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Visitor
Activities and Attractions
Shopping
Here you can discover dominican specialities (rum,
cigars, craft, amber, larimar, haitian art) you'll
be able to buy when you'll be there. Never forget
to haggle (have a look at the money section).
If you don't, the seller will be upset, and you'll
pay up to 10 times more.
 Golf
There are 23 golf courses in the Dominican Republic.
The golf courses are open all year round. There
is no handicap-limitation except for tournaments.
Teetime and Protime reservation are recommended
and esential from december to march. 9 holes can
be played everywhere at a reduced green fee.
Hiking
There are many possibilities for hiking in the
Dominican Republic, especially in the Central
Highlands. Not only do most of the DR's national
parks lend themselves well to wilderness treks,
but the country's many miles of unprotected beaches
make for interesting places to explore.
 Surfing
There are some excellent spots for surfing, especially
along the north and east coasts. Some of the best
breaks crash just west of Sosúa, and there
is also good surfing south of Bahía Samaná.
Biking
Bicycling is a great way to take in the country's
natural splendor, and there are usually places
to rent bikes in major urban areas. Even better,
consider bringing your own.
Whale Watching
 Offshore, the Bahía
Samaná has been the preferred breeding
area for humpback whales for may millions of years.
Several boating companies offer whale-watching
tours in season.
Horseback Riding
Trail and beach riding are available. An excellent
way to reallly admire the beauty and ruggedness
of the Dominican Republic.
Scuba Diving
The Dominican Republic is a great place to begin
diving, and it is also a haven for serious divers.
The country's undersea world has excellent reef
diving, good visibility, warm waters, wrecks,
caverns and marine life offering a wealth of diving
experiences around the island.
Bordered by reefs on three coasts (only has 3,
Haiti is situated to the west), the Dominican
Republic is part of the second largest island
in the Caribbean. Among the most popular dive
sites are more than 400 wrecks situated in the
surrounding waters.
 Water Temp Average:
Summer 84F 29C Winter 77F 25C - Visibility: 60
- 100 ft 18 -30 m
Scuba Diving Services
Additional Watersports Activities
Many other watersports and activities are available.
Parasailing, windsurfing, kayaking and jet-skiing
just to name a few. Check with your hotel to find
out what is available in your chosen area.
Sights and Activities
Cabarete Beach, Puerto Plata
Although most known for windsurfing, this beach
and its surrounding area play host to a variety
of outdoor activities.
Bavaro Beach, Punta Cana
Saona Island, Dominican Republic
A half hour off the Dominican Republic, Saona Island
offers some of the Caribbean's most beautiful shallow-water
reef systems.
Mount Isabel de Torres, Puerto Plata
This mountain, which looms high above Puerto Plata,
has a cable car ride to the top.
Altos de Chavon, La Romana
This small arts town offers a wide range of eclectic
shops.
Fort San Felipe, Puerto Plata
One of the first European forts to be constructed
in the Americas.
Alcazar de Colon, Santo Domingo
Built by Christopher Columbus's son between 1510
and 1514, this restored building was one of the
first structures built in the oldest remaining European
city in the Americas.
Columbus Lighthouse (Faro a Colon), Santo Domingo
This multi-million-dollar lighthouse was built in
1992 to celebrate the 400 year anniversary of Columbus's
landing in the Americas and is the site of the explorer's
bones.
Amber Museum, Puerto Plata
This two-story Victorian museum holds the largest
collection of amber in the world.
Santa Maria la Menor Cathedral (Catedral Basilica
Menor de Santa Maria), Santo Domingo
The first cathedral built in the Americas was the
site of Christopher Columbus's bones until they
were discovered in 1877.
Boca Chica, Santo Domingo
This scenic beach is one of the closest beach resorts
to Santo Domingo.
Sosua Beach, Dominican Republic
This often crowded beach features white sand and
turquoise waters.
