran into plenty of honeymooning couples on this hike. To arrive I took a bus to the road leading down then walked/hitch hiked and really enjoyed the walk to the actual trailhead as I saw lots of birds, cool plants, the largest Cocoa plantation on the island. The road down was mostly shaded, a fresh mango dropped in front of me to eat and I did eventually get a lift. The views from Gros Piton are pretty nice but not 360 degrees like Petit Piton.

I really wanted to climb Petit Piton but was not decisive enough so in the end I didn’t. Petit Piton is higher, much harder, involves more rock climbing and crawling, takes about the same time as Gros Piton, you need to find a guide for it (not provided) and the views are 1000 times better. Unfortunately not for the faint of heart or unfit individual as only about 10% of attempts make it to the top. Guide: Edmund +1 758-726-4367 was highly recommended and who I would have climbed with.

I’d say St. Lucia had some of the best beaches though Martinique was also top notch…while Dominica didn’t have that as their strong suit, although Batibou Bay Beach in Dominica was damn divine. In St. Lucia all beaches are public including those with resorts so you could walk, sit, bath no problem (likely you would at least have to announce yourself to security). I thought the Northern beaches were better but the South also had some lovely ones. My favorites were the string of beaches in Gros Islet town up to Pigeon Island National Park. The water here was pristine, calm, clean and had lovely views of the green hills around the bay. In the South, Soufriere Beach had a great view and has wonderful snorkeling but if you can make it over to the beach at Jade Mountain (Anse Chastanet) the snorkeling is even better. With snorkeling know that closer to the mountains/hills is always better.

Pigeon Island National Park, in Gros Islet, is a famous spot used during the British/French colonization and was also later used as a US navy base during WWII. Entry was 10 USD, they hardly have change for EC Dollars but they do accept cards and besides the history the views from the two hills here were incredible (especially Rodney Fort). I could see all the way South to the Pitons and likely Martinique up North had it been less cloudy. I recommend either an early am visit (open 9-5) or past 3 pm when the sun is almost below the hills. Bring the bathing suit too because the National Park has 2 small secluded beaches as well.

I do suggest a visit to the hot springs, waterfalls and mud baths on St. Lucia (Dominica also had plenty of this). For $10 you can enter St. Lucia Sulphur Springs and enjoy some hot water pools, paint your skin with mud for a great soft feeling that stays weeks after and don´t forget to wander over to the volcanic crater before heading out (it is a drive through crater). I would suggest going in the evening (I went around sunset) to avoid crowds from cruise tours. It is open until 10 pm; hot water when it is cooler out is kind of a thing. Waterfalls in St. Lucia mainly seemed to be hot and sulfuric which created colorful waterfalls from all the minerals.

Lastly, street parties with a fish fry (although I kept missing them as I jumped islands) are also a popular thing to do here. On Friday night there is one in Gros Islet town and Anse La Raye town. From the looks of it Anse la Raye seemed to also be a great spot to stay with it´s pretty beach. If a Saturday and you happen to be on the East coast down South, you can check out Dennery and it party/fish fry. I did attend one of these in Barbados and it was a lot of fun so I imagine it is here too.

From airport: Many hotels offer shuttles or there are plenty of other public shuttle services (including a boat shuttle) and taxis. I originally booked a shuttle but it was too last minute and they wanted to charge me more then the stated price online (contact in advance for schedule before you reserve and pay – though they did refund me) so I took the local bus instead which I’ll detail here: Leave airport to main road, cross street (because left side driving here) to spot that seems like a stop, catch any bus to Viet Fort (pronounced view fort) and take it to the stoplight (maybe tell driver where you are headed), then from there catch bus #2 to Soufriere on left side of road. If going farther North you probably need a bus from Soufriere which you can catch at the bus depot in town to go to Castries. If headed even further North, up to Gros Islet, you must walk farther to catch another bus located across town off Darling Road near the King George V Gardens. The max I ever paid for a bus journey was 9EC (it was 7EC from Viet Fort to Soufriere). Bus from the airport takes maybe 10 minutes, from Viet Fort it is about 45 minutes, to Castries another 45 minutes or so, and then to Gros Islet it´s another 20/30 minutes depending on traffic.

If you do rent a car here be prepared for left-sided driving, lots of narrow roads that are hilly and curvy (most hilly island by far) and be prepared to stop or even back up at the multitude of hair pin bend curves for bigger vehicles needing space…in fact honk on these. Cars/buses also stop in random spots so always pay attention and just go around or wait for space if needed. In actuality these driving concepts apply on all islands.

Hike Gros Piton

Hiking Gros Piton

Transportation

Pigeon Island National Park

Cheap spots to stay: There are options at guesthouses around $40-60 just double check that there is AC otherwise expect a fan. I did not encounter a hostel here.

Martinique

Is quite literally France in the Caribbean plus beautiful beaches and a famous volcano.

As I heard more from others about Martinique I began to get excited and very curious about visiting the island. I was excited for the challenge to use my French again and was super happy with what was retained after a small bout of studying my note cards from my days learning French 5 years ago in Senegal! I was also very curious what a French territory in the Caribbean would be like.

Expect French speaking (way easier if you know some), baguettes and croissants, boulangerie, great and scheduled public transportation options, Euro, right side driving, fashion, street art and island life at the beach.

My focus for the 4 days here was to climb Mt. Pelee and see some beaches so I stayed in Monte Rouge and down South by les Trois Ilets.

Mount Pelée or Montagne Peleé as they say in French is an incredible climb! Though it is most likely covered in clouds but if they break open as they did for me the views are enchanting and really magnifique. Deep gorges breaking through the earth full of green tropical plants, tall fern trees whimsically flowing in the mist, strong wind or pelting rain, the random soleil (sun) peaking through and to see la mer (the sea) so blue and from so high up is truly magnificent!

A hike to 1397m/4583 ft in 4 miles with 2000 feet of gain took me 4 hours return. The night before hiking I researched the trail and got ready. I learned that Montagne Pelée is an extremely dangerous volcano! It erupted and killed 30,000 people, in the once charming town of Saint-Pierre, within 5 minutes when a pyroclastic flow hit (700F degrees heat cloud zooming down at 100mph or something crazy like that) and only 3 people miraculously survived either because they were in an airtight jail, retreated to a sea cave or got extremely lucky. Now this was in 1902, not recent at all, yet I couldn´t help think about this potentially dangerous volcano I was sleeping near and would be climbing in the morning. Even when I started hiking it alone and entered into its dense clouds the history of Montagne Pelée was daunting and very top of mind.

I eventually met a young French hiker (19) and we joined forces, we were at basically the same fitness level and had a fun time together climbing the mountain while witnessing it´s magic and testing out our fairly basic language skills. With my French and his English the conversation was sporadic at times but wonderful.

Not an easy hike per se, lots of big step stairs followed by a tough rocky climb up and then the final push with slippery rocks and potentially high winds. Totally worth it no matter the weather (for those potentially visible amazing views) but I hope you are fit! No cost and no guide is needed to hike in Martinique. The hike is easiest to reach by car but I walked from my guesthouse in Monte Rouge and hitched a ride from the main road up as well as down…know that it is a very long road up if you do not get a ride! This is if you are doing L´Aileron Trail…there are two other options as well but this seems to be the most popular one.

Besides Mount Peleé I found Martinique to also have a lot of trails. There are a few coastal trails, mountain hikes and even trail races often. I did the trail from Anse Mitan Beach to Anse Noir/Dufour Beach…I did it running and it was fairly flat, easy to follow and passed a few other beaches along the way. I also hiked up Mourne Larcher near Le Diamant which was short but yet another straight up hike popular with locals and with fabulous views. Finally, I read about a hike along the coast…Trace des Caps…which seemed like something worthy of doing next time.

