How to get around Dominica

Getting around

Dominica has two airports. Douglas–Charles, formerly Melville Hall, on the north-east coast near Marigot, takes most arrivals -- American Airlines flies nonstop from Miami since December 2021, and the regional carriers connect through Antigua, Barbados, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Maarten, San Juan and Trinidad -- and it is about an hour's drive from Roseau on a road the advisories say is prone to landslides, with sheer drops where it has fallen away, and not to be driven at night. Canefield, fifteen minutes from the capital, has a 3,100-foot runway for small aircraft. By sea, FRS Express des Îles ferries arrive from Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Lucia at the Roseau Ferry Terminal in the middle of the capital, and there is a second dock at Portsmouth Ferry Dock in the north; cruise ships berth at Roseau and at Prince Rupert Bay.

Traffic drives on the left. To drive you need your own licence and a temporary Dominican permit, valid 30 days, bought at the airports, from car-rental firms, from the Traffic and Licensing Department on High Street in Roseau or at Portsmouth Police Station; arrange the hire before arriving. The roads are narrow, steep and winding, often potholed, without guardrails, lane markings or lighting outside Roseau, with pedestrians walking on them and few signs; the drink-drive limit is 50 milligrams, one drink. Taxis are not metered but have standard fares for most destinations: registered cabs carry a windscreen sticker reading Nature Island's Standard of Excellence and a number; agree the fare first, and US dollars are usually accepted. Minibuses run the coast roads and are likely to speed. Power cuts are routine, even in Roseau, so keep the phone charged.

The parks and trails are pay-to-enter for non-residents, with passes sold at visitor centres, the Forestry Division and vendors near the sites; the trail passes are also sold at the ports of entry.

Verified against Discover Dominica Authority, September 2026.

Entry

Passport valid at least six months beyond arrival; no visa for most visitors, with a stay of up to six months granted on arrival; a return or onward ticket, sufficient funds and a local address may be asked for; a yellow-fever certificate if arriving from a risk country; extensions and questions through the Immigration Division, (767) 448-2222. Departure tax EC$86 or US$33, usually included in the air ticket and payable separately when leaving by ferry.

Airports

Douglas–Charles (DOM), north-east coast, about an hour from Roseau and from Portsmouth Ferry Dock; the main road from it is landslide-prone with steep drops, avoid at night. Canefield (DCF), 15 minutes from Roseau, 3,100-foot runway. Nonstop Miami on American; regional connections via Antigua, Barbados, Martinique, Guadeloupe, St Maarten, San Juan and Trinidad.

Ferries

FRS Express des Îles from Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Lucia to the Roseau Ferry Terminal; Portsmouth Ferry Dock in the north; the tourism authority's page links the monthly schedule.

Driving

Left-hand traffic; your licence plus a temporary Dominican permit valid 30 days, from the airports, rental firms, the Traffic and Licensing Department on High Street in Roseau or Portsmouth Police Station; book the car ahead; blood-alcohol limit 50 mg per 100 ml; narrow, steep, unlit roads, potholes, pedestrians, few signs; after an accident call the police and do not move the vehicle.

Taxis and minibuses

Unmetered, standard fares; registered taxis carry the Nature Island's Standard of Excellence sticker and a number; agree the fare first; US dollars usually accepted; minibuses speed.

Park and trail fees (non-residents)

Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division: site visit US$8 (EC$21.74), one site; day pass US$20 (EC$54.39), all sites except the trail; week pass US$50 (EC$135.85), repeat visits for seven days. Covers Morne Trois Pitons National Park's sites (Morne Trois Pitons, Emerald Pool, Boiling Lake, Freshwater Lake, Boeri Lake, Middleham Falls), Cabrits National Park, Morne Diablotin National Park and the Syndicate trail, the Indian River, Trafalgar Falls and the Soufrière sulphur springs. Waitukubuli National Trail: day pass US$12, special pass US$10 for organised tours, fifteen-day pass US$40; in force since 1 July 2013; register before hiking; start by 9.30 a.m.; segments 8 and 9 take eight to nine hours.

Emergency numbers

999 for police, fire and ambulance. No Canadian office on the island; Canadian Citizen Services by web form or on 1-246-629-3550.

