• Visit date: February 03 2025
• The visited post office: General Post Office Roseau
• Cost of sending mail: 2 EC$ (about 0,75 EUR)
• Postcard availability: Roseau Cruise port
• Postcard delivery time: fastest-19 days to Germany

Dominica is a small island nation known as the “Nature Island”, located between Guadeloupe and Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean. With a population of around 72,000 and English as its official language, Dominica is known for its volcanic mountains, lush rainforests, and healing hot springs. It boasts one of the Caribbean’s most famous treks — the challenging trail to Boiling Lake. Unlike many neighboring islands, Dominica remains largely untouched by mass tourism, making it a unique stop for nature lovers — and for travelers like us (in this case, especially Andry), always on the lookout for local post offices too.

​Dominica’s postal history began in 1845 when the British General Post Office established a branch in Roseau, the island’s capital. This branch utilized a handstruck mark reading “Paid at Dominica” to indicate prepayment of postage. Dominica issued its first own stamps on May 4, 1874, featuring Queen Victoria’s profile. These stamps remained in use, with variations, until 1890. From 1890 to 1903, Dominica used stamps of the Leeward Islands, after which it resumed issuing its own stamps alongside the Leeward Islands’ issues until 1940. Following independence in 1978, Dominica expanded its stamp themes to reflect national pride and culture. Today, the General Post Office in Roseau, located on Dame Mary Eugenia Charles Boulevard, continues to serve as the central hub for postal services on the island

Sources: Dominica, Postal History or Dominica, hurricane-maria-Kirk Siegler

We visited Dominica by cruise ship, with just one full day to explore the island. Unfortunately, my adventure got off to a rough start — I had been battling what felt like food poisoning or a virus since the night before. By the time we docked in Roseau early in the morning, I was completely exhausted after a sleepless night spent curled up on the floor and running to the bathroom.

Still, I was determined not to miss the chance to experience at least a little of what Dominica had to offer. Since the cruise terminal sits right in the heart of the capital, everything felt just steps away — it would’ve felt wrong to stay behind.

The post office was only a few blocks away, and even with shaky legs, I wasn’t about to take a taxi — despite the line of drivers already waiting to offer rides. First, we needed to track down postcards and stamps and confirm postage costs. Postcards were conveniently sold right at the port, so that part was easy.

At the post office, we discovered the mailing rates were about twice as high as what we had found online — apparently unchanged since 2013. Still, even with the increase, the prices were much cheaper than in Europe, so we didn’t argue.

The post office had a more official atmosphere than one might expect in the Caribbean. Inside, we found ourselves alone in a clean, white-tiled room divided by red rope stanchions, clearly prepared to handle a larger crowd.

One wall displayed a mural detailing the history of Dominica’s postal service, from the 18th century up to 1993 — the year this building was opened with support from the British. Outside, classic red mailboxes were marked “Surface Mail,” “Inland Mail,” and “Air Mail,” while several taped-up notices strictly prohibited sitting, loitering, and ferry passengers from waiting in the area — all signs of how central and well-placed this post office really is. But we hadn’t planned to linger there anyway.

Once we had everything we needed — postcards, stamps, and the right information — we looked for somewhere to sit, get online, and write. The lobby of a nearby hotel offered both a quiet spot and good Wi-Fi. I managed to scribble a few postcards before heading back to the ship for a much-needed healing nap, leaving Andry to finish the mailing.

After two hours of sleep, I felt like a new person and was ready to see more of Roseau, even if just slowly. The city center, filled with 18th-century French colonial architecture, was easy to explore on foot.

On my previous visit to Dominica in 2014, I hadn’t been to Roseau at all — instead, I spent my time hiking to Syndicate Falls and trekking through the rainforest to Dominica’s famous Boiling Lake. Even then, the island felt healing — its misty forests, rushing rivers, and raw, untouched nature left a deep impression. While I was deep in the jungle, Andry handled the postal duties on his own — something that nearly repeated itself on this return visit.

Three years after that first visit, Dominica was struck by Hurricane Maria, a devastating Category 5 storm. It was heartbreaking to learn how much was lost. Like many other travelers who had been touched by the island, I contributed what I could toward the recovery efforts. Dominica had given us something real — it felt only right to give something back.

Since then, the island has installed early warning systems to prepare better for future storms. As I wandered through the quieter streets of Roseau, locals greeted me with warmth and kindness — asking how I was, offering help, wishing me a good day. It made me feel like I belonged.

In the end, Andry once again completed the post office mission on his own — maybe it’s just how things are meant to be in Dominica. And once again, the island healed me.

Hopefully, our paths will cross a third time — my little island of strength.

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