Roseau
The following are Dominica: Whales, Waterfalls & The Wild Caribbean tour dates available from G Adventures. Select a bonus offer graphic to view its details, including its terms.
As soon as the plane touches down you realize that this island is not your typical Caribbean postcard beach destination. Cross the island on a winding road through the rainforest, catching the occasional glimpse of the ocean in the distance and hearing the rush of rivers and waterfalls through the open window. We welcome you to Dominica, and invite you to prepare for incredible natural beauty and marine life encounters that will live in your memory forever.
Arrive at any time and transfer to the hotel for check-in. In the evening, meet up with your CEO and fellow travellers at a welcome briefing to prepare for the adventure ahead, followed by a welcome dinner.
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
The waters surrounding Dominica are a sanctuary for a resident population of sperm whales, making the island one of the few locations in the world to encounter them. Set off in the mornings by boat along with marine and naturalist experts in search of these gentle giants for the chance to swim and snorkel with them in their natural habitat. Afternoons are free to go on optional excursions, explore town or to relax by the pool.
Head out by boat each morning with the local guide and crew for the chance to swim with the whales. Return to the hotel generally around midday, and the rest of the afternoon and evening is free.
Get ready for a truly unique and humbling experience as you set off each day in search of the sperm whales and to have the chance to swim with them in their natural habitat. Meet up with the swimming guide at the dive shop in the morning then proceed to the boat for a briefing on safety and about the strict protocol around this special experience, in order to ensure sustainable practices and to minimize any potential impact on the whales and on their environment. Experienced captains, spotters and guides will be on the lookout for the whales and, once spotted, the boat will proceed very slowly to the area. Travellers will then gear up while the guide evaluates the conditions before entering the water at the guide's instruction. The boat will move away slightly and remain in neutral after the swimmers are in the water and will return to pick people up only after the whales have swum away naturally. This creates a very natural encounter where the whales ultimately determine the duration and quality of the interaction. There is a maximum of 4 people in the water at any given time (3 guests + the guide), so people will take turns. Swim-with-whale excursions are limited overall in terms of encounter duration and number of attempts. Tourist permits allow: o Up to approximately 4 hours after whale detection o Up to approximately 10 in-water attempts per encounter The guiding principle is that the whales control the interaction, not the operators or guests. If the whales show any signs of disturbance or avoidance, the interaction must stop immediately. The boat will return to the hotel around midday. Please note that these whales are in the wild and sightings, although somewhat likely, are never guaranteed.
Spend the afternoons exploring Roseau, relaxing by the pool or take one of the many optional excursions available to see waterfalls, go hiking, or soak in hot springs.
The whales still beckon but today could be the chance to do something different if the time is right. Choose to set off again by boat to spot and swim with the whales or head to the iconic Trafalgar Falls and go snorkelling amongst the volcanic bubbles at Champagne Beach. Whichever you choose, the afternoon is free to relax and catch the poolside views of the sunset.
Choice of activity to swim with the whales or visit the Botanical Gardens, Trafalgar Falls and snorkel at Champagne Beach. Both options return by early afternoon, leaving the rest of the day free.
Option 1: Morning begins with a boat excursion led by expert local guides for a rare chance to swim with resident sperm whales in their natural habitat. You will return to the hotel by early afternoon, leaving the rest of the day open for relaxation or personal exploration. Option 2: Explore the lush botanical gardens on a guided walk through Roseau before heading into the mountains to witness the magnificent twin Trafalgar Falls. After visiting the falls, travel to the coast for a unique snorkeling experience at Champagne Beach, famous for its volcanic underwater bubbles and vibrant marine life. Both excursions will last 5 hours and begin and end at the hotel in Roseau.
Enjoy some more downtime to relax by the pool or explore the town.
Spend the next days heading out to sea in search of encounters with Dominica's resident sperm whales. Under the gentle guidance of expert guides, you will slip into the sapphire blue to witness the quiet majesty and immense grace of these gentle giants in their silent underwater world. This profound experience offers a rare bridge between two worlds, leaving you with a lingering sense of wonder as your marine journey continues. Afternoons are spent relaxing by the pool or exploring some of Dominica's other inland attractions like rivers, waterfalls and hot springs. Share stories and experiences over a farewell dinner with your fellow travellers and CEO on the final evening.
