When travelling to Dominican Republic the visitor will have a perfect tropical getaway for relaxation and fun. Postcard-perfect beaches, luxury resorts, and a strong tourism infrastructure are what attract many tourists to Dominican Republic. The diverse geography, ranging from lush forests and mountains to semi-desert areas, also creates unique opportunities for travellers who want more than just a beach vacation.
If you are planning to visit this beautiful tropical destination, take a look! Here we will tell you which the best plans to enjoy when travelling to Dominican Republic, a jewel of the Caribbean, are.
The best plans to enjoy when travelling to Dominican Republic
When visiting this country, you will be able to immerse yourself in nature, find spectacular beaches and learn about the culture. Let’s look at some of the top attractions and best places to visit when travelling to Dominican Republic.
Visit the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo
Colonial architecture, much of which today houses quaint museums, restaurants, shops and hotels, lines the streets and squares, transporting you back to another era in mind-boggling ways. Much of the activity is centred on El Conde Street, the main thoroughfare and a popular street for shopping or al fresco dining.
Strolling through the different streets, you will see crumbling ruins, such as the Monastery of San Francisco; beautifully preserved buildings, such as Primada de América Cathedral (First Cathedral of the Americas), which is still in use today; and residential areas, offering a glimpse into local life.
Go to Punta Cana
Here an endless stretch of beautiful white sand beach meets the emerald waters of the Caribbean and is the main tourist destination when travelling to Dominican Republic. If you are looking for all-inclusive luxury resorts, a couples retreat, or a family accommodation combined with an endless list of water activities for entertainment, this is the place to come.
Bávaro Beach is the most impressive stretch of beach in Punta Cana, where you can dive into the water or walk on the sand for hours. The resorts line the beach and offer easy access to all activities.
Enjoy Puerto Plata and Playa Dorada
Along the north coast, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the tourist destination of Puerto Plata and the beautiful stretch of beach known as Playa Dorada is one of the biggest tourist attractions when travelling to Dominican Republic.
This golden sand beach is lined with luxury resorts, although much less densely populated than those in Punta Cana. This area is also much dimmer and has a calmer feel.
Go to Cabarate and beachside restaurants
Cabarete is known for its laid-back atmosphere and its huge half-moon-shaped beach full of casual restaurants where visitors can have dinner on the sand.
Unlike Dominican Republic tourist destinations like Punta Cana or Puerto Plata, this city is not full of all-inclusive resorts and package tours. Instead, Cabarete attracts free spirits, backpackers, retirees and practitioners of kitesurf who come here for a few weeks or months, especially during the winter.
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Visit Las Galeras when travelling to Dominican Republic
It’s located at the furthest end of the Samaná peninsula, where the road ends at the ocean, overlooking one of the many beautiful beaches in the area. Its remote location will appeal to independent travellers looking for an off the beaten path experience. Palm-fringed white sand beaches and turquoise water create an idyllic setting.
Las Galeras is the perfect place to get away from the busy streets and tourist scene, while still offering enough infrastructure to make you feel comfortable.
Kitesurfing at Kite Beach
Around a promontory off Cabarete’s main beach, about a 20-minute walk along the promenade, you will find Kite beach. This small area has its own unique atmosphere. In the mornings, the beach is quiet, except for walkers and joggers or people who swim and stand up paddle boarding. In the afternoon, when the winds pick up, the kitesurfers go to the beach and the sky fills with kites.
Whale watching in Samaná bay
Every winter, from December to March, thousands of humpback whales enter Samaná Bay to mate and give birth, making it one of the best places to see these beautiful giants in the wild. Samaná city, on the Samaná peninsula, is the main starting point for whale watching trips.
Visit Las Terrenas when travelling Dominican Republic
On the north coast, Las Terrenas is a busy Dominican city with a quiet, laid-back beachfront area, where winding single-lane dirt roads wind past small French cafes and overlook palm trees, beaches, and the aquamarine ocean.
This is one of the best places to visit if you want to get a taste of Dominican culture and all the comforts of a city, combined with a great beach destination.
Go to Las Aguilas Bay
Quite away from the main tourist trail, the remote Las Águilas Bay in Jaragua National Park is a glorious eight-kilometre stretch of beach, which you can have to yourself on any given day. The shallow, clear and calm waters and the white sand bottom, combined with a clear lack of tourism and development, make this one of the most pristine beaches in the Dominican Republic.
Tour Saona Island and Este National Park
While Este National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a serene place of natural beauty and habitat for countless plants, animals, and birds, most people know the park because of the beaches of Saona Island.
This island is a tourist magnet, with all kinds of hikers from the nearby tourist destinations of Punta Cana and La Romana. The soft sand beach and turquoise water is what most people would imagine if they imagined a tropical island paradise.
Go to La Romana when travelling to Dominican Republic
Not far from Punta Cana, La Romana is one of the lesser known tourist destinations in Dominican Republic. This area has a number of large resorts, some of which are geared toward more independent travellers seeking self-sufficiency.
The beautiful beaches in the area are the main attraction. One of the most popular things to do here is to visit Altos de Chavón. Here you can buy handicrafts and souvenirs in a replica of a 16th century artisan village.
You can also take a day trip from La Romana to Santo Domingo, which is about 1.5 hours away. Golf is another popular activity in the area.
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