Original Post date: Oct 22, 2020
Dominica accommodation options offer a unique blend of comfort and natural beauty, providing visitors with an immersive experience in the heart of the Caribbean. And if you are looking for sustainable eco-stays, there are multiple options to choose from. In this article, I narrate my experience at one of Dominica’s adventure-driven accommodation: the Hibiscus Valley Inn.
“When I was living in Sweden, there was a hibiscus flowering through my window. It would only flower for one day, but even so, I found it so fascinating”. Norun, Owner of the Hibiscus Valley Inn.
Interestingly, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, which is naturally a tropical plant, has been grown in Sweden for more than 50 years, as a potted, household plant. The changing daytime and nighttime climate of the country makes it less than ideal for the plant to grow. And even within a garden, they grow but rarely flower, and are quickly destroyed by the frost. And with that in mind, it makes it much more delightful to understand why Norun was so taken by the beauty of the flowered hibiscus she had seen blossoming through her Swedish window that day.
When Norun moved to Dominica several years ago, creating a Dominica accommodation option in the lush green forest was not at the top of her mind. Just like the hibiscus flower that refuses to be confined to an indoor pot in order to blossom, Norun chose to embark on the adventure of her life and find the perfect caribbean island for her to settle. She had been to so many different islands, but none was to her what Dominica was. From the time she landed, she said yes to the adventure. And yes to the love of her life that she found on the island.
Norun built her first Dominica accommodation, the Hibiscus Valley Inn from what it was, into what it is today. The land on which the property is built was once a banana farm. Today, this Dominica accommodation has been transformed into a welcoming Inn in the north of the island, peculiar for its natural and rustic appeal, and the “nestled in nature” experience it offers to its guests. The Hibiscus Valley Inn is open to visitors from Sweden (Norun’s home country), England, and Germany, but also dominican locals and the Caribbean market.
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Getting to the Hibiscus Valley Inn (Dominica Eco-friendly and sustainable Inn)
The most convenient way to get to the Hibiscus Valley Inn is by driving. You can rent a car for your tours on island, using different local companies, or book a taxi service to get you to your Dominica accommodation when you get there. If you are planning a staycation/vacation with a group, you can also consider hiring a bus. Here is a list of additional options to travel around the island.
Directions to the Hibiscus Valley Inn, Dominica (if driving)
From the capital city (Roseau), take the Edward Oliver Leblanc Highway heading out to Imperial Road (in Canefield). Head towards the Dr. Nicholas Liverpool Highway and follow the road. When you get to the roundabout, take the third exit on Dr. Nicholas Liverpool Highway/Wiers Road and follow the straight road. Within the next 22 Km, you would have arrived at your Dominica accommodation.
Alternative: you can follow the directions on the map here (Departure from the capital city, Roseau):
The Rooms and Amenities at the Hibiscus Valley Inn, Dominica sustainable and eco-friendly Inn
As a sustainable Dominica accommodation, the Hibiscus Valley Inn offers two types of rooms: Nature Bungalow rooms and Deluxe Rooms. Regardless of the option you prefer, you will be safely nestled in nature, surrounded by freshly grown flora and can enjoy maximal relaxation. But here are key differences between both room types.
All rooms come with spacious beds, separate sitting areas, and if you (reeaaalllyyy) want to work during your vacation or staycation (which you probably shouldn’t), each room has a laptop-friendly workspace. Both room types provide one king bed or two twin beds, which gives you more flexibility to choose based on how many people you are vacationing with. The key difference between the two room types at this Dominica accommodation are as follow:
The nature bungalow room has a less polished and more rustic, natural feel. To top it off, there is a hammock on the room patio where you can chill, cooling off with the breeze of the island’s north wind. What else could one ask for?
The deluxe room at the Hibiscus Valley Inn has a more polished and modern feel. It is more spacious (322 sq ft vs 182 sq ft for the nature bungalows), comes with more sophisticated furniture, and features an air-conditioning unit, just in case the breeze of the island’s north wind is not enough to help you cool off!
The Restaurant and Locally Stocked Bar
The Hibiscus Valley Inn restaurant is opened to all guests, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. At this Dominica accommodation, breakfast is offered in a buffet style, and includes a mixture of local and foreign items. More interestingly, their bar is stocked with a wide variety of liquors and punches. The latter mostly consists of locally made bush rums.