Beaches were lovely in Martinique, especially South of Fort-de-France. I recommend taking a local ferry (called vedettes tropicales – VT) over to either Les Trois Ilets, Pointe de Bout, Anse Mitan or L´Anse a l´Ane and staying a bit. I stayed on Anse Mitan Beach (took ferry VT to Pointe de Bout then walked) and enjoyed being on the nice calm beach to do open water swimming or just chill plus there were lots of shops and restaurants here. L´Ane was also nice, it is a bit smaller yet had a grocery store, boulangerie and several restaurants too. If you wanted more action though Les Trois Islet was more of a city and offered all you might need. Everything was nearby but as you went farther South, towns seemed to have less and less offerings so it really depended on your needs. There was a bus that came hourly as well so you were never stuck but a car in Martinique would definitely help a ton!

I got to know the area well and also snorkeled in Anse L’Arlet which was great because they have these informational boards floating out by the snorkel area (so you can learn about what you see) plus you have the historic church nestled into the middle of the beach with a pier right in front of it that makes it popular with photographers. In Anse Dufour again snorkeling was superb as you will likely find turtles here. One even came close to shore which was great for everyone until people started crowding it, blocking it in and some even grabbed it…seeing Zero respect for wildlife by tourists was really shitty (plenty of signage about this there too)…turtles need calm and space…watch from a distance but do not touch! How would you like to be walking and someone grabs you stopping your momentum, that my friends is violating so the same goes for the wildlife.

Besides beach hopping, snorkeling and hiking Martinique also had options for surfing and windsurfing. This was clearly something to do on the Atlantic side of the island (aka East side). I know Le Diamant near where I hiked Morne Larcher offered this but more so for beginners.

Fort-de-France, where you will arrive, also offers plenty to see and do (previously called Fort Royal – established 1673 – before it became the island´s capital in 1902). With a half day you can easily see the main sights here. Starting by wandering around town you can see the Architectural gems in town, the St. Louis Cathedral built by famous Eiffel and the Bibloteque Schoelcher (built in France, dismantled and shipped) which is a gorgeous and unique mix of architectural styles (Schoelcher himself is a famous French politician known for abolishing slavery in France). You can also hit up the actual Fort in Fort-de-France right on the waterfront. If you need a beach either ferry (called vedettes tropicales – VT) over to the South, walk to La Francaise in town or get over to Plage L´Anse Madame which is the nearest descent one. I grabbed lunch near the hip area along Rue Victor Hugo/Rue Victor Schoelcher then took a small bus up (NC09 or 25 from bus yard) to Jardin de Balata which was very well put together and full of tons of tropical plants but I still felt the 16 Euro price was a bit much. My favorite bakery here was Patisserie Hery off Victor Hugo towards the canal!

Transportation: There are various types of buses and ferries (called vedettes tropicales – VT) available here. Google maps works well for public transit (except the ferry VT) or download the App Martinique Mobilités. Ferries leave from the cruise ship port and go hourly, tickets are at a self service kiosk before the docks and schedule is posted at the pier where it leaves. Round trip is 7 Euro and doesn´t expire (I did this and took return few days later; a friend did it over a week later) while one way is 5 Euro. Buses seemed to only run a few minutes (10) late but do get there early and do wave them down.

Car rentals were around €50 a day and I would recommend it for at least a day or two unless you have loads of time. Try Jumbo Car or Avis/Budget but know there are plenty of other options too…best to grab a car by the airport but given how touristy it was where I stayed rentals were available here too (Les Trois Ilets and Point du Bout). Roads on Martinique were great, they even had lines painted in the middle, yet roads were still narrow and curvy like I found on other islands and I´d say it was a tad confusing going back to right-sided driving but also quite welcomed!

Cheap spots to stay: Martinique Hostel, otherwise search around as usually you can get something around $40-60 a night.

Bus Route/Schedule + Ferry Schedule

Traditional Food

Info for Climb of Mt. Pelee + More info

Other hiking ideas

Surfing on Martinique + Kitesurfing

Beach Suggestions

Dominica

The underrated, hard to get too, infinite options to explore, very nature focused island. In fact any time you look up something Google wants to search Dominican Republic because Dominica is so uncommon of a search query.

I first learned about Dominica when I lived in Colombia and I was dying to visit the island! I had even looked several times for flights (always expensive as they don´t really have a big international airport) over the years. Of all the islands, I was the most excited to finally visit Dominica. My energy was soo high as I bought the ferry ticket and boarded the ferry! And Dominica did not disappoint!

