The 10 most essential places to see in the Dominican Republic

The 10 most essential places to see in the Dominican Republic

The 10 most essential places to see in the Dominican Republic

When Christopher Columbus began to build the first European city in the New World, he could imagine what would be a Dominican Republic about 500 years later.To that colonial legacy that today can be admired in the capital of the country (Santo Domingo), is added the legacy that left, long before Europeans, Mother Nature.

Talking about the Dominican Republic is doing beaches, islands, turquoise waters, humpback whales, corals, jungle, lagoons, caves and even the highest peak of the Caribbean.

Add to all that a fun, carefree, hospitable and dances like Los Angeles and you have a country that you don't want to leave.To help you squeeze it to the maximum, in Skyscanner we leave you the best places to see in the Dominican Republic:

Vuela a República Dominicana

1. Colonial City of Santo Domingo

When you see the tourist brochures of the Dominican Republic, the beaches and jungles monopolize most of the photographs that appear in them.It is normal, they are the ones that call you to enjoy them for days or weeks.

However, among the best places to visit in the Dominican Republic, one stands out that has nothing to do with all that.The capital of the country, Santo Domingo, still retains the buildings that were part of the first city founded by Europeans in the Americas.

Town all of these monuments are in the area called the ‘Colonial City’, ancient part of Santo Domingo.

Walking through its cobbled pedestrian streets -truffled from coffee shops, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops -you will find the Alcázar de Colón (residence of the viceroy Diego Colón, son of the discoverer), the primed cathedral of America (the oldest in America and consecratedTo Pope Julio II in 1504), the Casa del Cordón (First two -story stone house built by Europeans in America and housed great personalities, such as Francisco de Garay, governor of Jamaica), the monastery of San Francisco (firstMonastery of the New World, built by the Franciscan Order in 1508), the Ozama fortress (first defensive construction of the Americas, ended in 1508) and the door of mercy, the first access door to the city of Santo Domingo.

There are many more churches, convents, strengths, stone houses and old buildings that housed the official organizations of the Spaniards in the Americas.You can spend hours, if not days, touring this area, declared a World Heritage for UNESCO.

He walks through the colonial city of Santo Domingo and lets the power of the time machine absorb you in one of the best places to see in the Dominican Republic.

Busca ya tu vuelo a Santo Domingo

2. Cana Punta

When an American tycoon flew over the jungle area and beaches that formed drunken tip (original name of Punta Cana) saw that drunk landscape as a great business opportunity.Initially, he thought about cutting part of that endless jungle to export wood to Puerto Rico.However, American visionary Frank Rainieri was somewhat beyond: he recognized that place as a paradise with great tourist potential.

It was the year 1970, and you could only access Punta Cana by sea or air.A small airfield was built and, later, roads.The large hotel groups, such as Barceló, landed shortly after and built large ‘all -inclusive resorts’.

Los 10 lugares más imprescindibles que ver en República Dominicana

Today, Punta Cana is one of the best Caribbean destinations in terms of quality/price ratio.

The worshipers of the sun enjoy, for one or two weeks, of some of the best beaches to see in the Dominican Republic, while asking to bring them another cocktail or decide which new aquatic activity are willing to try that day.

In addition, at nightfall, the area is transformed into a kind of sodoma and gomorra of the night party.Discos such as ‘Coco Bongo‘, ‘Imagine‘ (a disco inside a cave) and ‘Nightclub gold‘ are filled any day of the week.

The next morning, the partiers will sleep their hangover in the beaches of beaches such as Bavarian, fat sand or bull head.

Reserva tu vuelo a Punta Cana

3. PEDERNAL PENINSULA

In the Pedernales Peninsula there are some of the most vivid natural attractions to see in the Dominican Republic.However, the ratio of tourists in this part of the country is surprisingly low.

The sublime beach of Bahía de las Águilas, the Laguna Oviedo (of Sallada Agua), the Jaragua National Park, the Crocoté cloud forest and the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park (one of the best spaces in the world for bird observation) areSome of his best places.

Busca tu hotel en Pedernales

4. Saona Island

The biggest island to see in the Dominican Republic is Saona.It is in front of the coast of the province of Altagracia - encompassed in the Cotubanamá National Park - and is one of the most typical day excursions among tourists who arrive at the Resorts of Punta Cana.

However, he tries not to hire one of those ‘tours’, but to live Saona island independently.On its surface of 110 km² you will find semi-humid forests, thickets, mangroves and salty forests.In addition, in its coastal lagoons and large extensions of coral reefs you will find a great diversity of marine life, birds and reptiles. The diving and tube glasses, and enjoy the sea turtles.

When eating, he talks to the inhabitants of the two villages of fishermen who inhabit in Saona.They live from fishing and can offer you the best fish you are going to try in the Dominican Republic.

