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Dominican Republic |
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Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic offers an astounding array of vacation options. In Santo Domingo, you can follow the footsteps of the conquistadors—right up to and into their former homes, in some cases. Then you can go lie on the beach and be waited on hand and foot at a luxurious, isolated beach resort. The diversity is especially remarkable when you consider that the Dominican Republic is only about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined—if you can imagine those states surrounded by 869 miles of coastline.
Activities and Attractions:
Your trip to the Dominican Republic will probably begin in the capital city of Santo Domingo. If you can hold your impatience to get to the beach, the city rewards exploring. The 12-block Colonial Zone is possibly the best colonial neighborhood in the Caribbean, rivaling Old Towns in San Juan and Havana. It’s certainly the oldest, with roots stretching back literally to Columbus—Santo Domingo was founded by Christopher’s brother, Bartholomeo. Explorers such as Velázquez, Cortés, and Ponce de Leon have walked these streets, one of which, Calle Las Damas (Ladies’ Street), is the oldest street in the New World.
Santo Domingo contains such ancient treasures as Alcázar de Colón, a palace built for Christopher Columbus’s son Diego. The Catedral de Santa Maria la Menor is the oldest cathedral in the Americas, with construction having started in 1514. Another interesting site is the Columbus Lighthouse. It isn’t old, having opened in 1992. But some say Columbus’s bones are interred in the tomb here. (His final resting place is still in dispute.) The lighthouse casts a cross-shaped beam of light in the sky, which can be seen as far away as Puerto Rico.
But you came here for beaches, and you shouldn’t leave without experiencing one of the Dominican Republic’s famous palm-fringed stretches of white sand. Luxury travelers find themselves drawn to the Punta Cana area, on the eastern tip of the island. Here you’ll find scores of all-inclusive resorts along the 20 miles of white sand known as the Costa Coca—the Coconut Coast. The water is calm and clear here, and it rarely rains during the day. This part of the Dominican Republic attracts a mostly European and Latin-American crowd, giving the region a sheen of sophistication. Golf, windsurf, kayak, and sail to your heart’s content. Or lie on the beach and discuss Manchester United’s chances with your cosmopolitan fellow sunbathers.
Other parts of the Dominican Republic have their merits as well, although the accommodations may not be as swank as you’re hoping for. If you’re a windsurfer, consider a visit to Cabarete, a town that practically exists for the sport. (Well, that and pairing up hip 20-somethings with each other). Puerto Plata boasts Fort San Felipe, the oldest fort in the Caribbean, and an observation tower with an amazing view built on a hilltop 2,555 feet above sea level. And the La Romana region is home to an artists’ colony. But considering the country’s unparalleled sand and sun, you’ll be forgiven if you never leave your beach chair.
Insider Tip:
The Dominican Republic has a reputation—not entirely undeserved--for being crime-ridden. The good news is that crime is usually petty, and mostly confined to the city of Santo Domingo. Take common-sense precaution, and you should be fine. Don’t walk alone at night, don’t carry wads of cash, and never get into an unmarked taxi, no matter how friendly the driver seems.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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