 The
Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two thirds of the island
of Hispaniola, the second largest island in the Caribbean. Formerly
a colony of Spain, it shares the island with Creole-French speaking
Haiti, located at the western end of the island. Hispaniola is
part of the Greater Antilles island group in the Caribbean and
lies between Cuba to the northwest and Puerto Rico to the east.
The Dominican Republic offers some of the most
beautiful and diverse topography in the Caribbean. To give you
and idea of its size, The Dominican Republic is larger than the
Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands combined.
The country's geography doesn't lend itself to easy classification.
It is best to think of the Dominican Republic as a combination
of highlands, lowlands, and highland valleys. Geographers have
divided the country into twenty distinct regions. Two of the more
interesting features include over 1,000 miles of spectacular,
sun-drenched Caribbean beaches, plus the highest peak in the Caribbean
region; Pico Duarte which rises to over 10,700 ft.
Please note
that additional info (prices, activities, etc) are found to the
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Some of the more interesting highlights a visitor
should not miss include some of the following destinations.
 Santo
Domingo: The colonial section has been carefully restored
to retain its original charm, and is home to the first university,
cathedral and hospital built in the New World. The modern city
of Santo Domingo, by contrast, is a thriving port city, equipped
with discotheques, gambling casinos, shops and the Cultural Plaza
which houses the Gallery of Modern Art and the National Theater.
Just a few miles east of the city is a remarkable cave complex,
Los Tres Ojos de Agua (The Three Eyes of Water), so-called because
it contains three turquoise lagoons on three different levels,
each fed by an underground river and surrounded by countless stalactites,
stalagmites and lush tropical vegetation.
To the east of Santo Domingo is the city of La
Romana, home to the understated elegance and graceful charm of
the 7000-acre Casa de Campo resort, designed by Oscar de la Renta.
Nestled within the resort is Altos de Chavon, a reconstructed
15th-century Mediterranean-style village for culture and art which
is perched high on a cliff overlooking the tropical Chavon River
and Caribbean Sea. Altos de Chavon hosts major events in a 5000-seat
Greek amphitheater, built in the traditional design of Epidaurus.
 The
Northern, or Amber Coast, is so named because some of the most
beautiful amber in the world is mined here. The Amber Museum houses
an interesting display of unusual amber pieces found in this area.
Puerto Plata (the Silver Port) has some of the finest beaches
in the Caribbean Islands. It was founded in 1504 and boasts Victorian
architecture. In this area you will also find the majestic Fort
San Felipe which was build in the 1600s by the Spanish to protect
the settlement from marauding pirates.
The Atlantic coast of the country is renowned
for its miles of unspoiled beaches that surround Puerto Plata,
the most popular being Sosúa. Nearby rises Mount Isabel
de Torres. It is possible to take the cable car to the summit
which sits at an elevation of just over 760m (2500ft) above sea
level. The breathtaking views of both the Atlantic and the port
of Puerto Plata are well worth the 7-minute climb up to the top
of the mountain. Visitors also should take time out to visit the
vast botanical gardens located in this area. It is a great way
to familiarize yourself with the local plant and tree species
found in the Dominican Republic.
The Samaná Peninsula is located on the
northern portion of the island, approximately two hours from Puerto
Plata's international airport. Samaná, with its transparent
blue waters, miles of unspoiled beaches, and dozens of caves waiting
to be explored, is a romantic paradise.
These are just some of the wonderful places that
the Dominican Republic has to offer visitors. There are of course
many other excellent things to see and do on this wonderful island
nation. |