Zona Colonial (Colonial Zone), Santo Domingo
Still a vibrant part of town, this compact area
contains many museums and other historic buildings
documenting the Caribbean's earliest history, both
Indian and European.
Malecon, Santo Domingo
This popular thoroughfare is home to luxury hotels
and casinos as well as historic monuments and statues.
Jose del Carmen Ramirez National Park (Parque Nacional
Jose Le Carmen Ramirez), Dominican Republic
The park that is home to Pico Duarte, the highest
Caribbean mountain.
Museum of the Royal Houses, Santo Domingo
This museum contains artifacts and other historical
exhibits on Santo Domingo from 1492 to 1821.
Park of Three Eyes of Water (Parque Los Tres Ojos
de Agua), Dominican Republic
A group of interconnected caves near Santo Domingo.
San Rafael, Dominican Republic
A popular beach location for swimming in the Caribbean.
Tower of Homage, Santo Domingo
This imposing structure has been in use since the
early 16th century and was used by Generalísimo
Trujillo to imprison and torture his enemies in
the 1950s.
Playa Grande, Dominican Republic
This all-inclusive golf resort has been called the
Pebble Beach of the Caribbean for its stunning ocean
landscape.
Teleferico, Puerto Plata
Parque Colon, Santo Domingo
One of Santo Domingo's main gathering places, this
plaza has a bronze statue of Columbus at its center.
Lake Enriquillo (Lago Enriquillo), Dominican Republic
This rural 13-mile-long lake near the Haiti border
is the lowest point in the Caribbean and is a popular
tourist attraction for spotting crocodiles.
Cofres Beach, Puerto Plata
This small beach has good views of Puerto Plata.
El Conde Street (Calle El Conde), Santo Domingo
This street is Santo Domingo's most popular shipping
strip.
Chapel de la Altagracia, Santo Domingo
This gothic-style chapel stands in Santo Domingo's
Colonial District.
The Whales (Las Ballenas), Samana Peninsula
This group of various-sized rocks creates a series
of interconnected tunnels for divers.
House of Bastidas (Casa de Bastidas), Santo Domingo
This sixteenth-century mansion was built for Rodrigo
de Bastidas, one of the most powerful men in the
early days of the colonial era.
The Cord House (Casa de Cordon), Santo Domingo
One of the first Spanish-style houses in the New
World, this building now serves as a cultural center.
Manati Park Bavaro, Punta Cana
This popular zoo is home to a wide variety an animals,
birds and marine life.
Museo de las Casas Reales, Dominican Republic
National Pantheon (Pantheon Nacional), Santo Domingo
This 18th-century Jesuit church is the resting place
for many of the greatest Dominican heroes.
Los Haitises National Park, Santo Domingo
Pico Duarte, Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic's tallest mountain sits at
10,000 feet and is a popular destination for hikers.
Gri Gri Lagoon, Dominican Republic
This freshwater lagoon is covered with a canopy
of mangrove trees.
Goat Island (Isla Cabritos), Dominican Republic
The largest island in Lake Enriquillo many be a
two-hour drive from civilization, but the potential
to see crocodiles and two endangered iguana species
makes it well worth the trip for nature enthusiasts.
Polo Magnetico, Dominican Republic
Legend has it that at this mysterious site objects,
including parked cars, appear to roll uphill.
La Isabel, Dominican Republic
The remains of one of Columbus's earliest New World
settlements.
Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park, Punta Cana
Convento de los Dominicos, Santo Domingo
This convent is the site of the first university
constructed in the Americas in 1538.
Golden Beach (Playa Dorada), Puerto Plata
The most popular beach in Puerto Plata is located
on the Dominican Republic's famous Amber Coast.
Calle El Sol, Dominican Republic
Santiago's most popular shopping area.
Fort Ozama (Fortaleza Ozama), Santo Domingo
The construction of one of the oldest forts in the
Americas was completed in 1507.
