Dominica has no railway system. The road network spans approximately 780 kilometers, with roughly 390 kilometers paved. The main artery is the Edward Oliver LeBlanc Highway, which runs along the west coast from Roseau north through the Layou River valley to Portsmouth. The east coast road connects Marigot to Calibishie and runs south to Castle Bruce. Interior roads crossing the island are narrow mountain routes with tight switchbacks and gradients exceeding 15 percent. The Roseau to Castle Bruce route crosses the island via steep terrain, requiring approximately 90 minutes to cover 35 kilometers.
Douglas-Charles Airport sits on the northeast coast near Marigot. The runway measures 1,707 meters. Canefield Airport lies four kilometers north of Roseau with a 838-meter runway serving smaller aircraft only. Inter-island carriers connect Dominica to Antigua, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Lucia, and Puerto Rico. No direct flights arrive from North America or Europe. Most international travelers route through Antigua, Barbados, or San Juan. Hurricane Maria destroyed Douglas-Charles Airport terminal facilities in September 2017. Reconstruction completed in phases through 2019.
Roseau operates the primary ferry terminal with regular passenger and vehicle service to Guadeloupe and Martinique. L'Express des Îles operates scheduled crossings typically three to four times weekly depending on season. Crossing time to Guadeloupe measures approximately three hours. Portsmouth has ferry facilities at the Cabrits but service operates irregularly.
Public transportation consists of privately owned minibuses. These vehicles follow fixed routes but operate on informal schedules, departing when passenger capacity fills. Fares are government-regulated. Roseau to Portsmouth costs approximately 10 Eastern Caribbean dollars. Minibuses display route destinations on windshield placards. The main terminal in Roseau sits near the Old Market Square between Valley Road and Federation Drive. Minibuses serve coastal towns reliably but interior destinations receive limited service. Sunday service drops significantly across all routes.
Car rental agencies operate from both airports and Roseau. International driving permits are not accepted. Visitors must purchase a temporary Dominican driving permit for 30 Eastern Caribbean dollars, available at airports, rental agencies, or police stations. Driving occurs on the left. Rental costs range from 45 to 90 US dollars daily depending on vehicle type and rental duration. Manual transmission vehicles predominate. Roads wash out during heavy rainfall. The island receives an average 2,000 millimeters of rain annually on the coast and exceeding 7,600 millimeters in interior mountains. Landslides close mountain roads periodically, particularly during June through November.
Taxi rates are government-regulated but meters are not used. Fares operate on zone pricing. Roseau to Douglas-Charles Airport costs approximately 85 to 100 Eastern Caribbean dollars depending on negotiation and passenger count. Roseau to Portsmouth runs 150 to 180 Eastern Caribbean dollars. Licensed taxis display HA registration plates. Unlicensed taxis operate widely. Negotiate and confirm total fare before departure.
Water taxis operate from specific coastal points to sites inaccessible by road. Scotts Head to Soufrière Sulphur Springs requires boat access. These operate on demand rather than schedule. Rates are negotiated per trip and per passenger count.
The Waitukubuli National Trail spans 184 kilometers from Scotts Head in the south to Cabrits National Park in the north, divided into 14 segments. Segment length ranges from 7 to 18 kilometers. The trail crosses both coastal and interior terrain, reaching elevations above 1,200 meters. Hikers require guide services for most interior segments as trail marking is minimal and paths traverse private land requiring owner permission. Hurricane Maria damaged significant sections. Restoration progressed through 2019 and 2020 with some segments remaining impassable as of 2023.
Interior hiking to destinations like Boiling Lake, Middleham Falls, and Morne Diablotin requires guide services. The Forestry Division enforces guide requirements for Morne Trois Pitons National Park and Morne Diablotin National Park. Authorized guides maintain certification through the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association. Solo hiking in these areas is prohibited. The Boiling Lake hike covers 13 kilometers round trip with approximately six to eight hours required, ascending through the Valley of Desolation. Trail conditions deteriorate rapidly after rainfall.
Dominica sits at approximately 15.4 degrees north latitude. Temperature variation by season is minimal. Coastal areas average 25 to 27 degrees Celsius year-round. Interior elevations average 18 to 22 degrees Celsius. Nighttime temperatures in mountain areas drop to 15 degrees Celsius.
Rainfall defines seasons. The dry season runs February through May. Coastal areas receive 100 to 150 millimeters monthly during these months. Interior regions receive 200 to 300 millimeters monthly even during dry season. The wet season spans June through January, peaking September through November. Coastal monthly rainfall reaches 250 to 400 millimeters. Interior mountains record 600 to 800 millimeters monthly during peak wet months.