Head out by boat each morning with the local guide and crew for the chance to swim with the whales. Return to the hotel generally around midday, and the rest of the afternoon and evening is free, with an included farewell dinner on the final night.
Set off again by boat each morning for the chance to encounter Dominica's resident sperm whales. Led by expert local guides, you will venture into the deep blue for the opportunity to swim alongside these majestic giants in their natural environment. After these incredible mornings on the sea, you will return to the hotel around midday to enjoy a relaxed and open schedule.
Spend your free time exploring the vibrant streets of Roseau to browse local markets, shop for unique crafts, and enjoy the island's authentic Caribbean architecture.
Your journey concludes today, leaving you with lasting memories of your incredible time in Dominica.
Depart at any time.
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Select a destination below to to view the hotel(s) included by G Adventures in their Dominica: Whales, Waterfalls & The Wild Caribbean tour:
Victoria Street, 1 Dame Mary Eugenia Charles Blvd, Roseau, Dominica
Roseau, Dominica
G Adventures is informing us of the following additional details regarding their Dominica: Whales, Waterfalls & The Wild Caribbean tour:
Max 8, avg 6
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and GroupYour OMG Day: Swim with Whales or Visit the Botanical Gardens, Trafalgar Falls & Champagne Beach, Roseau. Complimentary arrival transfer. Welcome dinner. 5 days of excursions by boat with local guides and crew to spot and swim with sperm whales. Snorkelling equipment. Farewell dinner. All tips included for activities and meals, except for CEO and porterage. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
Set off each morning by boat with a naturalist guide in search of sperm whales, Slip into the water and come face to face with Dominica's resident whale pod, Spend free afternoons exploring the island or unwinding poolside at your leisure, Visit the spectacular twin cascades of Trafalgar Falls on your OMG Day
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage (e.g. crampon use); please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
G Adventures is offering the following optional activities at an additional cost, subject to availability:
Middleham Falls- Hike to Middleham Falls (183 per person)Roseau- Cooking Class (80 per person)- River Tubing (80 per person)
Hotel (6 nts).
6 breakfasts, 1 dinner
Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. The above information applies to G Adventures group trips. For Independent trips please check the itinerary for details of meals included. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEOs), a G Adventures representative, or an expedition team. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.
No, international flights are generally not included in the price of your tour. However, on some combo tours travelling between two different countries, international flights are included as part of the itinerary and price of the tour. Please speak to your GCO or booking agent for further details. In addition, check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.
Private Vehicle, Boat, Walking.
Minimum age of 18 years for this trip.
Documents:o Flight info (required) (Printouts of e-tickets may be required at the border)o Insurance info (required) (With photocopies)o Passport (required) (With photocopies)o Vouchers and pre-departure information (required)o Visas or vaccination certificates (With photocopies)Essentials:o Toiletries (required) (Shampoo, bodywash, soap, etc.)o Binoculars (optional)o Camera (With extra memory cards and batteries)o Cash, credit and debit cardso Day pack (Used for daily excursions or short overnights)o Ear plugso First-aid kit (should contain lip balm with sunscreen, sunscreen, whistle, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, bandaids/plasters, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial gel/wipes, antiseptic cream, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, rehydration powder, water purification tablets or drops, insect repellent, sewing kit, extra prescription drugs you may be taking)o Flashlight/torch (Headlamps are ideal)o Fleece top/sweatero Footwearo Hato Headphones (Noise-cancelling recommended)o Locks for bagso Long pants/jeanso Moneybelto Outlet adaptero Personal entertainment (Reading and writing materials, cards, music player, etc.)o Reusable water bottleo Shirts/t-shirtso Sleepwearo Small travel towelo Sunglasseso Swimwearo Watch and alarm clocko Waterproof backpack covero Windproof rain jacketHealth & Safety:o Face masks (Clients will be only be required to wear a face mask where it is mandated by local regulations.)o Hand sanitizero Pen (Please bring your own pen for filling out documents.)Optional Items:o SwimwearWarm Weather:o Sandals/flip-flopso Shorts/skirts (Longer shorts/skirts are recommended)o Sturdy water shoes/sandalso Sun hat/bandanao Swimwear
Upgraded: Quality accommodations and more inclusions than on other G Adventures tours, like meals, private transport, and activities.