Founder and tour guide Christine standing on on a rock cliff overlooking the blue ocean

About the Founder

Christine was born and raised in Amityville, New York. In 2004 she started travelling internationally. On her journey, there was one tiny little green island that grabbed at her heart, so she kept going back.

After 20 years of experiencing a lack of solo friendly options for exploration, transportation and exciting activities when she visited Dominica, it became clear that she needed to start building her own solo & social traveler community there.

She is very passionate about supporting local businesses, communities and villages. Her goal is to make a difference by ensuring that the more remote villages and off-the-beaten path businesses are visited and given an opportunity to benefit from tourism. This includes the ability to sell their products and share knowledge of their agriculture practices, culture, history & way of life.

A Bit About Us and Our Dominica Partnerships

We partner with local businesses that will enhance the quality and enjoyment of your visit to Dominica. We support local entrepreneurs & businesses that have a vision to provide outstanding services in Dominica. It is important to us that tour guides, transportation services and hotels reflect high values, safety and quality. The partnerships between our company, from hotels, guides, drivers, restaurants and the activities that we choose for our itineraries, have been carefully and personally assessed by the founder of Flip Flops & Coconuts Tours. With our businesses working together, we strive to provide you with a safe & worry-free vacation while exploring the nature island.

Certifications, Memberships & Licenses – Dominica

  1. Flip Flops & Coconuts Tours
    1. DHTA Membership (Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association)
  2. Tour guides & Drivers
    1. Certified in Nature credentials
    2. Licensed with the government of Dominica
  3. Hotels & Accommodations
    1. Certified in Nature credentials
    2. Licensed with the government of Dominica
    3. NISE Certification (Nature Island Standard of Excellence)
    4. DHTA Membership (Dominica Hotel & Tourism Association)

 

Our Goals for Tourism in Dominica

  1. Sustainable and eco-friendly mindfulness in everything that we do.
  2. Bring travelers to locations in Dominica that will help financially stimulate villages that are off the beaten path and under- visited.
  3. Bridge the gap between travelers and local businesses.
  4. Provide a pathway for connection between solo travelers.
  5. Create a safe environment for all travelers to explore nature without logistical worries.
  6. Help to positively enhance the economy of Dominica by using independent and entrepreneurial local owned businesses.

About Dominica

Dominica, or The Commonwealth of Dominica is a Caribbean Island that was granted independence from the United Kingdom in 1978. The official language is English though you will find most people also speak French & Creole.  The island is 289 square miles, and it is situated between Guadeloupe to the north and Martinique to the south. It is part of the Windward islands and part of the lesser Antilles Island chain. There are over 20 mountains in Dominica, the tallest one being Morne Diablotins at 4,747 ft. There are also nine active volcanoes, most of them are in the south. There is no mass tourism (yet), which makes this island perfect for people who have a love for quiet nature. The currency used in Dominica is Eastern Caribbean Dollars, but U.S. Dollars are accepted everywhere on the island.

About the Weather

Dominica has a tropical climate and rainfall is abundant here, reaching approximately 300 inches within the interior.  That’s the best ingredient to keep Dominica so green, vibrant and Jurassic looking. Tourist season comes in the cool and dry season beginning in January to April. Hot and humid season is between May to November, which really isn’t so bad since this is a rainforest with abundant tree canopy. This time is also the rainy season, but the rain usually comes and goes throughout the day. Most activities can still be done during the rainy season. It is very important to have a trained tour guide that can tell you exactly what is safe and what is not safe to do at any time and in any season when hiking through any part of Dominica. On average, temperatures for January are 78 degrees, April 80 degrees, July 82 degrees and October 82 degrees. Hurricane season is from June to November and can be devastating to this island, such as the case with hurricane Maria in 2017 and hurricane David 1979. Tropical storms happen here also, such as Storm Erika. This island is prone to a lot of rain, even outside of the rainy season.

About Food

There is a wide range of culinary delights in Dominica. Lots of seasonings and a lot of different meat. Seasonal fish, chicken, goat and local beef can be cooked in various ways served with seasoned rice alongside fries, salads, root vegetables and lots of fruits. If you have any allergies to specific food or ingredients, or if you are vegan or vegetarian, please let us know prior to your arrival. It is also best to ask your waitress/waiter/cook what specific ingredients are in the dish that you would like to order- better to take extra precaution before ingesting. Please MAKE SURE to disclose your allergy or dietary preference to your server or host prior to ordering. Menus change daily and are not commonly standardized in Dominica restaurants.

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