Dominican Republic Travel Guide to Top Tourist Attractions
Majestic postcard-perfect beaches stretching as far as the eye can see, beautiful resorts, and now a well-cemented tourism infrastructure draw numerous visitors to the Dominican Republic each year. But the diverse geography that ranges from mountains, semi-desert areas to lush forests, creates special opportunities for tourists who desire more than just a mere beach vacation.
La Romana, Puerto Plata, and Punta Cana are the beach resorts offering what several packaged vacationers are searching for: an ideal tropical escape intended for relaxation. Here you will have a fair selection of the most all-inclusive resorts in Dominican Republic.
Solo and independent tourists wanting to get away from this scene could proceed to distant areas of the island such as the Samana' Peninsula, which is the mountainous interior, or the often-overlooked cities and towns. Kiteboarders and surfers alike will find precisely what they are looking for while passing places like Cabarete. Plus, Santo Domingo delivers a unique history in its colonial zone.
Enjoy nature, discover secluded lovely beaches, as well as learn about the celebrated culture with this handy Dominican travel guide to find the top tourist attractions and what you can do while in the Dominican Republic.
1) Tour Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone. In Santo Domingo, where Christopher Columbus first arrived in the America's, you will not only come across lively modern life but also centuries-old buildings. The colonial architecture, most which currently houses from museums, shops, hotels to restaurants, lines the squares and streets, and transports you back to quite another time in jaw-dropping fashion.
A lot of the activity concentrates around the popular Calle El Conde, which is the major thoroughfare and area for either fine dining el fresco or shopping. Roaming around the different streets, you are sure to discover crumbling ruins such as the Monesterio de San Francisco, and wonderfully preserved structures like the Catedral Primada de America, still used today, and even residential areas that offer fleeting glimpses into real local life.
Just devouring a mouth-watering delicious pizza while sitting inside a restored colonial structure on a very warm night or relaxing in the well-decorated courtyard of your 400-year-old hotel room could feel like a special experience in the beautiful city. Make no mistake, Santo Domingo is certainly a place well worth staying for a few days.
2) Puerto Plata and Playa Dorada. Located in the north coast, with a great view of the Atlantic Ocean, the pretty stretch of beach called Playa Dorada and Puerto Plata's resort destination is the Dominican Republic's major tourist draw. The golden-sand beach is dotted with luxury resorts, though mostly less densely crammed than what you might expect to find in Punta Cana.
This area in addition is far more subdued, having a rather tranquil feel. Although these beaches are not usually busy with water sports and boats, it's a fine area for either snorkeling or swimming. You could walk past the resorts and visit undeveloped beaches surrounded by forest and palm trees.
3) Kiteboarding. A well-known kiteboarding destination, Cabarete, with its center of action happening on Kite Beach, is not very far from Cabarete's central beach. It's around a twenty-minute stroll along the beach, the town's center to Kite Beach.
This little part of Cabarete has all its own special vibe. Most mornings the beach is calm, except for walkers, joggers, swimmers, and people engaged in stand up paddleboarding. Often in the afternoon, as the winds blow harder, kiteboarders start descending on the beach, and soon the blue skies are filled with colorful kites.
The sand parades unusual colors as kites wait for the perfect winds to materialize. Some restaurants here provide casual meals, several focusing particularly on vegetarian food, plus other healthy side dishes. A free circus always entertains where the beach ends, on every Friday afternoon. It's still worth visiting to enjoy the spectacle, even if you aren't a kiter.
In February, Cabarete hosts the yearly Master of the Ocean contest, where the world's best appear to compete from kitesurfing, surfing, stand up paddleboarding, to windsurfing. This is a good time to observe amazing kiting on Kite Beach.
Now you too can take up kiteboarding with many schools offering lessons and hotels catering to kiters.
4) Whale Watching. Imagine: every winter, December through March, countless humpback whales enter Samana' Bay to start mating and giving birth, doubtlessly making this a hot spot for seeing these amazing huge animals in the wild. The city of Samana,' situated on the Samana' Peninsula, is a central departure place for whale watching tours.
Though the city provides little more for tourists, whales are a popular attraction that several companies offer now day trips here from different locations around the island. You can sign up for a 12-hour worth of whale watching in Las Terrenas.
5) Las Terrenas. Sitting on the north coast, Las Terrenas is rather a busy Dominican city boasting a calm and relaxed beachfront area, and where one-lane dirt roads wind and meander beyond little French cafes, beaches, and the ocean.
This is a great place to taste Dominican culture and many of the city's conveniences, mixed with a fine beach destination. Such as Las Galeras, several French people have chosen to call Las Terrenas home and also have gone into business by putting up restaurants and inns.
Fired Travel Agent Tells the Public the Airline's Dirty Secrets, How to Turn Them Around In Your Favor, Including How to Fly Practically Free!
