Dominica

Dominica This "Nature Island" measures 29 miles long by 16 miles wide and encompasses about 290 square miles of untamed rain forest; dense, lush vegetation;  waterfalls; freshwater pools and bubbling  hot springs, heated by the active underwater volcanoes surrounding the island.  Much of the interior can only be reached on foot. It's easy to see why producers selected Dominica as a backdrop for two  sequels in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie series. As you drive the  coastline on roads hacked out of the mountainside, jagged edges plunge  into the ocean, as mango trees and ginger root cascade down into the sea. The island features no chain hotels or big-box mega-stores, though  there are a Pizza Hut and KFC in Roseau, the capital city. Originally populated by the Carib tribe of Indians, the island gets its name from Christopher Columbus, who first spotted the land in 1493  on a Sunday. (Domenica means "Sunday" in Italian.) In the 1800's, the French and British fought for control of the island. If you glance at a map of Dominica, it's clear by the town names that the French populated the South (Roseau, Soufriere),  while the British occupied the North (Portsmouth). Eventually, the British conquered the French portion of the island and maintained control until 1978, when Dominica gained independence.  The island still has a Carib population of about 3,000;  they occupy a northeastern corner of the island. A drive through this "Carib Territory" will give you a rare glimpse at traditional native life in the Caribbean. Dominica has survived with a predominantly agricultural-based economy  that includes bananas Tourism also remains strong, with Dominica  attracting a stream of naturalists who flock to the  island to see 172 types of birds, 12 major waterfalls and peaks  that rise to 5,000 feet. Whale-watchers also come in hordes to explore the waters that plunge  to nearly 6,000 feet right off the coastline, providing an ideal base  for seven types of whales that can be seen nearly year-round, including  a resident population of sperm whales. Weather on the island averages 77 degrees in winter, 82 in summer,  although it's cooler in the mountains, humid in the rain forest and warmer  on the coast. The driest months are January through April, but don't be surprised if you experience a brief downpour every day.