Bayahibe, La Romana
This quiet beach in La Romana is ringed with palm
trees.
La Sirena, Dominican Republic
This group of interconnected underwater caverns
that makes for an unforgettable diving experience.
Basilica de la Virgenita, Dominican Republic
A Catholic cathedral near Santo Domingo.
Las Caritas, Dominican Republic
This cliff has petroglyphs and cave paintings that
were inscribed on it by the native people who inhabited
the area before the arrival of the Spanish.
El Pomier, Dominican Republic
This isolated cave near La Toma is filled with Tamno
cave paintings.
Lago Oviedo (Lake Oviedo), Dominican Republic
A small saltwater lake inhabited by flamingos in
the winter.
Jaragua National Park, Dominican Republic
This extremely large park has a dry landscape full
of cactus and is the home to Lake Enriquillo, several
different kinds of exotic birds and four species
of sea turtles.
Lago Rincsn, Dominican Republic
The island's largest freshwater lake is a popular
place among bird watchers.
Juan Ponce de Leon Home (Casa de Juan Ponce de Leon),
Dominican Republic
Once the home of Ponce de Leon, the famous 15th-century
European explorer and Dominican governor.
Dulce Maria, Dominican Republic
A shaman who lives in El Naranjo and is a representation
of how little rural Dominican villages have changed
since the 16th century.
Monte Cristi National Park (Parque Nacional Monte
Cristi), Dominican Republic
This desert park near the Haitian border is also
called "El Morro" for the tall mesa within
it which overlooks the ocean.
Parque Nacional Los Haitises, Dominican Republic
This 78-square-mile park is known for the numerous
small tropical islands within its borders.
Folk Art Museum, Dominican Republic
This museum has an impressive collection of native
Dominican art.
Tobacco Museum, Dominican Republic
Located in Santiago De Los Caballeros, this museum
has a collection of tools, art and photographs related
to the tobacco industry.
Hickory, Dominican Republic
This long shipwreck, which has rested on the ocean
bottom since 1986, is covered with corals and sponges
and is home to schools of fish.
El Limon, Dominican Republic
This dive site is a 69-foot-long tugboat that sits
intact on the seafloor.
Tanya V, Dominican Republic
This popular dive site is a recently sunk 120-foot-long
steel ship.
Gabriela, Dominican Republic
This 50-foot-long boat sits in shallow water and
is popular among divers.
St. George, Dominican Republic
This 170-foot-long steel ship is home to a plethora
of interesting marine life, including the occasional
barracuda.
Cibao Valley, Dominican Republic
This remarkably fertile region is reputed for its
excellent agriculture and friendly, hard-working
people.
Monument of the Restoration of the Republic, Dominican
Republic
This 220-foot marble structure houses a collection
of Vela Zanetti murals and offers great views of
Santiago.
Catedral de Santiago Apostol, Dominican Republic
Free admission is offered to this nineteenth-century
cathedral which houses the tombs of several Dominican
heroes and also includes beautiful stained-glass
windows.
Parque Duarte, Dominican Republic
This small plaza in Santiago is popular among the
locals and contains the Catedral de Santiago Apostol.
Museum of the City of Santiago, Dominican Republic
This museum explores the history of the area from
the ninth century through modern times.
Church of San Felipe, Dominican Republic
This simple church, which sits in the center of
Puerto Plata, is known for its white towers.
Guarapito, Dominican Republic
There is plenty of cool shade to relax under at
this less crowded beach located to the west of Puerto
Plata.
La Playita, Dominican Republic
One of Sosúa's more secluded beaches.
Playa Chiquita, Dominican Republic
This small beach is located next to a casino and
resort that share the same name.
Samana Bay, Dominican Republic
This bay is best known for the frequency with which
humpback whales and dolphins are seen here.
Playa Galera, Dominican Republic
This beach has stunning scenery with impressive
cliffs looming overhead and a forest serving as
the background.
