Champagne Reef

The basics

When it comes to tours of Dominica, Champagne Reef is often the headline act. Excursions typically give you free time to explore the underwater wonderlands with a snorkel and include stress-free transport from Roseau. Some day trips combine Champagne Reef with the famous Trafalgar Falls waterfall, Dominica Botanic Gardens, and Titou Gorge—a filming location for the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, while others take you to volcanic hot springs to spend time soaking in the thermal waters warmed by the Earth’s core.

Things to know before you go

• You can also scuba dive at Champagne Reef; dive schools offer beginner courses for PADI here.

• There are a couple of beach bars on the beach at Champagne Reef that serve snacks and drinks.

• There’s a small fee to enter the beach; carry cash.

How to get there

From the central city of Roseau, Champagne Reef is a 6-mile (9-kilometer) drive via Loubiere Road—it generally takes 20 minutes, depending on traffic. No public transport services the beach, so if you don’t have a car, the most convenient option is to take a tour or a taxi.

When to get there

Champagne Reef is open all day, year-round, but it’s best to go during the day and avoid visiting the beach at night when you’re more at risk of non-violent robbery. The best time to visit Dominica is during the dry season from January through May when humidity is lower, and there’s less chance of thunderstorms.

What to look out for when snorkeling at Champagne Reef

Champagne Reef is home to a wealth of marine life, as well as the bubbles. The ocean floor features a rainbow-colored selection of sea sponges in red, pink, yellow, and purple shades. Species that call Champagne Reef home include rays, trumpet fish, parrotfish, turtles, sea snakes, seahorses, and eels. On a scuba dive, you can see a 17th-century shipwreck.