Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic occupies two thirds of the eastern part of the island of Santo Domingo or La Española, in the Archipelago of the Antilles. It limits to the north with the Atlantic Ocean, to the south with the Caribbean Sea or Antilles Sea, to the east with the Canal de la Mona (Channel of the Monkey), which separates it from Puerto Rico, and to the west with the Republic of Haiti. It has a territorial surface of 18,792 square miles (48,670 km²) and a population of more than 9 million inhabitants. The government headquarters and capital of the country is Santo Domingo de Guzman.

The natives called it “Quisqueya”, which means "center of the land among the hills." The Dominican Republic is a country that is worth traveling across, to leave a beach only to arrive to another sea, among thick forests, heights, flourishing nature and towns. From a natural point of view this is the richest island of the Caribbean, with 2,000 native plant species and 200 bird species.

The reasons to travel to the Dominican Republic are above all its natural wealth, beginning with the hundreds of miles of white or golden sand beaches bordered by thousands of coconut palms. Besides the sun, sea and sand, this is one of the few countries that can boast nine ecological zones. It has the highest and lowest points with respect to the sea level in the Caribbean, with Pico Duarte at 10,128 ft (3,087 meters) above sea level, and Lago Enriquillo at 164 ft (50 meters) below. Among these elevations there are environmental zones that range from tropical forests to deserts. These areas are ideal for adventure and sport tourism. Outdoor activities such as golfing, diving, windsurfing, kite boarding, and navigating constitute an exciting way to experience the natural beauty of the country and its beaches.

The first country of America, culturally and socially, it is a multicolored tapestry of Spanish, French, Haitian, and African influences framed inside a history of great wealth. Here were built the first cathedral, the first hospital, the first university…
Intriguing relics of centuries passed, magnificent national parks, tobaccos, first class rum, and world-class baseball await.

In the Dominican Republic music is very important when passing time. Merengue, bachata, son, rumba, mambo, salsa, and lots more accompany the days and nights. Rhythm and dance transmit happiness and pain, create passion, express deception and enthusiasm, complaint and melancholy, exalt the memory and recharge the soul for the future. The song is balsam and drug, obvious to those who remain and bittersweet nostalgia for those who leave.
Finally, it will be the subtle exotic atmosphere, made up of small daily tasks, luminous smiles, enthusiastic looks, multicolored images, constant amicability, great sensuality, and Caribbean rhythm (in the musical sense and not) that will slowly get inside of you and definitely conquer you.

The Dominican Republic is a place full of surprises that will delight even the most experienced traveler.