Expect so many hiking options, snorkeling/scuba and sperm whale watching happiness, too many cool waterfalls to even count, left sided driving, British outlets, East Carib currency (EC), 9 volcanos and so much more!

Funny enough each island seemed to have a town called Soufriere (means sulfur in French) and they seem to be cool places so again I based myself here for a few days. I also did a couple of nights in Roseau where the ferry leaves from in addition to up in the mountains in Laudat where many of the cool hikes, waterfalls and lakes are located.

The hike to do here was Boiling Lake located in the not to be missed Morne Trois Pitons National Park and I’d say it was one of the most unique hikes I’ve ever done. Boiling Lake is the second largest hot spring in the world (after New Zealand´s Frying Pan Lake). Don’t get me wrong, at 180F/82C degrees you won’t be getting in but the experience, colors, tropical zones you enter, steamy spots and many warm waterfalls were well worth the effort. It is suggested to hire a guide although not required, the guide cost is around $55 but many pay closer to $100 so negotiate down. I did it with a guide and rather enjoyed the experience with one here but thought it could be done alone as long as you’re very careful walking through the valley of desolation (aka boiling crater with venting that you walk through).

This is another hike that isn´t necessarily easy but I think anyone could do it and is one of the most unique and rewarding hikes I´ve ever done. The 6 hour hike takes you through a few different climate zones each with their own diverse and special plants, gives views of several of the highest volcanos of Dominica, allows visibility down to the Caribbean Sea and Roseau, allows you to witness all the geothermal activity around you, to enjoy the pretty waterfalls (a good mix of both hot and cold rivers) and even lounge around in some thermal watering holes. With a guide you get the explantation of the plants and what you are seeing and some cool activities like boiling an egg hence why I really enjoyed going with one instead of going alone this time. I totally would have passed all the fun stuff along the way if I did this alone!

You might check the water levels at the boiling lake with a quick google search ¨boiling lake water levels¨ as sometimes it gets plugged up and drains out. Also note that currently there is a company building a gondola up to Boiling Lake which should be done in less than 2 years. I´m not sure this is a great plan and it seems odd that a UNESCO Heritage site would allow such a construction to happen but if it all works out it will make it way easier to reach…though somewhat destroy the hiking experience. Some places should be kept for those who are able to make the effort and this seems like one of them and this construction definitely seems more like a money grab to me. Interestingly enough, I did get a ride from one of the main builders on this project and then later saw what he was talking about. Read about the gondola.

Guides to contact: Chadi +1 767 612-4506 or Aley +1 767 612-3637 **You could also arrive to Laudat where you may find one or ask at the guesthouse/lodging you stay at as there are plenty and many know someone.

Dominica is full of hiking options in fact it’s the only island in the Caribbean with a through hike across the whole island. The Waitukabuli (why 2 cab oo lee) Trail meaning – tall is her body – in Kalinago (language of the native people of the land who survived colonialism by easily hiding in the hills). Waitukabuli is 115 miles long with 14 segments. I did a few parts of these segments and found them beautiful, at times hard to follow, often slippery, peaceful and with really steep ass sections I wouldn’t really want to do again. Yet it is also the one thing I would for sure do if I ever returned to Dominica. This and a sperm whale tour!

Snorkeling, Scuba or Free Diving in Dominica is a must do for sure! In fact the reason I knew about Dominica and had my heart set on a visit was from seeing the amazing photos that the Colombian free diver Sofia Gomez (top free diver in the world) who trains often on the island shared. Since it is such a volcanic island the drop offs into the water are quick and deep and oh so blue. There were also lots of gasses being released from the 9 venting volcanos so you often swam through the warm bubbles which is quite the experience and sight to see. There were thermal beaches too, similar to what I found in New Zealand where it’s literally a hot spring at the beach (Bubbles Beach). I snorkeled in Scotts Head and Soufriere and it was great! I got lucky and saw my first ever octopus swim right below me too! Top’s the list as the coolest thing I’ve ever seen snorkeling! Many also snorkel at Champagne Beach or up North.

