If you're looking for culture, beauty, and adventure all rolled in to one neat little package, you simply can't beat a trip to the Dominican Republic! Located on the island of Hispanolo in the Caribbean region, the Dominican Republic has everything from beautiful beaches to breathtaking mountain ranges, from tiny towns to booming cities...there is no doubt that you will find exactly what you are looking for on this tropical paradise.
The Dominican Republic is a place rich with history, both geographic and cultural. While bathing in the sun on one of the many white sand beaches, and swimming to your hearts content in the crystal blue ocean waters are both activities that are basically "no branier" additions to any Dominican Republic vacation, there are also many other wonderful things to experience during your stay.
CARNIVAL
One of the most traditional festivities in the Dominican Republic is the Carnival. With loud music, streets filled with dancing locals and tourists, outrageous costumes, and a generally animalistic tone, Carnival is something that simply can't be missed. The most famous of all the traditional Carnivals is called La Vega's Diablos, which is held in the small town of La Vega every weekend in the month of February, culminating in the largest celebration on February 27th. You can expect to see a surreal scene of grotesquely beautiful decorated performers running through the streets "whipping" anyone who gets in their way with a sac made from cow bladder. The meringue music with fill your ears, the bright costumes with overtake your eyes, and the mass of energetic and happy people will overcome your heart. As with any large public gathering, take care to guard your personal belongings, as there is quite a rampant amount of pickpocketing and theft.
CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA
Located in the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, you will find the oldest standing cathedral in the Western hemisphere. Built in 1523 using a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance elements, this magnificent cathedral is actually still in use today. The cathedral has a rich history, and was actually the headquarters of Sir Francis Drake when he captured the town and held it for ransom. A walk through this beautiful building and across its grounds will give you a great sense of Spanish Renaissance architecture.
THE NATIONAL AQUARIUM
Also located in Santo Domingo, the National Aquarium is considered the best public aquarium in all of the Caribbean. It features a host of breathtaking sea-life that is sure to leave you awestruck! Take a walk through the fully enclosed, glass sea tunnel for an unbelievable view of the marine life, or visit the star resident of the aquarium, "Tamaury", an endangered manatee that was rescued as a baby off the coast of Barahona.
COLUMBUS LIGHTHOUSE MONUMENT
One of the most interesting and modern places in all of Santo Domingo is the Columbus Lighthouse monument. This monument was built in early 1990's to commemorate the arrival of Columbus in the New World. The building itself is 693 feet long, and is built in the shape of a cross tilted at a 45 degree angle. The entire building is fixed with high-powered lights, so that at night the shape of the cross can be beamed in to the night sky. Inside the building there is what the Dominican's believe to be the true remains of Columbus himself, as well as many other important and historical documents from the Spanish colonial times. This is truly a sight to behold, and don't be surprised if you leave with a slightly eerie feeling...
PLAZA DE LA CULTURA
Located in the heart of Santo Domingo is the Plaza de la Cultura, which is basically the cities showcase of art and culture. The area is fronted by four museums, The Museum of Modern Art, The Museum of History and Geography, The Museum of Natural History and The Museum of the Dominican Man. There is also the National Theater, which offers a brilliant line-up of everything from opera and ballet to music and drama productions. Any trip to Santo Domingo would be incomplete without at least a day spent absorbing the wonders of the Plaza de la Cultura.
SAONA ISLAND
To get to Saona island, you have to take one of two modes of transportation, Catamaran or Speedboat. While the trip across can be a little "exciting", especially in the Speedboat option, once you reach Saona, you will be completely blown away by the majestic beauty of the island, the sand, the water! This is a popular place for tourists to visit for a "day at the beach", so if you want to experience the serene beauty of the island, make sure that you book either a very early or very late excursion. Don't forget to bring some money, as there are locals selling jewelry, trinkets and clothing. Definitely a "day trip" worth taking!
LOS TRES OJOS NATIONAL PARK
Located on the east bank of the Ozama River is the breathtaking Los Tres Ojos National Park. This area is truly an awe inspiring place, which is basically a series of caves on different levels with fresh water lagoons connecting them. Stalagmites and stalactites, as well as a sulfurous spring (that is rumored by locals to be bottomless) round out this truly picturesque scene. Because of the sheer beauty of the area, and the sulfurous spring, this has been the site of many traditional Indian ceremonies throughout the years.
MOUNT ISABEL DE TORRES
High above the city of Puerto Plata stands Mount Isabel. Visitors can take a cable-car ride from the bottom of the mountain to the summit, where they will be able to explore an exquisite botanical garden and also visit a cruciform Christ statue. Additionally, there is a wonderful restaurant featuring beautiful native flair at which visitors can enjoy a meal while overlooking the city of Puerto Plata, as well as the coastline. This is definitely an excursion worth planning time for!
YASIKA ADVENTURES
Located down a beautiful 30 minute scenic drive from Puerto Plata is the Yasika Adventures park; the drive itself is actually quite spectacular if you're in to experiencing the local scenery. After a thorough explanation and demonstration of safety rules, you're ready for the adventure of a lifetime! Yes, you get to jump off of a platform suspended 300 meters in the air and "zip" along a line that truly puts you in the treetops. There are 10 platforms that range in height and length, and at some points you will be traveling up to 30 miles per hour. This is truly an adrenaline pumping break from the historical and cultural sightseeing that will fill most of your trip!
FUERTE SAN FELIPE
Located on a small peninsula on Puerto Plata Bay, this small fort is the only remaining remnant of the Spanish colonial period in the city of Puerto Plata. This small fort was actually built by Columbus upon his arrival in 1492...he hoped to establish the first Spanish colony in the New World at that very spot. Today, there is still the remains of a moat and several walls, and there is a small museum which houses some of the most interesting artifacts of the early Spanish colonial times. If you're a "history buff", you can't miss this stop (my husband actually spent almost an entire day here!).
BRUGAL RUM FACTORY
This stop was actually my husbands idea, but I came to realize that any trip to the Dominican Republic would fall short without paying homage to the local drink of choice, Brugal Rum. Take a little tour through the distillery and then you can sit down with a wonderful sample of the famous drink. A great way to polish off a day...
There is truly nothing more amazing than taking a vacation to a place with so much history and culture. The Dominican Republic is filled with a vibrancy that simply can't be found in most of the highly "touristy" destinations where one would think of planning a vacation. Step out of the box, and plan a trip to the Dominican Republic!