Waitukubuli was re-christened Dominica!

It is the Jurassic Park of the Windward Islands, and is a botanist's paradise. Its towering volcanic interior is host to a huge variety of trees, ferns and other plant life. Meaning tall is her body, Waitukubuli is the Kalinago name for the island, and it speaks to the steep and mountainous landscapes.

Waitukubuli boasts of the magnificent Morne Trois Pitons National Park, one of the few UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the region. It is a favorite for birdwatchers, and the critically endangered Sisserou and Jaco parrots can be seen on the north of the island. It is also home to the 115 mile long Waitukubuli National Trail – the only long distance walking trail within the entire Caribbean region.

On Waitukubuli the island scenery is stunning, and mountains plunge deep into the Caribbean Sea to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Volcanic activity is still apparent in the hot springs and the Boiling Lake, the second largest in the world.

 

Waitukubuli is a mecca for hikers with plenty of jungle trails that invariably seem to end in cascading waterfalls or splendid views. The spectacular scenery continues underwater and this has earned the island the reputation as one of the Caribbean’s top dive destinations. Whales and dolphins are seen off the coast for much of the year, and turtles often beach on the shores to lay their eggs.

 

Waitukubuli’s history is evident in the cultural traditions that have survived. More commonly referred to as Creole, this term captures the fusion of the Kalinago, African, and European influences in the language, the traditional dress, the music and the cuisine. The Kalinago traveled from the Amazon and were the first settlers to the island. The Europeans came as looters, and later brought in Africans as slaves.