Wanderlust Caribbean - Adventure Travel Boutique Hotel

What an EPIC experience. My husband and I booked the 7-day Explorer Package this December, and truly our only complaint is that we wish we'd booked a longer stay. Tom and Sharie are an incredible couple; their passion for Dominica, adventure, and connecting with people (locals and guests alike) is undeniable and infectious. We also spent a lot of time hiking and snorkeling with Bam Bam, who is an amazing font of knowledge (and patience, haha -- we are not the fastest hikers). Although we ran into some unusually rainy weather that threw off a few plans, Tom, Sharie, Bam Bam, and everyone else we toured with made sure we still had loads of fun. We enjoyed a variety of hikes, some fantastic snorkels, explored the coast and beaches near Wanderlust, dined at several local establishments (where we had the freshest seafood and Tom literally knew EVERYONE -- and they were all so glad to see him/welcome us, making it all the more special) ... and we still ended up with a bit of time to soak up the view from our balcony and relax in our lovely room. Finally, I have to mention the food. We anticipated loads of delicious, fresh fruits and juices following our call with Tom, but that didn't prepare us for the absolutely UNREAL meals we had on property. Every breakfast had us laughing in disbelief -- we couldn't imagine it being better than the day before, but somehow, they just got more and more delicious. (Also, they're too humble to admit it, but we honestly found their rum punch to be the best on the island. And Sharie's coquitos! YUM!) That said, Tom and Sharie are the first to say this is not the vacation for everyone, and that's true. It's active, it's rugged, and while the service Wanderlust provides makes it feel luxurious, all the best stuff requires some effort. So, if you're looking for a "lay on the beach, sip a daiquiri" kind of vacation, this might not be it. But if you love being in nature, seeking adventure, meeting kind people, and eating fresh food ... well, you won't find a better place than Wanderlust Caribbean. We're already planning our return with a group of friends -- and we have SUCH a list of things we can't wait to do!

Where do I begin? Like many other reviewers, I'm a lifelong avid planner, but after a challenging year, I wanted to change things up and let someone else handle the details. Wanderlust Caribbean MORE than delivered.||From the moment we arrived and were greeted with their homemade rum punch (which my husband and I agree was the best we've ever had), a map, and an overview of the plans for the week, we knew we were in the right place. Tom and Sharie are kind, knowledgeable, inspiring, and their passion for this work shines through in every detail. ||Although an unusually rainy weather event prevented us from completing a couple of planned activities (canyoning and the last 1/3 or so of Boiling Lake), we had an absolute blast -- so much so that we're already planning to return (with friends!). Every day included the most delicious food, exploring via hiking and/or snorkeling or SUP, insights about the island/people/history ... there was never a dull moment. Some of the highlights included touring with Bam Bam; not only did he point out interesting plants and fruits during hikes, but while snorkeling, he dove down, pointed out fish and coral, then came up to tell us about it. We've snorkeled a LOT, but that was a first! ||When we did carve out a little downtime, we realized we could absolutely spend an afternoon sitting on the balcony of our charming room, gazing out at that view, with no problem at all. (Especially since we'd picked up some rum punch and fresh fruit to enjoy!)||We really appreciated the way Tom and Sharie approach bookings; when they schedule a call with you, they're truly making sure that what they offer is a good fit for you. This ensures that everyone there is on a similar, if not the exact same, page, and part of the fun was sharing these adventures with another guest.||If you're reading this and the other reviews and thinking, gosh, this seems too good to be true, you're not alone. We had the same thought. But after a week at Wanderlust Caribbean, we can say unequivocally that this is all absolutely true, and probably fall short of what the true experience is. We honestly can't wait to return -- this time, for a few more days. Once you see how much you get out of this trip, you'll understand that it's honestly a bargain. You're not only in a GORGEOUS, peaceful location (some of our favorite adventures didn't even require us to get in a car), but you get to do SO much -- without the stress of figuring out how to get there, where to park, how much to pay, whether you've chosen the best option, etc.