Mercado, Dominican Republic
Tourists bargain for local arts and crafts at this
popular Santiago shopping locale.
Numismatic and Philatelic Museum, Dominican Republic
This museum has one of the largest collections of
historic coins, paper money and stamps in the Caribbean.
Charon River, Dominican Republic
This river is a popular boating destination for
wildlife enthusiasts.
Runway, Dominican Republic
This dive site features three huge underwater coral-covered
pinnacles.
The Caves, Dominican Republic
This group of connected rocks and boulders provides
an interesting site for divers.
Tropical Garden, Dominican Republic
One of Sosúa Bay's deepest dive sites.
The Canyon, Dominican Republic
This reef drops from 15 feet to 60 feet.
El Acuario, Dominican Republic
A shallow dive site, featuring narrow passages and
caverns.
Enriquillo Lake, Dominican Republic
Modern Art Museum (Museo de Arte Moderno), Dominican
Republic
Museo Arqueologico Regional, Dominican Republic
Long Beach, Puerto Plata
This mile-long beach is one of the most popular
in Puerto Plata.
Museum of Taino Art, Puerto Plata
This museum features works of art and an excavated
tomb of the native people who inhabited the island
before European contact.
Concepcion de la Vega, Puerto Plata
The ruins of the once thriving fortified city that
Columbus built to protect the gold supply of the
island's interior.
Calle de Las Damas, Santo Domingo
This cobblestone street, the first ever built in
the New World, is known for its numerous beautiful
structures from centuries past.
Gazcue, Santo Domingo
A quiet residential neighborhood that exudes a suburban
atmosphere with its shaded trees and attractive
middle-class homes.
Avenida Mella, Santo Domingo
A crowded downtown shopping strip.
Plaza de la Cultura, Santo Domingo
A stretch of the city known for its cultural influence
and the museums and galleries that constitute it.
Museum of History and Geography, Santo Domingo
One exhibit at this museum, which focuses on Dominican
history, is dedicated to Generalísimo Trujillo
and includes the car in which the dictator was assassinated.
Avenida George Washington, Santo Domingo
This popular thoroughfare is home to luxury hotels
and casinos as well as historic monuments and statues.
Fray Anton de Montesinos, Santo Domingo
A 150-foot statue of Fray Antón de Montesinos,
the priest who protested Spanish treatment of the
natives.
El Obelisco, Santo Domingo
A sculpture of a male figure next to the female
La Obelisca constructed on the Malecón during
Trujillo's reign.
La Obelisca, Santo Domingo
A sculpture of a female figure next to the male
El Obelisco constructed on the Malecón during
Trujillo's reign.
Monasterio de San Francisco, Santo Domingo
The ruins of the first New World monastery lie here,
destroyed by two different earthquakes.
National Palace, Santo Domingo
The lavish building that has been the home and offices
of the Dominican president since 1947.
Museum of the Dominican Man, Santo Domingo
Set in the beautiful Plaza de la Cultura, this museum
has exhibits on the Tamno natives that inhabited
the island before the arrival of the Spanish.
National Botanical Garden, Santo Domingo
Full of flowers and plants native to the island,
the gardens offer tram tours of the facilities.
National Zoological Park, Santo Domingo
Visitors can view exotic African animals roaming
freely in their natural habitats.
Chapel of Our Lady of Remedies (Capilla de Nuestra
Senora de los Remedios), Santo Domingo
A small stone sixteenth-century chapel.
Chapel of the Rosary, Santo Domingo
One of the oldest churches in the Americas, this
chapel was built in 1544.
House of Gargoyles, Santo Domingo
Once the home of Jesuit monks and now the home of
the Institute of Hispanic Culture, this sixteenth-century
building has a facade covered with gargoyles.
Gate of San Diego, Santo Domingo
The old entrance to Santo Domingo from the city's
port.
Gate of the Count (La Puerta del Conde), Santo Domingo
Once part of the city's original walls, this gate
is an important landmark in old Santo Domingo.