Reserva ya tu vuelo a República Dominicana

5. Duarte Pico

Among the things to do in the Dominican Republic you have the opportunity to ascend to the highest peak of the Antilles.It's not bad at all.

With its 3,087 meters above sea level, the Duarte peak offers you the best viewpoint to visit in the Dominican Republic.It is the star of the central mountain range - main mountain region of the Dominican Republic, with its 250 km long - and is surrounded by several peaks that exceed 2,600 meters above sea level, such as Pelona Grande, Pelona Chica, Pico del Barraco and Pico del Yaque.

If you like hiking, ascend to the top of the Duarte peak will be the best journey to do in the Dominican Republic.

The main climb to the Duarte peak begins near the Sabaneta dam, about 20 km north of the population of San Juan de la Managuana.

The route will take three days, being able to sleep in shelters.The first night you would spend at the Refugio del Alto de la Rosa.The second, in the macutic.The third day you would top and rest in the shelter of the comparison.

The road runs through cultivation fields up to 1,500 meters above sea level, to then move to dense extensions of Creole pine.In addition, near the Duarte are born the two main rivers of the Dominican Republic: Yaque del Sur and Yaque del Norte.

Photography credits © El Serrano / Flickr (CC By Nd 2.0)

¡Vuela ya a República Dominicana!

6. Los Haites National Park

In the northeast of the country there is a landscape that, if you add turquoise waters, it seems out of the movie ‘Avatar’.

Karst mounds up to 30 meters high emerge from everywhere.Of the sea, of the earth, of the lagoons.And all are covered by vegetation.

Difficult to explore for the modern man, the Haites is a jungle zone in which the Taíos, natives of the island before the arrival of Europeans did.In fact, ‘Haitis’ means ‘highlands’ in the taína language.

You can enjoy the poets and their beauty on foot, in kayak or in a boat ride. Don't miss the caves of the sand and the line, look at the sea in case the dolphins appear and hire a guide that shows you the differentSpecies of reptiles and birds, and know where taina paintings are found in the rocks.

Without a doubt, it is one of the most beautiful natural places to see in the Dominican Republic.

Consigue el mejor vuelo a Samaná

7. Samaná Peninsula

The Haitian National Park is just one of the natural jewels of the many presented by the Samaná Peninsula.

Its beaches are so beautiful, or more, that those in the area of Punta Cana, but, unlike these, those of Samaná are less exploited touristically.Bacardí Beach, Popy Popy and Las Galeras Playa are some of them.

Nor can you miss the impressive waterfall of lemon jump.It is a water jump about 40 meters high that is reached after a 2.5 km walk through the jungle.

Walks on horseback, diving, hiking and pullolin are some of the activities you can do in Samaná.However, if you manage to square your trip between the months of December and March, you can attend one of the best natural shows to see in the Dominican Republic: the passage of the whales humpbacks through the waters of the Bay of Samaná.

Also prove the magnificent mangoes, papayas and pineapples of the positions of the mercadillos of the earths or Santa Barbara de Samaná, the largest peoples of the Peninsula.

Vuela al mejor precio a Samaná

8. Catalina Island

The beaches lovers say that those of Catalina Island are not only among the best to visit in the Dominican Republic, but also of the world.

The second largest island in the country - only behind Saona - is located a couple of miles from La Romana, in the southeast of the country, and does not have more than 15 km², but in that space you will have three impressive beaches: this, West and north.

The west is the most developed beach and receives a good number of tourists every day.

Isla Catalina, being part of the East National Park, is uninhabited and its waters are ideal for the practice of snorkel and diving.

Busca el mejor vuelo a República Dominicana

9. The three eyes

The three eyes is one of those places that mass tourism has not yet arrived. It is a cave that acquires its name by the three underground lagoons that are inside: Lake sulfur, lake of the ladies,and the fridge.In addition, the latter connects with a fourth outer lake, called Zaramagullones, the most beautiful of all.

The path, both inside and outside the cave, is surrounded by jungle vegetation and the best visiting time is about 8:30 in the morning, because of its good solar lighting that starts the best tones of each of the lakes.

Credits Photography © Nico / Flickr (CC By NC- ND 2.0)

Vuela ya a República Dominicana

10. Las Terrenas

With so much natural attraction, few urban nuclei to visit in the Dominican Republic.Apart from Santo Domingo and its historical legacy, the earthly is one of them.Now, it offers a face that approaches more to a small French or Italian town.The "guilt" is the mixture of nationalities of the people who live in the earthly.

There have been few travelers who were trapped by the beauty of the beaches and the tranquility of the Samaná Peninsula.When living here, they have created a place where the styles mixture is the order of the day.Hotels at the beach, kitchens restaurants around the world and a varied and fun night life complete the stamp of earthly.

Busca tu hotel en Las Terrenas

Surely you want to go to the Dominican Republic.

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