Dominica is not necessarily known for beaches but if you do need a great one I suggest Batibou Bay Beach on the Atlantic side. I made my way by car to Batibou Bay Beach with a guy I met on my hike. We paid $5 for the private beach and stayed all day under the palm trees, sipping coconuts and getting salty hair in the sea. For being an Atlantic sided beach this sure felt like the Caribbean!

The best story of the trip came from Batibou beach when my friend York saw a guy drinking a coconut at the beach as we arrived. He asked where he got it and the guy said he bought it. York was then determined to get a coconut as no one was selling it. He´d been traveling in the Caribbean for a month now and he decided to take the matter into his own hands. At some point he disappeared and went in search for a coconut. He was so determined! Every now and then I would see him coming out of the jungle with a huge stick. Little did I know he would eventually come strolling back with his coconut….not just one. York had a load in his arms…and he went back for the second load. I asked, ¨what did you do, take the whole tree?¨, to which he responded…¨well, I left three!¨ Ha ha ha, this totally made my day! We celebrated, each enjoying 4 coconuts after he showed me how to open them and drink them. There were so many that after drinking our share there were 2 to give away and 2 for us to take for ourselves! Thank you York!

Another top thing to do in Dominica is chase waterfalls. All islands have them but I thought Dominica had the best ones (likely due to the 365 rivers gracing their land) followed by St. Lucia but only because they were unique in that they were sulfur based resulting in colorful falls (created by the minerals) that are often hot. In Dominica I went to Middleham Falls which is a nice hike through the jungle to the highest drop waterfall on the island, then Trafalgar Falls which is a double waterfall and is also very pretty though a very touristy one since it´s an easy 10 minute stroll from the parking lot. Lastly, I really wanted to do Victoria Falls which is harder to reach as you hike a less developed trail…aka much tougher (a guide would be useful here) requiring many streams/rivers crossings but the reward is turquoise water, no one around and it´s very different from other waterfalls! It would be so worth it and I’ll go next time for sure!

Tips:

• Get a Dominica site pass from either the Forestry Department in Roseau or Trafalgar Falls for 12$ otherwise it’s 5$ per attraction. Includes many attractions, not just the waterfalls. More about the pass

• If doing anything in hot springs or that has sulfur try to leave jewelry at home (silver especially) but also know that if you forget you can clean it was Coca Cola or toothpaste. The same goes for light colored clothes, use a black swimsuit if entering water with sulfur as it will permanently stain it (learned from experience in NZ).

• Best bank here seemed to be Republic Bank in Roseau to get some EC. Sometimes the Dominica Bank didn’t work for international withdrawals. I know the airport has an atm and Portsmouth had some but otherwise forget it. Also note, get plenty of cash here if not staying in Roseau because there are not many ATMs on the island. Plenty of places take cards but plenty also do not!

• You can do sperm whale watching/swimming at Dive Dominica for around $70…though look around as plenty of other places offer it too.

Transportation: Renting a car or taking a bus/hitchhiking is the best option here. Taxis from airport are about $85 one way (airport is on Atlantic side, aka opposite side of island from where most will go) so if you plan to move around and explore taxis will add up quickly and a rental will save you money. There are plenty of rental car agencies here so you don’t really need to book ahead. I’d suggest Courtesy Car Rental and know that the smaller the car the better. Be aware gas stations close at night as they are not self service and they are not prevalent. Buses leave when full here, Scotts Head is 25 minutes away and Portsmouth is about an hour.

Cheap spots to stay: In Roseau there is Roseau Hostel and in Soufriere there is Soufriere Guesthouse (highly recommended) which offers dorm room ($30) as well as private accommodations otherwise there are plenty of guesthouses between $50-70.

To do in Dominica ideas

Cycling Dominica (bring own bike)

Kayak rentals

……………..

LOCAL TIPS FOR THE ISLANDS

• April and May are the hottest months

• June starts hurricane season (rainier/stormier days) through August and into October

• Cruise ship season stops in May or early June (for islands farther South). Then picks back up again after hurricane season in October.

• Water is good to drink from the tap on all islands but maybe avoid when hazy.

• If walking around remember to go about two steps slower than you usually do, it is HOT here!