One of the things that stroked me the most during my visit at this Dominica accommodation was the fact that they make their own “chocolate punch” from local coca beans and other locally acquired flavours. There was just no way we could leave the place without tasting it. An enriched and thickened concoction, every drop smoothly glides through the hard palate, transporting you to a realm where you mentally celebrate all the things that are amazing about cocoa – all this while you feel a little “zing” of alcohol zigzagging through your nerve cells.
The local cocoa punch is available for tasting when you are at the Hibiscus Valley Inn, and (because you’re going to love it) you can purchase small or large bottles as souvenirs or delicacies to enjoy with your family when you return home!
Things you Can Do at Hibiscus Valley Inn, Dominica Sustainable Accommodation
From being surrounded by the beautiful hibiscus flower and her sisters, to feeling the island breeze as you walk through the garden, to being immersed in absolute quietness; all you can do is just …. Relax. And even if you want to get busy and do some work (like some of us on vacation), the environment is just not conducive to “that kind” of productivity.
Your daily schedule is very likely to look a lot like this: laze in bed – turn and spiral twice – go back to sleep – finally wake up – head down to the restaurant for breakfast – lay down in the hammock – ponder about what a blessing it is to be alive – repeat.
But if you want to add a little touch of adventure to your stay at the Hibiscus Valley Inn, here are my best recommendations!
Things you Can Do Near Hibiscus Valley Inn, Dominica
River tubing on Concord River (2 mns walk): locally referred to as the “Pagua River”, the Concord river is one of the longest rivers on the island. It is one of the top sites for river tubing in Dominica.
Exploring the Kalinago Touna Aute (15 mins drive): The Kalinago Touna Aute (Kalinago Cultural Village by the sea) is the traditional kalinago village where you can discover elements of indigenous local culture. The village features traditional style houses and facilities including the majestic Karbet, mouinas and ajoupas that are key elements of Dominica’s indigenous culture.
Spending a day at Batibou Beach (25 mins drive): with its skyscraper coconuts and goldish sandy hues, Batibou beach is a paradise haven for locals and tourists alike. Some call it the most beautiful beach on the island, but all of them have such a unique beauty that it is really hard to tell! Batibou makes for a daytime escape, be it during the week or on the weekend. Grab your shades and your sunscreen. But no need for a beach mat – the sand is yours.
Booking a Stay at the Hibiscus Valley Inn, Dominica
There are different ways to book your stay at the Hibiscus Valley Inn, and here are my favourites:
- Reach out to the Hibiscus Valley Inn directly to find out about their rates and availability.
Hibiscus Valley Inn: Hatton Garden # 6 9999 Marigot, Dominica. Phone: (767) 295-9070 (Dominica). Email: hibiscusvalleyinn@gmail.com
- 威而鋼 ebook.com/Dominica.Hibiscus.Valley/”>Contact them on Facebook (another way to reach out directly)
- Book your Dominica accommodation via third party websites: you can make your booking on hotels.com, booking.com, or Expedia.com.
Things to Know Before you Travel to Dominica, the Caribbean
Getting to Dominica, The Caribbean: you can get to Dominica either by flying, or using a connecting ferry from neighboring islands. Most airlines that fly to Dominica serve the Caribbean region. If you are coming from Europe, Africa, Asia or the Americas and want to get cheap flights to Dominica, you will need to make a stopover in another island (Barbados, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, etc.) If you are coming from the Caribbean, you can easily get direct flights to Dominica. Ferry companies also provide connections with neighboring islands.
Best time to visit Dominica, The Caribbean: there are so many things to do in Dominica all year round, so every day is a good day to visit the Nature isle! But if you’re looking for specific activities happening on island, make sure you check out my Dominica Travel Guide which highlight essential information you need to have for your trip to Dominica. Nonetheless, here are the best recommendations for the best time to travel to Dominica:
- February – March: Carnival Season
- May – June: Jazz and Creole Season
- July : Dominica Dive Festival
- September – November: Dominica Independence Season (during this season, the World Creole Music Festival is also held, at the end of October)
- December: Christmas season
Dominica Weather: in general, the weather in Dominica is sunny all year long. Just like any other Caribbean island, Dominica is prone to hurricanes. The hurricane season starts in June and ends in November.
Dominica Currency: Dominica currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. This currency is used in the 7 islands which are part of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). These include: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla and Montserrat. 1 USD = 2.67 XCD approximately.
Dominica Language: English and Creole French (Antillais Creole/Dominican Creole) are the official languages in Dominica.
Now that you know one of the best Dominica accommodation options to stay for an eco-conscious Caribbean vacation, you definitely need to check out my bucketlist experiences for summer travel when you visit Dominica!
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