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.

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.

Back to the Top