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Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against Discover Dominica Authority — Two airports: Douglas-Charles (DOM), formerly Melville Hall, on the north-east, about one hour from the city, with the longer runway; Canefield (DCF) 15 minutes from Roseau with a 3,100-foot runway; connections through Antigua, Barbados, Martinique, St Maarten, San Juan, Guadeloupe and Trinidad; American Airlines direct from Miami, Ferries dock at the Roseau Ferry Terminal in the capital and the Portsmouth Ferry Dock in the north; FRS Express des Îles sails from Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Lucia, Immigration requires a valid passport, return ticket, sufficient funds and a local address; visitors under 24 hours including cruise passengers need no visa; the Immigration Department answers on (767) 448-2222, Two airports: Douglas-Charles (DOM), formerly Melville Hall, on the north-east, about one hour from the city, with the longer runway; Canefield (DCF) 15 minutes from Roseau with a 3,100-foot runway; connections through Antigua, Barbados, Martinique, St Maarten, San Juan, Guadeloupe and Trinidad; American Airlines direct from Miami, Ferries dock at the Roseau Ferry Terminal in the capital and the Portsmouth Ferry Dock in the north; FRS Express des Îles sails from Guadeloupe, Martinique and St Lucia (September 2026).
Checked against Global Affairs Canada — Roads narrow, steep and winding, without guardrails, signs, lane markings or lighting outside Roseau; the road from Douglas-Charles Airport is prone to landslides with steep drops; avoid driving at night; traffic drives on the left; a valid licence plus a temporary Dominican driving permit valid 30 days, sold at the airports, car rental firms, the Traffic and Licensing Department on High Street in Roseau and Portsmouth Police Station; blood alcohol limit 50 mg per 100 ml, one drink may exceed it, licence confiscated on the spot, Canada advises normal security precautions; petty crime occurs, robberies and violent assaults have occurred near tourist facilities, crime rises at Carnival in February/March and the World Creole Music Festival in October; avoid unpatrolled beaches and unpopulated areas after dark; carry a photocopy of the passport page; women alone may face harassment and sexual assaults occur; power outages occur regularly including in Roseau, numerous times a day and for hours, No tourist visa for stays up to 6 months; proof of onward travel or a return ticket required; departure tax of 86 East Caribbean dollars when leaving by ferry; camouflage clothing illegal for anyone including children; severe drug penalties; the currency is the East Caribbean dollar and many businesses accept US dollars and euros, Roads narrow, steep and winding, without guardrails, signs, lane markings or lighting outside Roseau; the road from Douglas-Charles Airport is prone to landslides with steep drops; avoid driving at night; traffic drives on the left; a valid licence plus a temporary Dominican driving permit valid 30 days, sold at the airports, car rental firms, the Traffic and Licensing Department on High Street in Roseau and Portsmouth Police Station; blood alcohol limit 50 mg per 100 ml, one drink may exceed it, licence confiscated on the spot, Dial 999 for emergency assistance; no office of the Government of Canada in Dominica, Canadian Citizen Services by web form or 1-246-629-3550; hurricane season early June to end of November, small tropical storms can quickly become major hurricanes; the eastern Caribbean is an active seismic zone with earthquakes and a tsunami risk within minutes of a nearby quake; chikungunya risk (September 2026).
Checked against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad) — Arrange car hire ahead; show your licence to get a temporary Dominican driving licence; roads narrow and in poor condition, pedestrians on them, potholes, few signs; after an accident call the police and do not move the vehicle; the highway from Douglas Charles Airport is prone to landslides with sheer drops, avoid at night; taxis unmetered with standard fares, registered cabs carry the Nature Island's Standard of Excellence sticker and number, agree the fare, US dollars usually accepted, minibuses likely to speed, Passport valid at least 6 months after arrival; no visa, a 6-month stay granted on arrival, extensions through the Immigration Division; overstaying or working without a permit is illegal; a return or onward ticket may be asked for; departure tax EC$86 or US$33, usually in the air ticket and also payable by ferry; yellow-fever certificate if coming from a risk country, Arrange car hire ahead; show your licence to get a temporary Dominican driving licence; roads narrow and in poor condition, pedestrians on them, potholes, few signs; after an accident call the police and do not move the vehicle; the highway from Douglas Charles Airport is prone to landslides with sheer drops, avoid at night; taxis unmetered with standard fares, registered cabs carry the Nature Island's Standard of Excellence sticker and number, agree the fare, US dollars usually accepted, minibuses likely to speed (September 2026).
Checked against Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division, Dominica — Non-resident eco-tourism site fees since June 1997: site visit US$8 (EC$21.74) for one site, day pass US$20 (EC$54.39) for all sites except the trail, week pass US$50 (EC$135.85); covers the Morne Trois Pitons park sites, Cabrits, Morne Diablotin and Syndicate, Indian River, Trafalgar Falls and Soufriere Sulphur Springs; tickets at visitor centres, the Division and vendors near the sites, Non-resident eco-tourism site fees since June 1997: site visit US$8 (EC$21.74) for one site, day pass US$20 (EC$54.39) for all sites except the trail, week pass US$50 (EC$135.85); covers the Morne Trois Pitons park sites, Cabrits, Morne Diablotin and Syndicate, Indian River, Trafalgar Falls and Soufriere Sulphur Springs; tickets at visitor centres, the Division and vendors near the sites (September 2026).
Checked against Waitukubuli National Trail Management Unit — The Waitukubuli National Trail is 184 km (115 miles) in fourteen segments from Scott's Head to Cabrits National Park; since 1 July 2013 visitors and non-residents need a Trail Pass: day pass US$12, special pass US$10 for organised tours, fifteen-day pass US$40, sold at the ports of entry; hikers should register, start by 9.30 a.m., and allow eight to nine hours for segments 8 and 9, The Waitukubuli National Trail is 184 km (115 miles) in fourteen segments from Scott's Head to Cabrits National Park; since 1 July 2013 visitors and non-residents need a Trail Pass: day pass US$12, special pass US$10 for organised tours, fifteen-day pass US$40, sold at the ports of entry; hikers should register, start by 9.30 a.m., and allow eight to nine hours for segments 8 and 9 (September 2026).