GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean nation that shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti to the west. It is known for its beaches, resorts and golfing. Its terrain comprises rainforest, savannah and highlands, including Pico Duarte, the Caribbean’s tallest mountain. The capital city, Santo Domingo, has Spanish landmarks like the Gothic Catedral Primada de America dating back 5 centuries in its Zona Colonial district.
COUNTRY FACTS
POPULATION
8,862,000
RELIGION
Roman Catholic
CAPITAL
Santo Domingo (1,865,000)
LIFE EXPECTANCY
69
GDP PER CAPITA
U.S. $6,300
AREA
48,442 square kilometers (18,704 square miles)
LANGUAGE
Spanish
LITERACY PERCENT
85
FABIO'S REVIEW
Coming soon!
LOCATIONS EXPERIENCED
BAVARO
Bávaro is an area of beach resorts in Punta Cana, where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean on the Dominican Republic's east coast. Palm trees back a wide beach, and a long coral reef creates calm waters. Golf resorts dot the inland area, while vendors at Plaza Bávaro sell handicrafts. Shops at the nearby Palma Real Shopping Village also showcase regional arts and crafts.
BAYAHIBE
Bayahíbe is a town in the Dominican Republic, located about 10 miles (16 km) east of La Romana on the shore of the Caribbean Sea. Founded as a fishing village in 1874 by Juan Brito and his family, who came from Puerto Rico, it is one of the best location for scuba diving in the Dominican Republic. There are three shipwrecks in the area: the Atlantic Princess, St George and Coco.
BOCA CHICA
Boca Chica is a small beach town near Santo Domingo city. It is known for its beach, with its white sand and sheltered waters. In the shallow bay, the mangrove-covered islet La Matica is an habitat for birds. Coral reefs and submerged shipwrecks feature at La Caleta Underwater Park, west of town. Calle Duarte, the main street, is pedestrian-only in the evenings and has lively nightlife.
CABARETE
Cabarete is a resort town on the Dominican Republic's northern coast. The bay is protected by a coral reef. The calm waters, combined with breezy conditions on beaches like Kite beach, make it a center for water sports (in particular, Encuentro Beach is known for its surf breaks). Restaurants and bars cluster along Calle Principal, the town’s main street, running along the waterfront.
ISLA SAONA
Saona Island lies off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic. It is part of the "East National Park", and is known for its mangroves, coral reefs and palm-fringed beaches like Palmilla Beach. The island’s shallow waters are home to many starfishes. Mano Juan is a laid-back fishing village near Flamingo Lagoon, with colorful shacks and a turtle sanctuary. To the west, the Cave of Cotubanamá has pre-Columbian rock art.
LA ROMANA
La Romana is a city on the Dominican Republic’s Caribbean coast and a gateway to nearby resort areas. Overlooking the Chavón River, Altos de Chavón is a re-created 16th-century Mediterranean village with artists' workshops. An obelisk painted with colorful images of local life stands in the city center. South of the city is Catalina Island, with sandy beaches, coral reefs and the wrecked ship of pirate William Kidd.
PUERTO PLATA
San Felipe de Puerto Plata is the capital of the Puerto Plata province, on the Dominican Republic’s Atlantic north coast. The city is best known for its beaches. Playa Dorada’s lengthy beachfront is backed by resorts and an 18-hole golf course. The city’s old colonial-era center is dominated by the 16th-century Fortaleza San Felipe, a Spanish fortress that now houses historical and military artifacts.
PUNTA CANA
Punta Cana, the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is a region known for its 32km stretch of beaches and clear waters. The Bávaro area and Punta Cana combine to form what is known as La Costa del Coco, or the Coconut Coast, an area of lavish, all-inclusive resorts. It is popular for zip-lining, windsurfing, kayaking and sailing.
SANTO DOMINGO
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic and one of the Caribbean's oldest cities. Its walled, cobblestoned historic core, the Zona Colonial, has buildings that date to the 1500s, including the cathedral, which was the first built in the New World. On the cafe-lined Plaza de España is the Alcázar de Colón palace, now one of the city’s main museums, displaying notable medieval and Renaissance art.