Gate of Mercy (Puerta de la Misericordia), Santo
Domingo
Once part of Santo Domingo's original city walls,
the Gate of Mercy provided protection for the island's
natives from natural disasters.
Cathedral of Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo
This impressive cathedral, one of the earliest built
in the Americas, is known for its dramatic architecture.
House of Tostado (La Casa de Tostado), Santo Domingo
The former house of Francisco de Tostado, the first
native professor at the local university, has been
transformed into the museum of the Dominican Family.
Juan Dolio Guayacanes, Santo Domingo
This beach area to the east of Santo Domingo is
filled with fishing villages and less crowded beaches.
La Atarazana, Santo Domingo
This area is home to a collection of 16th-century
houses that now serve as art galleries and jewelry
stores.
National Museum, Santo Domingo
This science park features an aquarium.
Arawak Art Gallery, Santo Domingo
A collection of original works of art by the island's
native Arawak Indians.
National Theater, Santo Domingo
Hosts frequent drama, dance and musical performances.
Theater of Fine Arts, Santo Domingo
The home to frequent art exhibits.
Quisqueya Stadium, Santo Domingo
Many of Major League Baseball's biggest stars got
their start in this stadium of the prestigious Dominican
League.
National Aquarium, Santo Domingo
Jardin Botanico Nacional, Santo Domingo
Bellapart Museum (Museo Bellapart), Santo Domingo
Altos de Chavon School of Design, La Romana
Located in a small Mediterranean-style town, this
school trains top Dominican artists in a wide array
of fields.
Minitas, La Romana
This small beach makes for a relaxing afternoon
in a quiet atmosphere.
La Aleta, La Romana
Numerous Taino artifacts were uncovered at this
ancient Indian site following a 1996 excavation.
Metamorphosis Spa, La Romana
The Tower, Samana Peninsula
This huge underwater rock structure rises over 150
feet to just under the surface and is an interesting
place for divers to explore.
Bay of Punta Tibisi, Samana Peninsula
This quiet bay is popular among divers seeking to
avoid more crowded areas.
Cabo Cabron, Samana Peninsula
This uninhabited region on the island's northern
coast is one of the most remote spots on the island.
Cayo Levantado (Bacardi Island), Samana Peninsula
A short boat ride off the north coast will take
you to the island of Cayo Levantado (Bacardi Island),
with its beautiful white sand beaches.
Playa Grande Beach, Samana Peninsula
Tourist
Offices
Argentina
Marcelo T. de Alvear 772
1058 Buenos Aires
Telephone: +54 11 4315-3384
Fax: +54 11 4312-2203
Email: argentina@sectur.gov.do
Belgium
Dominican Republic Tourist Office
Ave. Louise No. 271, 8 350me 351tage
1050 Bruxelles
Telephone: +32 2 646-1300
Fax: +32 2 649-3692
Email: belgica@sectur.gov.do
Canada: Ontario
Dominican Republic Tourist Office
26 Wellington Street East Suite 201
Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1S2
Telephone: 1-888-494-5050 toll-free in Canada
Telephone: +1 (416) 361-2126/27
Fax: +1 (416) 361-2130
Email: toronto@sectur.gov.do
Canada: Quebec
Dominican Republic Tourist Office
2080 Rue Crescent
Montreal QC H3G 2B8
Telephone: 1-800-563-1611 toll free in Canada
Telephone: +1 (514) 499-1918
Fax: +1 (514) 499-1393
Email: montreal@sectur.gov.do
Colombia
Tourist Information
Ofic. 513 de la Torre A
Edificio Teleport Business Park
Calle 114 No. 9-01
Santa Fe de Bogotá
Telephone: +57 (1) 629-1818
Fax: +57 (1) 629-1830
Email: colombia@sectur.gov.do
France
Dominican Republic Tourism Office France
11 rue Boudreau
Paris 75009, France
Telephone: +33 (1) 4312-9191
Fax: +33 (1) 44.94.08.80
Email: francia@sectur.gov.do
Germany
Consulate General of the Dominican Republic
Kaiserstr 13, 2 Etage
D-60311 Frankfurt
Telephone: 0130-815561
Telephone: +49 (69) 9139-7878
Fax: +49 (69) 283430
Email: alemania@sectur.gov.do
Haiti
Dominican Republic Tourism Office
Ave. Panamericana 21
Petion Ville
Port-au-Principe
Telephone: +1 (509) 257-9215
Fax: +1 (509) 555-2430
Email: haiti@sectur.gov.do
Italy
Dominican Republic Tourism Office
Piazza Castello 25
20121 Milano, Italia
Telephone: +39 (2) 805-7781
Fax: +39 (2) 865-861
Email: italia@sectur.gov.do
Mexico
Dominican Republic Tourism Office
Calle Francisco Petrarca No. 336
Colonia Polanco
Mexico, D. F.
