I’ve Been to More Than 25 Caribbean Islands, and This Is the One I Save for Solo Trips

When the Caribbean calls, I always answer. Since leaving my corporate job to build a life around travel, I've been pregnant in Havana , entertained a teething toddler in Varadero, partied all night in San Juan , and spent a girls' trip in the same beach chair for a week straight in Playa del Carmen. Every visit has given me a new way to love a region I can't stay away from.

I've returned to a treasured few destinations at every stage of life, but I still keep one island to myself, a secret spot I'm convinced is best savored solo: Dominica .

A tiny volcanic island on the far eastern edge of the Lesser Antilles, Dominica is the definition of off the beaten path. Its interior is a tangle of steep, rainforest-covered mountains, and it still draws far fewer visitors than its neighbors. Truthfully, many people confuse it with the Dominican Republic .

Even as visitor numbers inch upward, Dominica still feels like a far cry from nearby islands. Travel + Leisure readers named it the best island in the Caribbean again in 2026, citing its untouched feel as a major part of its appeal.

That's especially true for solo travelers.

"What's special about Dominica is that it gives solo travelers the rare opportunity to feel like they've truly discovered somewhere," says Ronson Dalrymple, general manager of Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort . "Visitors can spend the morning hiking through the rainforest, the afternoon swimming in a waterfall or soaking in a hot spring, and the next day out on the water observing sperm whales and unique marine ecosystems."

Related: I Never Liked the Caribbean—But This Island With Waterfalls, Hot Springs, and Rainforests Won Me Over

Trading the packed beaches of neighboring islands for gorgeous dive sites, labyrinths of hiking trails, and waterfalls slicing through caverns, the Nature Island lives up to its nickname—and its promise to keep travelers blissfully busy.

One of the island's greatest draws is the Waitukubuli National Trail , which its managers call the Caribbean's first long-distance walking trail. It stretches 115 miles from Scott's Head in the south to Cabrits National Park in the north, cutting through Dominica's mountainous interior in 14 segments. Ambitious hikers can buy a 15-day pass to tackle the whole thing, though you can also complete just a section or two. Those who can't bear being so far from the beach can find their own adventure on the Waitukubuli's sister trail by sea, built to be traced by kayak along the island's calmer Caribbean side.

Group hiking trips and solo excursions also head to Boiling Lake in Morne Trois Pitons National Park , one of the few places on the planet where underground volcanic currents heat the lake water until it naturally boils. Easier day trips pack just as much of a punch, like tubing through crystal-clear water coursing through slot canyons, swimming under a waterfall at the aptly named Emerald Pool, or basking in the beauty of the twin Trafalgar Falls plunging through the jungle canopy.

Offshore, Dominica is just as much of a paradise. Amid some of the Caribbean's most dramatic dive sites, a pod of whales makes its home year-round in the waters surrounding the island. This makes Dominica one of the world's most reliable places for whale watching, with strict regulations safeguarding sustainable swimming with sperm whales in the island's new marine sanctuary.

My favorite part of visiting Dominica as a solo traveler has been how much it offers to keep me busy while still leaving room for real rest.

You've probably already spotted Dominica's black-sand beaches in parts of two "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. What this volcanic island lacks in long swaths of white sand, it makes up for in craggy cove beaches and marvels that feel like magic. There's no better way to describe a visit to Champagne Beach than by its streams of bubbles that pop through the stones from volcanic activity. Inland, spas channel natural hot springs into pools kept at varying temperatures, and many offer mud treatments and massages.

Of course, this still lesser-visited island's unhurried pace also appeals to honeymooners and romance-minded travelers. They tend to camp out at Secret Bay , where you'll barely want to leave the room, while spots like Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort suit solo travelers and the adventure-minded.

Related: This Stunning Hotel in Dominica Was Just Voted the Best Caribbean Resort by T+L Readers — Here's Why

"The island's capital city of Roseau is right outside the door [of Fort Young Hotel & Dive Resort], and from the hotel you can transition seamlessly from a morning excursion to dinner, a cocktail, or a conversation with other travelers," says Dalrymple. "That makes it a particularly effortless base for exploring Dominica."

For a more traditional resort experience, InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa is the island's best option, tucked on a crescent of sand at the northern end of the Waitukubuli National Trail . Sleek rooms and suites, some with ocean views and others with private terraces and hot tubs, are spread across the property alongside a spa, pools, and waterfront restaurants.

Solo travel can be a challenge to pin down, with some preferring to make new friends and others valuing the peace and quiet of an independent itinerary. Dominica suits both. Either way, Dalrymple says, "Because the island is so welcoming, you never feel like you're experiencing it alone, even if you're traveling solo."

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure