Zona Colonial
Zona Colonial The Caribbean is known for its brilliant colors and vibrant culture. Travelers to Dominican Republic will find this to be especially true amid the lively streets of Santo Domingo, where the country’s urban center is ripe with the smells and sounds of Latin America.But visitors who ve
Yaque del North River
Yaque del North River The Yaque del North River is the longest river in the Dominican Republic and its waters, that tumble down 8,500ft (2590m) from the Cordillera Central mountains, are ideal for whitewater rafting. Depending on the time of year and how high the river is, the rapids here range fr
Whale Museum and Nature Center
Whale Museum and Nature Center Each year between the months of January and March, some 4,000 humpback whales descend on the cool turquoise waters of Samana Bay. The Whale Museum and Nature Center, which is part of one of the world’s largest marine sanctuaries, celebrates these ocean giants and off
Taino Park
Taino Park Some 1,500 years ago, the Taino Indians, the indigenous people of Dominican Republic, inhabited this tropical island. But arrival of the famed explorer Christopher Columbus sent locals into a tailspin and forced them to defend their land, their tribe and their traditions against coloniz
Tabacalera de Garcia Cigar Factory
Tabacalera de Garcia Cigar Factory When Fidel Castro marched into Havana and seized the Cuban government, he took the island’s tobacco industry and hand-rolled cigars along with it. Knowing their age of prosperity was over, Cuban cigar makers fled the country in search of factories elsewhere. One
Samana Bay
Samana Bay Samana Bay is the heart of the Samana region in the far northeast of the Dominica Republic. Along its shores, you’ll find the famed Los Haitises National Park, protected tropical forest where you can explore caverns adorned with native Taino petroglyphs, spectacular tree covered islets,
Rincon Beach (Playa Rincon)
Rincon Beach (Playa Rincon) There’s a reason this pristine stretch of white sand has been rated one of the top beaches in the world by magazines, travel guides and globetrotters alike. The scenic shores of Rincon Beach are some of the country’s most idyllic, and visitors say it’s not uncommon to h
Regional Museum of Archaeology
Regional Museum of Archaeology Located in the stunning replica 16th-century Mediterranean village of Altos de Chavón, the Regional Museum of Archaeology fits right in – though its findings inside go back much further in time than the 16th century. The museum focuses on artifacts and artwork from t
Punta Rusia
Punta Rusia Punta Rucia, also sometimes spelled Punta Rusia, is a cape-end beach and fishing village in the Dominican Republic province of Puerto Plata. It is located near the town of La Isabela in the Bay of La Isabela. Diving and snorkeling are two popular pastimes along Punta Rucia. The shallow
Playa Dorada
Playa Dorada Playa Dorada is one of the most popular beaches in the Puerto Plata area. Here you will find a number of the major resorts along its shoreline. The gated community features around a dozen luxury resorts and hotels that border the Amber Coast.If you are not staying along the bay of Pla
Ozama Fort (Fortaleza Ozama)
Ozama Fort (Fortaleza Ozama) This 16th-century fortress located in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo was built by the Spanish and is recognized today as a UNESCO World Heritage site. History buffs can explore La Fortaleza—which is the oldest European-style military building in the Americas—and le
National Palace
National Palace The city of Santo Domingo is one of the oldest in the Caribbean, however the National Palace isn’t a colonial-era structure. Instead it harkens to a different, more recent period of the Dominican Republics history. The National Palace was built in the 1940s during the reign of the
Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales)
Museum of the Royal Houses (Museo de las Casas Reales) Travelers looking to get in touch with Dominica Republic’s deep European roots will find the Museum of the Royal Houses a must-see stop in Santo Domingo. This 16th-century building was once home to the administrative offices of the Spanish col
Monte Cristi National Park
Monte Cristi National Park Monte Cristi National Park, or Parque National Monte Cristi, is a national park in the Dominican Republic. It is one of the driest areas in the Dominican Republic, receiving about two inches of rain per year.The area extends from the Haiti border to the tip of Punta Ruci
Malecon
Malecon This incredible boardwalk winds along the Samana Bay, where tourists, locals, artists and musicians gather to relax near the shoreline and take in epic views of Dominican Republic’s striking blue horizon. Lively outdoor cafes serving strong brews and local cuisine, as well as interesting s
Las Terrenas
Las Terrenas Once an active port for the British slave trade, the town of Las Terrenas on the northwestern edge of Samana is home to people of Taino, Spanish and African descent—making it one of the most diverse destinations of this tiny province. Travelers flock to its pristine beaches, tucked pe
Las Galeras
Las Galeras The historic fishing village of Las Galeras is stationed along the east coast in Santa Barbara on the Samana Peninsula. Travelers venture to this quiet town for its idyllic palm-lined beaches and easy access to Rincon Beach via the Las Galeras jetty. The village is within close proximi
La Isabela
La Isabela La Isabela is located within the Puerto Plata province of the Dominican Republic. It is the second-oldest European settlement in the New World, founded by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage in 1493. Columbus named the area after Queen Isabella I of Castile. Columbus establish
Key Paradise
Key Paradise Key Paradise gets its name because it does appear to be a piece of paradise rising up from the center of the sea in a splendor of white sand. The small island is characterized by this sand, which serves as a sharp contrast to the clear teal sea water lapping at its shores.Most people
Higuey
Higuey In the Dominican Republics eastern-most province of La Altagracia Province lies the city of Higuey. A busy, bustling area that has been rapidly growing over the past decade, Higuey is also home to some must-see historical and religious sites.The Basilica of Altagracia, a Roman Catholic cath