Telephone: +52 8 589-3421
Fax: +52 8 589-3442
Email: mexico@sectur.gov.do
Puerto Rico
Dominican Republic Tourism Office
Av. Ashford 1425, Suite 307
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00907
Telephone: +1 (787) 722-0881
Fax: +1 (787) 724-7293
Email: puertorico@sectur.gov.do
Spain
Dominican Republic Tourism Office
Juan Hurtado de Mendoza 13, Apt. 305
28036 Madrid, Spain
Telephone: 1-900-995087 toll-free in Spain
Telephone: +34 91 350-9483
Fax: +34 91 350-6579
Email: espana@sectur.gov.do
Switzerland
Dominican Republic Tourism Office
Dominicakanska Republikens Turistbyra
Vastmannagatan 37
11325 STOCKHOLM
Telephone: +46-8-442-22-42
Fax: +46-8-233445
Email: suecia@sectur.gov.do
UK
Dominican Republic Tourism Office
20-21 Hand Court
High Holborn WC1
Email: inglaterra@sectur.gov.do
USA/California
Dominican Republic Tourist Office
25 Caribbean Court
Laguna Niquel, CA 92677
Telephone: +1 (946) 363-8520
Fax: +1 946 363-8519
Email: california@sectur.gov.do
USA/Florida
Dominican Republic Tourist Office
248 N. W. Le Jeune Rd.
Miami 33126
Telephone: 1-888-358-9594 toll-free in USA
Telephone: +1 (305) 444-4592
Fax: +1 (305) 444-4845
Email: miami@sectur.gov.do
USA/Illinois
Dominican Republic Tourism Office
561 West Diversey Parkway, Suite 214
Chicago, IL. 60614-1643
Telephone: 1-888-303-1336 toll-free in USA
Telephone: +1 (773) 529-1336 or 529-1337
Fax: +1 (773) 529-1338
Email: Chicago@sectur.gov.do
USA/New York
Dominican Republic Tourist Office in New York
136 East 57th Street, Suite 803
New York, N.Y.240 10022
Telephone: 1-888-DR-INFO-1 (1-888-374-6361)
toll-free in USA
Telephone: +1 (212) 588-1012
Fax: +1 (212) 588-1015
Email: newyork@sectur.gov.do
USA/Texas
Dominican Republic Tourism Office
12174 Greenspoint Drive
Houston, Texas 77090
Telephone: +1 281-875-1959
Telephone: 1-866-752-5200 toll-free in USA
Fax: +1 281 875-8177
Email: houston@sectur.gov.do
Venezuela
Tourist Information
Centro Comercial Uslar
Terro de Oficinas Piso 6, ofic. N372m. 62
urbanizaci363n Montalb341n
Caracas
Telephone: +58 212 471-1172 or -3516
Fax: +58 212 471-7726
Email: venezuela@sectur.gov.do |
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