The DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The island of Hispaniola is shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic and is the most geographically-diverse in the Caribbean. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, a busy year for him. Chris's brother Bartolomé Colón founded the Dominican Republic's capital city, Santo Domingo, in 1496. Soon, the city became the site of the first university, hospital, cathedral and monastery in the New World, helping to define the Americas we know today.
Occupying the eastern half of the island of Hispaniola, the Dominican Republic is about twice the size of New Hampshire. But it packs a wallop of extraordinary opportunities for travelers. Among its treasures are tropical rainforests, rugged highlands and mountains complete with breathtaking rivers and waterfalls, huge desert expanses and dense mangrove swamps. And oh, yes: miles of snow white sandy beaches lapped by clear turquoise waters, including Playa Grande, voted one of the world's 10 best beaches by Condé Nast. Adventure and shoestring travelers, eco tourists and those wanting to take advantage of the largest all-inclusive resort industry in the world make the Dominican Republic their destination.
The Dominican Republic (a/k/a the DR ) contains 4 major areas: the Interior, the South Coast (including Santo Domingo), the North Coast and the Samana Penninsula. Among them you'll find 67 protected areas including 16 national parks, 6 scientific reserves and 9 natural monuments, including Las Salinas, the largest sand dune in the Caribbean. Plants range from cactus to hundreds of species of orchids. There are 62 species of birds including 45 native to island, making it a major bird watching destination. And from mid-January through mid-March, more than 10,000 hump-backed whales journey to the waters surrounding the island to mate and breed.
The DR also claims some of the most intriguing culture and history in the Caribbean, dating back to cave-dwellers called the Taínos, who left a record of their activities in thousands of rock drawings and wall paintings. Many island towns and cities retain old-world charm, with Spanish architecture and colonial elements such as cobblestoned streets. But the DR is an intriguing mix of old and new: the bustling Santo Domingo is home to more than 2 million people and larger cities and resorts feature casinos and an exhuberant night life. We offer as evidence the Cuba Libre, made with Dominican-produced rum and invented in the DR.
And finally, the DR is one of the last real budget destinations in the Caribbean. You can find low-priced package deals, and in many parts of the country budget travelers can get by on about $30/day.