We had a fantastic stay at Wanderlust Caribbean and can’t say enough good things about our time there. Tom and Sharie were wonderful hosts and really make sure that everything runs smoothly, that folks are having a good time and have everything they need for a great week. The accommodation is beautiful, clean and comfortable with incredible views of the ocean and cliffs beyond. We loved having someone else do the driving and plan the fun group excursions. I particularly enjoyed the canyoning and the snorkeling, as well as the coastal neighborhood walk led by Tom. The food we enjoyed at the hotel was amazing and hats off to Sharie and her helper who made each meal better than the next! Dominica is a true gem of the Caribbean and I’m looking forward to another return.

We stayed at Wanderlust the first week of February in 2025. Tom and Sharie are the most wonderful hosts. They support the local community, and everyone knows them. |If you are coming to Dominica, this is the place to stay. They feed you breakfast, pack you lunches on your adventures, and either provide wonderful dinners or guide you to the place to have a great dinner! We stayed at the two-bedroom apartment, which was the last available room. It was wonderful. It is very spacious, with great views and comfortable beds. We had a full refrigerator, coffee maker etc., but you don't need to worry about food as they provide great coffee and fresh juices each morning (I'm still dreaming about some of those juices!). They do accommodate special diets as well. ||We started our trip off doing the Boiling Lake hike, and that probably wasn't a good idea on our part as we had been traveling, and it took a couple of days to transition from the cold of Illinois to the humidity of Dominica. We are pretty athletic for some people in our early 50s, but we were worn out for the following days. If we had to do it again, we would probably do that excursion last, if possible. Regardless, you have options daily for your adventures, which is nice! The island is one of the most beautiful places, with mountains, volcanoes, and beaches. It's a hiker's paradise in the Caribbean! ||We loved how Tom, Sharie, or Bam Bam took us places daily. When we return, I'll bring gifts for Bam Bam, as he went above and beyond to help us along our adventures! Also, the local lady who made our food was terrific! We can't say enough. The food at the resort at night was delicious! ||We liked having the air conditioner in our room at night, as we are used to sleeping cool at home. We did have some issues with getting hot water, but Tom identified the problem while we were there and was working on getting it fixed. ||Unfortunately, we had to cut our trip short. I stumbled on a rock, and my hand fell into a sea urchin. (Stay away from rocks when you have your snorkeling gear off, and don't try to overdo it when you are tired.) Haha. (just make sure to purchase travel insurance as the hospital on the island isn't like the States, and for specific injuries, you'll need to head back home)||We can't wait to come back, though.. and plan on bringing friends or family!

My sister and I wanted to visit a country with a warm climate, where we could actively enjoy nature. We agreed that Dominica and The Wanderlust would meet our needs, and they sure did! Tom and Sharie are wonderful, compassionate hosts, and are well-respected throughout Dominica. The hotel is in a beautiful location, and our 2 BR apartment was clean, comfortable, and nicely decorated, with a gorgeous view. Tom and/or BamBam (an awesome person and guide) drove us around the island and led us on hikes through the jungle/rivers and on beautiful snorkeling excursions. The waterfalls and swimming pools are exhilarating! We also participated in canyoneering (gorgeous, but a little scary for me), soaked in hot sulfur pools, toured the local chocolate factory, and visited a fascinating permaculture farm. Tom was so accommodating and supportive when I had trouble keeping up with the group…thank you for coming up with solutions! Finally, the meals served at the Wanderlust were so delicious…kudos to Sharie and Kanishia! It was a vacation that my sister and I enjoyed immensely, and we’ll never forget the hospitality of our hosts and the Dominican people!

Our family of 10 spanning 3 generations loved Wanderlust Caribbean! Tom and Sharie were the best hosts. The hotel is lovely with beautiful views. The fabulous hiking and canyoning activities were challenging and adored by the kids and grandkids (a bit too difficult for 80+ year olds). There are less challenging activities for grandmas and grandpas. The food was delicious - mostly fresh fish and locally grown fruits and vegetables. The people from Calibishi who were part of the "team" were skilled and a delight to know. If you are looking for an adventure vacation this is a fabulous place to go.