SOSUA
Sosúa is a town in the Puerto Plata Province, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. It is known for its beaches, in a sheltered cove with an offshore coral reef, colorful fishes and tropical plants. The beach separates the neighborhoods of El Batey, the main tourist hub, and laid-back Los Charamicos. The Jewish Museum tells the story of the 1940s settlers who fled from the Nazi threat in Europe.
BAVARO
Bávaro is an area of beach resorts in Punta Cana, where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean on the Dominican Republic's east coast. Palm trees back a wide beach, and a long coral reef creates calm waters. Golf resorts dot the inland area, while vendors at Plaza Bávaro sell handicrafts. Shops at the nearby Palma Real Shopping Village also showcase regional arts and crafts.
BAYAHIBE
Bayahíbe is a town in the Dominican Republic, located about 10 miles (16 km) east of La Romana on the shore of the Caribbean Sea. Founded as a fishing village in 1874 by Juan Brito and his family, who came from Puerto Rico, it is one of the best location for scuba diving in the Dominican Republic. There are three shipwrecks in the area: the Atlantic Princess, St George and Coco.
BOCA CHICA
Boca Chica is a small beach town near Santo Domingo city. It is known for its beach, with its white sand and sheltered waters. In the shallow bay, the mangrove-covered islet La Matica is an habitat for birds. Coral reefs and submerged shipwrecks feature at La Caleta Underwater Park, west of town. Calle Duarte, the main street, is pedestrian-only in the evenings and has lively nightlife.
CABARETE
Cabarete is a resort town on the Dominican Republic's northern coast. The bay is protected by a coral reef. The calm waters, combined with breezy conditions on beaches like Kite beach, make it a center for water sports (in particular, Encuentro Beach is known for its surf breaks). Restaurants and bars cluster along Calle Principal, the town’s main street, running along the waterfront.
ISLA SAONA
Saona Island lies off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic. It is part of the "East National Park", and is known for its mangroves, coral reefs and palm-fringed beaches like Palmilla Beach. The island’s shallow waters are home to many starfishes. Mano Juan is a laid-back fishing village near Flamingo Lagoon, with colorful shacks and a turtle sanctuary. To the west, the Cave of Cotubanamá has pre-Columbian rock art.
LA ROMANA
La Romana is a city on the Dominican Republic’s Caribbean coast and a gateway to nearby resort areas. Overlooking the Chavón River, Altos de Chavón is a re-created 16th-century Mediterranean village with artists' workshops. An obelisk painted with colorful images of local life stands in the city center. South of the city is Catalina Island, with sandy beaches, coral reefs and the wrecked ship of pirate William Kidd.
PUERTO PLATA
San Felipe de Puerto Plata is the capital of the Puerto Plata province, on the Dominican Republic’s Atlantic north coast. The city is best known for its beaches. Playa Dorada’s lengthy beachfront is backed by resorts and an 18-hole golf course. The city’s old colonial-era center is dominated by the 16th-century Fortaleza San Felipe, a Spanish fortress that now houses historical and military artifacts.
PUNTA CANA
Punta Cana, the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is a region known for its 32km stretch of beaches and clear waters. The Bávaro area and Punta Cana combine to form what is known as La Costa del Coco, or the Coconut Coast, an area of lavish, all-inclusive resorts. It is popular for zip-lining, windsurfing, kayaking and sailing.
SANTO DOMINGO
Santo Domingo is the capital of the Dominican Republic and one of the Caribbean's oldest cities. Its walled, cobblestoned historic core, the Zona Colonial, has buildings that date to the 1500s, including the cathedral, which was the first built in the New World. On the cafe-lined Plaza de España is the Alcázar de Colón palace, now one of the city’s main museums, displaying notable medieval and Renaissance art.
SOSUA
Sosúa is a town in the Puerto Plata Province, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. It is known for its beaches, in a sheltered cove with an offshore coral reef, colorful fishes and tropical plants. The beach separates the neighborhoods of El Batey, the main tourist hub, and laid-back Los Charamicos. The Jewish Museum tells the story of the 1940s settlers who fled from the Nazi threat in Europe.
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