Fodors Dominican Republic

Dominicans will extend a gracious welcome, saying, This is your home! and indeed are happy to share their beautiful island bathed by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. Among its most precious assets are 1,000 mi (1,600 km) of gorgeous beaches studded with coconut palms and sands ranging from pearl white to golden brown to volcanic black. The Caribbean sun kisses this exotic land, which averages 82F year-round. Its a fertile country blessed with resources, particularly cocoa, coffee, rum, tobacco, and sugarcane.

A land of contrasts, the Dominican Republic has mountain landscapes, brown rivers with white-water rapids, rain forests full of wild orchids, and fences of multicolor bougainvillea. Indigenous species from crocodiles to the green cockatoo, symbol of the island, live in these habitats. Bird-watchers, take note: there are 29 endemic species flying around here.

The contrasts dont stop with nature. You can see signs of wealth, for the upper strata of society lives well indeed. In the capital, the movers and shakers ride in chauffeur-driven silver Mercedes. On the country roads youll be amazed that four people with sacks of groceries and a stalk of bananas can fit on a smoky old motoconcho (motorbike-taxi). This is a land of mestizos who are a centuries-old mix of native Indians, Spanish colonists, and African slaves, plus every other nationality that has settled here, from Italian to Arabic.

Accommodations offer a remarkable rangesurfers camps, exclusive boutique hotels, and amazing megaresorts that have brought the all-inclusive hotel to the next level of luxury. Trendy restaurants, art galleries, boutique hotels, and late-night clubs help make Santo Domingo a superb urban vacation destination. Regrettably, most Dominican towns and cities are neither quaint nor particularly pretty, and poverty still prevails. However, the standard of living has really come up along with the growth of North American tourism. Food prices are higher than they have been, which means prices at all-inclusive resorts are up; however, a vacation in the D.R. can still be a relative bargain. Even the new, small boutique hotels are still well priced for the Caribbean.

Christopher Columbus first claimed the island for Spain on his first New World voyage in 1492 and wrecked his flagship, the Santa Maria, on its Atlantic shore on Christmas Eve; later, his brother Bartolomeo founded Santo Domingo de Guzmn (1496), the first city in the New World. With some 300 examples of Spanish-colonial architecture, the Zona Colonial was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990. A throbbing microcosm, there are 100 square blocks of history, very much alive more than five centuries later.

The vibrant lifestyle of this sun-drenched Latin-Caribbean country, where Spanish is the national language and where the people are hospitable and good-natured, makes the Dominican Republic a different cultural experience. If you pick up the rhythm of life here, as freewheeling as the islands trademark merengue, this can be a beguiling tourist destination.

Islanders have an affinity for all things American: the people, language (more and more speak English), electronic products, fashions, and lifestyle. A great Dominican dream is to go to the States as a baseball player (shortstop or a pitcher) and become the next Sammy Sosa, then return to be a philanthropist in ones own hometown.

There are some 1,000 mi of excellent, beaches, some of which are pearl-white.

Youll find the best-value all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean here.

Every imaginable activityworld-class golf, horseback riding, white-water rafting, surfing, diving, windsurfing, and moreis available here.

The genuine hospitality of the people and their love of norteamericanos.

The Dominicans love to party, dance, drink, and have a good time at happening bars and clubs.

The Dominican Republic covers the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola (Haiti covers the other third). At 18,765 square mi (48,730 square km), its the second-largest Caribbean country (only Cuba is larger), and with more than 8.8 million people, the second most populous country, too. It was explored by Columbus on his 1492 voyage to the New World.

Restaurants

Hotels

Beaches

Restaurants

Hotels

Beaches

Restaurants

Hotels

Beaches

Restaurants

Hotels

The biggest draw for tourists are powder-soft beaches, particularly in Punta Cana, but each of the resort areas has decent beaches.

Windsurfing and kitesurfing is best on the North Coast, and the top dogs in the sport have found the breezes in Cabarete to be among the most favorable in the Caribbean.

The D.R. also has several of the Caribbeans finest golf courses.

Adventure tours are popular in the countrys interior, particularly for those travelers who want to get a bit farther off the beaten path and avoid the all-inclusive resorts.

Nightlife is a highlight, particularly in Santo Domingo, where historical sights are also a major draw.

However, with so many all-inclusive resorts, much of the activity is focused inward, and the majority of tourists never leave their resorts except to go on guided tours and excursions in the immediate vicinity of their hotel.