Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a popular vacation destination located in the Caribbean. Known for it’s breathtaking beaches, luxurious resorts, friendly culture and world-class golf courses.
Punta Cana
Punta Cana, is located on the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic. It is known for its beaches, coconut palms, world-class golf courses, and all-inclusive resorts. To the North of Punta Cana is the equally luxe resort area of Bavaro. Together, Bavaro and Punta Cana feature Dominican Republic’s largest hotel and resort infrastructure.
Here, you find the beaches of Playa Blanca, Juanillo, Cabeza de Toro, Playa Bavaro, Playa Uvero Alto, Macao, El Cortecito-Los Corales, and Playa Arena Gorda. Some have the European certification "Blue Flag," indicating their excellent condition and safety.
Take a Day Trip to nearby Saona Island. This small tropical paradise, part of Cotubanamá National Park, is known for its beaches and the quaint villages of Mano Juan and Catuano. You can also see pre-Columbian rock art at the Cave of Cotubanamá.
Punta Cana to other regions:
Bayahíbe 45 Minutes
La Romana 45 Minutes
Juan Dolio 1 Hour 25 Minutes
Boca Chica 1 Hour 40 Minutes
Santo Domingo 2 Hours 15 Minutes
Samaná 4 Hours
Jarabacoa 4 Hours 30 Minutes
Puerto Plata 5 Hours 30 Minutes
Barahona 5 Hours 30 Minutes
Puerto Plata
The city of Puerto Plata is lined by an oceanfront boulevard (Malecon) known for its open air restaurants, shops, and nightlife.
This is a scenic area to explore and enjoy Dominican culture. You can see the massive walls of Castillo de San Felipe, the Amber Museum, the Brugal Rum Factory, the Damajagua waterfall’s and even take a cable car up to Mount Isabel for great view’s.
Puerto Plata’s beaches include Playa Dorada, Playa Cofresí, Playa Sosúa, Playa Cabarete, Playa Encuentro, Playa Grande, and Punta Rucia. These beaches offer a range of activities, from relaxation and sunbathing to kiteboarding, windsurfing, and surfing.
Play a round of golf at the beautiful Playa Dorada Golf Course, Las Mangos, or Playa Grande Golf and Ocean Club.
Ocean World Adventure Park provides a unique experience with dolphins, sea lions, stingrays, and sharks, as well as dining, live music, gaming, and a tropical Bravíssimo Show.
Puerto Plata to other regions:
Santiago 1 hour
Jarabacoa 2 hours
Samaná 3 hours and 30 minutes
Santo Domingo 3 hours and 30 minutes
La Romana 5 hours and 30 minutes
Punta Cana 6 hours
Barahona 7 hours
The cruise port here is called Amber Cove.
It is a 5 minute walk to the activities complex from the port, known as Amber Cove Cruise Center. Here you can enjoy shopping, restaurants, pools, water zone areas including waterslides, zipline, activities, watersports rentals and more. Besides all the distinctive features and activities in the Amber Cove Cruise Center, there are many attractions and highlights in the Puerto Plata area, within less than a 1 hour drive from the port.
La Romana
La Romana, located on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic, is home to the Regional Museum of Archaeology, the village of Altos de Chavón, Francisco A. Micheli Stadium, La Matilde Cigar Museum, Rojo Beach, Bayahibe Beach, Minitas Beach, and beautiful golf course resort’s such as Casa De Campo.
Take a day trip to Catalina Island where you can snorkel or dive and explore the Quedagh Merchant shipwreck, a vessel that belonged to the infamous pirate Captain Kidd.
Samana
With its rainforests, secluded beaches and hidden caves, the Samaná Peninsula was once a haven for pirates.
The Samaná Bay annually has thousands of humpback whales from January to March come through it’s waters. Some of the top attractions include La Churcha, the Avenida de la Marina, Los Haitises National Park, the Whale Museum and Nature Center, and Playa Rincon Beach.
Spanish is the official language but most also speak English.
The local currency is the Dominican Peso. U.S. dollars and major credit cards are widely accepted.
Electrical outlets in the Caribbean range from 110 to 120 volts. US plugs/converters are very common in resorts.
The country code is +1. There are three area codes: 809, 829, and 849.
The best time to visit for great weather is between April and early June. Tourist season run’s from July to August & December to February. Hurricane season in this part of the world lasts from June through November.
