Lying halfway between Guadeloupe and Martinique, Dominica's appeal has nothing to do with fabulous beaches - what few exist are paltry - or idle days spent under a palm tree. Rather, its abundant nature invites rigorous hiking to deep emerald pools, waterfalls and bubbling lakes. Offshore are superb drop-offs, volcanic arches and caves busy with stingrays, barracuda and parrotfish, making for some of the Caribbean's best diving , while whales and dolphins often play off the southern coast, near Champagne , a unique effervescent bay.

Despite all that Dominica has to offer for eco-tourism , however, it's still vastly under-visited, in no small part because it's not easy to reach. There are no direct flights from the US or Europe, and ferries from surrounding islands don't stop daily.