Dominica is a beautiful island with so much to offer. We had an amazing trip and experienced so much that we never would have on our own. Tom and Sherie created a dream vacation for people like us who want to get away and not have to make plans or decisions😊. It was like staying with friends who have handled all the planning. We felt like we experienced the authentic Dominica. All the locals we met were engaging and friendly. Tom, Sherie and Bam-Bam make a dynamic team. Tom’s keen skills at planning made for a well thought out week full of adventure- from hiking, canyoning, snorkeling, and chasing waterfalls, there was always a day of fun awaiting. It reminded us of Costa Rica 25 years ago (less the animals)- no crowds, just unspoiled nature. Sherie made wonderful Puerto Rican meals, and Bam-Bam kept safe on our adventures. We really enjoyed getting to know them and look forward to a return visit.

I honestly don’t know how to put into words what an exceptional experience we had at Wanderlust Caribbean in Dominica (not the Dominican 😉) It really is one of the best experiences we’ve had, and we’ve had a few epic adventures. From start to finish Tom & Sherie catered to our every need. Starting with interview calls to find out what our interests were and fitness level. This is not the kind of resort, or island for that matter, if you are just looking for white sand beaches and to sit back and do nothing. This is so very much more. Nature’s Island delivers exactly that, adventures created by nature. We told Tom we were interested in waterfalls, hiking (moderate level hikes nothing extreme for us), canyoning, whales watching, snorkelling and local cuisine. The adventures they put together did not disappoint. You will be taken to some amazing places that suit your interests and will avoid the throngs of cruise ship tourists that bombard some well known attractions. Do not fret the places you will see are truly magical. Tom & Sherie pride themselves of delivering an exceptional experience like no other. They have integrated and become memers of the community and support many local business and restaurants that you will see on your tours. Even if you want to stop for some medicinal healing with local tinctures at a Rum Shack they will do that too, maybe even twice 😉! |Tom shared his knowledge of the island, the people and the history as we made our way to the various tours on all parts of the island. Their guides and staff enhanced our experience. Bam Bam is such a kind, hard working, soul with a vast knowledge of everything under the water on snorkels as well as the multitude of flora you experience during our hiking adventure. David is a driver who is comical in nature. He is very proud of his island and eager to tell you about it and will answer honestly any question you ask him. Kenisha and Giselle work along side with Sherie in the kitchen and will provide you meals with Puerto Rican and local flavours. Adding to our experience is breaking bread for breakfast and dinner with all the hotel guests and Tom and Sherie as time permits. Comparing days, and adventures getting to know new people meeting and learning about everyone’s past experiences and future adventures. The entire stay has you feel like you are being welcomed into Tom & Sherie’s home and family and you leave feeling that way. We have met people that I am sure we will see again and hope to see Tom & Sherie when they take time to travel in the off season. They both work exceptionally hard to organize all the moving parts of delivering unique experiences to each guest, changing schedules and tours as required by the weather and while the guests all check in and out on different days. Our arrival and departure was facilitated by pre - arranged transportation which is just another perk of this very unique boutique adventure hotel. |The hotel itself has a stunning view of the Atlantic with access to a black sand beach below. The rooms are spacious, well appointed, well ventilated using shutters or AC (although we chose not to use it as nature provided all the cooling we needed), the beds & pillows are very comfortable and enough linens to last the entire week. Each room is unique and has a view of the ocean and fabulous sunrise over Treasure Island. The common dinning room with the “family” table was something I looked forward to every morning. The porch swing, adirondack chairs, and stools provided a place for us to commune over meals with our new friends. We were so busy we didn’t really get the opportunity to use the roof top bar and sitting area although we did go enjoy the view before we left. We did make use of our balcony for the odd night cap. We will absolutely be back as there is no way we could take in everything this amazing island has to offer. Wanderlust really is a Treasure not to be missed! We can not thank Tom & Sherie enough, from the bottom of our hearts Thank you - Carolyn & Curtis Standard, AB Canada