DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
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The Dominican Republic is the second biggest Caribbean nation.It shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti and is part of the Greater Antilles. This island nation really has something for everybody. There is hardly anything you will miss here during your vacation: Stunning beaches, tropical forests, historic cities, top class hotels, great golf courses, diving and snorkeling, lots of entertainment are just some of the advantages which makes the Dominican Republic a great holiday spot. |
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The official language is Spanish.But you don't have to worry about language barriers: Here tourism is the first income source, and people are well prepared. Especially, since the Dominican Republic is THE all-inclusive destination in the Caribbean. In fact, most of the best beaches of the island nation are lined with all inclusive resorts, offering unbeatable prices for great accommodation, food and entertainment. No doubt, you can't have a better quality-price relation, especially because the prices of the flight are often included. Of course, because of that, the Dominican Republic is in first place a mass tourism destination. But nobody forces you to book an all inclusive hotel, and there are plenty of places to go where you can be absolutely alone and far away from the crowds. |
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The Dominican Republic has a great cultural and historical past. Christopher Columbus established the first permanent European settlement in what is now Santo Domingo, the countries capital, thus the first city of the "new world". Needless to say, there are plenty of historical, architectural sites, - like the first cathedral in the Caribbean - to visit during your stay. Spanish heritage is everywhere, mixed with a vibrant Creole culture. The capital is also a modern city with all commodities you will need, so don't worry about shopping, good restaurants and nightlife; It's all there! A part of the occasional tourist trap, prices are rather low. And of course, the island nation is a good place to learn latin dances, like salsa, bachata or merengue. There are several interesting small cities to visit, you will need some time to drive around.
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The Dominican Republic has more to offer than beaches. The interior of the country is partly covered with fascinating rain forests, offering all kind of sporting activities, from hiking to kayaking and much more. Rivers, waterfalls, tropical fauna and flora make for breathtaking discoveries if you can sometimes leave your picture perfect beach and your Caribbean cocktail at the pool! The island nation also has impressive mountains,with the Pico Duarte being the highest in the Caribbean. And the Lake Enriquillo is the largest in the Caribbean. You will discover plenty of places to visit and to enjoy the scenery. |
Photos 1-4 courtesy of Tourism Office of the Dominican Republic |
People in the Dominican Republic are very friendly and open to foreigners. Maybe it is a little bit sad that, due to the overwhelming all inclusive tourism, contacts between the local population and visitors are sometimes limited. Many holiday makers hardly leave the protection of their resort, where they can eat, drink and practice all kind of activities without looking at the price. For sure, those resorts do not reflect the real lifestyle and income level of the population, which is rather low and often forces people to immigrate to richer countries. We really suggest visitors to this beautiful island to dedicate some time to mix with the local population and appreciate their real culture, outside of the boundaries of your comfortable resort. |
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