Discover the Caribbean’s Best-Kept Secret When You Stay at This Rainforest Retreat

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Uninhibited access to a Caribbean island paradise.

Your trip to Dominica, a 29-mile-long island in the Eastern Caribbean known for its natural hot springs, black-sand beaches and world-class snorkeling (and one of our 26 trips to take in 2026), officially kicks off midair, as soon as you’ve spotted the island’s Jurassic-like landscape from your airplane window. Even after you land, the journey to your hotel—in this case, InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa—is equally exciting.

Once on the ground, you’ll hop in a luxury van and embark on an hourlong drive from the airport to the northern town of Portsmouth. Before setting off, if your driver offers you two options—the standard path or the scenic route—it’s important you choose the latter.

An airport transfer might be a drag elsewhere, but in Dominica, it’s more like a sightseeing excursion along winding roads, over one-lane bridges and through charming neighborhoods filled with pastel homes. The drive also serves as a preview of what’s to come during your time on the island: towering red rocks that jut out into the ocean, scenic viewpoints and, if you’re feeling extra adventurous, a waterfall or two. By the time you reach the hotel’s fountain-lined entrance, you should already have a clear idea of the spots you’ll want to revisit around the island.

The InterContinental sits on the edge of Cabrits National Park, a 1,000-plus-acre reserve that’s home to an 18th-century fort, coral reefs and excellent bird-watching. In its quietest corners, it feels less like a hotel and more like an extension of the park itself. It’s not uncommon to spot wildlife like hermit crabs, parrots and hummingbirds.

Perhaps surprisingly, the hotel’s biggest allure isn’t its beaches, but rather its access to the outdoors more broadly. The balance of rugged adventure and island charm attracts a range of guests: wellness-seeking solo travelers, multigenerational families commemorating special occasions and couples looking to unwind.

The hotel’s amenities, which include an assortment of yoga and Pilates classes, two tennis courts and guest rooms with mountain or ocean views, make it almost too easy to spend your entire stay parked comfortably in a pool chair, cocktail in hand, watching clouds glide past the nearby mountains. But with excursions that range from whale-watching and horseback riding to bird-watching and snorkeling, the hotel’s concierge can book activities that’ll encourage you to get off-property.

After all, the best way to uncover the Caribbean’s best-kept secret is to get out and see it for yourself.

The Essentials

The Location

Less than an hour’s drive south of the resort, the picturesque town of St. Joseph offers easy access to top-tier snorkeling and diving.

InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa is located in Portsmouth, at the northern tip of Dominica. The hotel is near some of the island’s most popular sights, including Cabrits National Park and Indian River, both a 10-minute drive away. A five-minute walk off-property will bring you to Bell Hall Beach Spot, a local favorite for Dominican cuisine, like saltfish cakes and conch in Creole sauce, and Douglas Bay Beach Park, a quiet black-sand beach that, if you’re lucky, you’ll have all to yourself.

The Time to Go

Visit between December and May to avoid hurricane season. For a trip with guaranteed excitement, go between January and February during the island’s Carnival, also known as Mas Domnik, for calypso music, pageants, costumes and parades, or during the last weekend in October for the annual World Creole Music Festival.

The Room 

When it comes to rooms, the property offers plenty of variety. Rooms are available in five configurations, featuring king or twin beds and mountain or ocean views, and some even have balconies. The 1 King Premium Plunge Pool Access rooms give you access to a shared pool accessible only by guests who have booked this room type, making them an excellent choice for travelers who expect to spend plenty of time rolling out of bed and into the pool.

The hotel also hosts an assortment of spacious one- and two-bedroom suites, the largest featuring dining rooms, multiple bathrooms and private pools. Across all room types, decor is modern and simple with a Caribbean-inspired color palette of blues and greens.

The Bars and Restaurants

Mornings at Cabrits Market, the property’s breakfast-only restaurant, kick off with a rotating power shot (a blend of wellness juices) enjoyed before you even enter the dining room. Then, you’ll head to the buffet for fresh pastries, fruits and made-to-order omelets. With a plate full of sautéed saltfish and fried breadfruit, you can settle outside for ocean views alongside your meal.

All other meals are enjoyed at the hotel’s poolside Kwéyòl Restaurant, which serves international cuisine with Creole flair. During lunch, you’ll snack on an assortment of sandwiches, burgers and pizzas (don’t miss the Creole marinated catch of the day). At dinnertime, the restaurant’s seasonal three-course menu features dishes like Cajun shrimp salad, a seafood platter and cinnamon carrot cake. On the à la carte menu, you’ll find a Dominican take on a Caesar salad, chargrilled Angus striploin and Dominican rum fruitcake.

If you prefer not having to leave the pool for a cocktail, swim-up service at the hotel’s main pool is available. Come sunset, head to the firepit at RumFire Bar for ocean views and piña coladas, daiquiris and other Caribbean classics made using an assortment of bush rums infused with local herbs and spices. Indoors, you’ll find a reprieve from the heat with a seat at the glowing red bar, inspired by the island’s dormant volcano.

The Standout Feature

Treatments from the property’s extensive spa menu are held in private huts.

A treatment (or two) at the Téya Wellness Sanctuary spa is practically nonnegotiable.

Treatments take place in one of seven thatched hut-style treatment rooms. Choose from a coconut-and-sugar body scrub, a volcanic hot stone massage or a mud bath, all performed by spa therapists using locally sourced botanicals and herbs.

The Vibe

You’ll find great snorkeling right off of the property’s black-sand beach.

Your crash course on local rum: Come for a bush rum tasting at RumFire Bar, where you’ll sample a few of the 16 infused rums served there, including ones flavored with ginger, passion fruit, pineapple or cinnamon.

The must-pack essentials: Reef-safe sunscreen to protect the country’s fragile coral reefs, cash (the country’s main currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, but U.S. dollars are also accepted) and motion sickness medication for the island’s winding roads.

Your secret snorkeling spot: After checking out snorkeling equipment from the property’s spa, follow the dirt path on the property’s edge to a small black-sand beach for great snorkeling without having to leave the property.

Why you’re saving room for dessert: Kwéyòl Restaurant serves several flavors of ice cream, but the standout, by far, is the coconut ice cream, handmade using local ingredients. Order it via room service so you can lick the container clean once you’re done.

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