• Car rentals on each island are around $50 a day. Buses are between $1 to $5 (in Martinique the local ferry – vedettes tropicales – in Martinique costs €7 as RT)

How to Ferry Hop: Ferry between Islands (cost is about $80 US plus departure tax @ $30). Martinique didn’t have a departure tax. It is approximately 1.5 hours from St. Lucia to Martinique, 2.5 hours from Martinique to Dominica and 2 hours from Dominica to Guadeloupe. There are some deals and some special offers occasionally to other islands…there was a special offer while I was there to Antigua so look for those too. Reserve/Enquire Here

Most travelers seemed to get on and off the ferry at Martinique. Ferries do transport cars, have AC on bottom level and there is an upstairs with an outdoor deck. No wifi onboard but Dominica´s customs area had wifi though. Security screening was on all islands except Martinique. The longest customs seemed to be St. Lucia and they will likely open everyone’s bag.  I usually arrived around 2 hours early but found a bit less worked better (especially on middle islands where they tend to run late). If you get sea sick easily bring something for that…seas can be rough at times. I’m generally ok…I feel looking at the horizon or land helps me a lot.

You can also fly though it can be way more expensive. Check out Caribbean Airlines or Sunrise Air.

Running: Best options are trail runs as roads often don’t have sidewalks and are narrow with plenty of cars. I found tons of trails to run in both Dominica and Martinique. Running along beaches is also a great option, for instance Gros Islet Beach up to Pigeon Island on St. Lucia or Le Diamant Beach in Martinique. Be sure to have water or cash to either get it somewhere or take public transit back. I went without water and that was fine on St. Lucia and Dominica where towns have water spigots so you can refill or drink up along the way if you go through them. Martinique did not have this, you definitely need to have water on you there!

Snorkeling: Best are the beaches on the Caribbean side where water is calm. The Atlantic side has currents and waves and there isn’t always something to see. Staying near the mountains or more shaded areas of a beach were usually best but then again sometimes there were rocks right in the middle too. Each island had snorkeling options so it is best to bring at least some swimming goggles or a snorkel with you. You can also rent in many spots and do snorkel tours as well. If you need to pick one island to do a snorkel tour, do it on Dominica!

Budget: I did a week on both Dominica and St. Lucia then 4 days in Martinique. Accommodation was between $200-300 per island, yes Martinique for 4 days was also $200. St. Lucia was closer to $300. Hostels will bring this down quite a bit as would sharing a room with a friend or partner! Then I’d say for activities, food and public transit I spent around $300 per island give or take. Obviously this will depend on activities, where you stay and if you cook or not but this is my cost just above the lower end of the spectrum.

Food: Whatever you do eat some crab, so fresh and really tasty here! The mac and cheese bars with food was my favorite and the potato salad here was always great! Don’t be scared to eat off the street, there are so many great options, I often had Mahi Mahi (Dorado) with all the goods for about 30 EC (11-15 USD). In Martinique I tried Colombo (seasoning like curry but better) and it was fantastic (I wanted to bring the spice back but forgot)! Oh yes, eat all the fruits and do get some coconut fudge…perfectly sweet and yummy! I learned that a majority of nutmeg is produced from these islands. Don´t forget to try the rum punch, each island has different flavors…I tried a peanut rum punch and loved it! If not looking for alcoholic beverages try the fresh juices (sorrel – aka hibiscus and passion fruit – aka maracuya among others).

Lastly…Everyone asks, “Which was your favorite?”

Again they were all unique, different, pretty and wonderful but I really liked Martinique for the mix of caribe vibes with French organization. I did it last so maybe I was also missing some of the comforts of home after 2 weeks. Besides that Dominica was outstanding! So much nature, infinite hiking, small cities and towns kept everything really chill, wonderful snorkeling…seemingly easier roads to drive and it felt off the beaten path a bit more which I love! I also really enjoyed hitchhiking in Dominica, I learned so much from each driver, it was incredible!

What to do in a hurricane? (to read more click link!)

• Short answer is go to a shelter, evacuate or hide in the bathroom or small windowless room. If near coast or any rivers stay off lower floors as it will flood. Have enough supplies for a long recovery after.

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