Award-winning eco-resorts in Dominica

The Caribbean island of Dominica is well-known for its active holidays, thanks to its natural wildernesses and diving opportunities.

Home to the first world heritage site in the eastern Caribbean (Morne Trois Pitons National Park), Dominica has more than 1,200 plant species, with two thirds of the island covered by unspoiled tropical forest.

Arguably one of the world's top islands for a walking holiday, hikers have volcanoes, waterfalls, rivers, lakes and rocky coastline to explore.

The island also has a reputation for being an ecotourism destination, offering holidaymakers a chance to stay in sustainable, environmentally-friendly accommodation and see the natural sights Dominica has to offer without damaging the surroundings.

Though carbon-footprint watchers will question the effects of flying long-haul to the Caribbean from the UK, if you are planning a long-distance trip anyway then it makes sense to ensure it does as little damage as possible once you are there.

Dominica's eco-lodges have recently won awards, giving holidaymakers a useful idea of what kind of holiday to expect from the country's best eco-friendly places to stay.

One of the best on the island is the Papillote Wilderness Retreat, a small guesthouse offering seven rooms.

The retreat is set among a paradise-like garden which attracts many different species of butterflies and birds, as well as featuring orchids, jade vines and other impressive flowers. The garden, which was created by Papillote's owner in 1969, also has hot and cold volcanic mineral water pools for holidaymakers to relax in.

The onsite restaurant provides freshly-caught seafood, cooked Creole-style with locally grown fruit and vegetables.

As well as the gardens, the rainforest setting of the guesthouse makes it a great hub for a variety of holiday activities. A quarter of an hour's walk from Papillote and you can be swimming by one of Dominica's best known waterfalls, Trafalgar Falls.

The guesthouse can also arrange whale-watching and snorkelling excursions, as well as visits to the Carib Indian Territory where holidaymakers can learn about Dominica's indigenous peoples first-hand.

The US magazine Condé Nast Traveler recently gave the Jungle Bay Resort and Spa an eco-award for "epitomising sustainable tourism through its community projects", which include financial help to local farmers and entrepreneurs, using local labour to build the resort and employee donations.

Good for holidaymakers looking for a luxury in their eco-holiday, the resort offers accommodation in raised wooden cabins, and activities such as yoga, spa treatments and hikes across the 55-acre grounds of the resort.

Also worth noting is the 3 Rivers Eco Lodge which runs entirely on an award-winning renewable energy system.

For more information on ecotourism in Dominica see the Dominica tourist board website.