dominican republic holidays

about dominican republic holidays

 

The Dominican Republic is the second largest country in the Caribbean and has become a popular destination from the UK. With 1,566 km of coastline, there are countless opportunities to enjoy its fabulous beaches and clear tropical waters. The country’s many beach resorts offer white sands, coral reefs, hidden coves and a vibrant nightlife. Whether you want to relax by the sea or enjoy a range of exciting activities, The Dominican Republic is the perfect holiday destination. The mountainous interior is home to lush rainforests and the Caribbean’s highest mountain Pico Duarte, standing at 3,175 metres. Santo Domingo, the capital, was founded in 1496 making it the oldest city in the New World. Its cobblestone streets, medieval fortresses and colourful atmosphere offer a blend of old-world charm and modern Latin flavours. The Dominican Republic’s rich culture, fabulous beaches, and wealth of natural attractions offer a unique and exciting holiday that will captivate your senses.

important holiday info

Climate:	Tropical	Time Zone:	GMT(-4)
Language:	Spanish	Current Times:
Currency:	Dominican Pesos	dominican republic: 15-May-08 11:27 AM
Temperature:	25°C/35°C	UK: 15-May-08 3:27 PM

bavaro holidays

our hotels in bavaro

Enjoy the laid-back charm of this quiet resort, set on the east coast near Punta Cana. Its 22 km of beautiful soft white sand beaches are dotted with palm trees. A number of All-inclusive resorts offer a wide range of facilities and amenities; you can enjoy refreshing cocktails by the beach, enjoy a round of golf or swim with dolphins at the nearby ecological park. Water-sports enthusiasts favour this area for its excellent facilities however; it can be prone to choppy seas, particularly in the afternoons. For those who want to explore more of the country, you can organise excursions to the capital Santo Domingo and the surrounding area. While there is a range of entertainment options on offer, Bavoro is not well known for its nightlife. It is perfect for those seeking sun, sand and sea with an away-from-it-all atmosphere.

bayahibe holidays

our hotels in bayahibe

Bayahibe is situated on the southeast Caribbean coast of the Dominican Republic. This tiny fishing and diving village has a picturesque harbour filled with catamarans and wonderfully coloured fishing boats. Vibrant green countryside hugs the fine white sandy beaches.

At Bayahibe you get more of an authentic Dominican experience than at many other all-inclusive resorts. The village shops are filled with local handicrafts and regional rum, cigars and amber products. You can visit a working sugarcane mill or an artists' village, explore the regional archaeological museum and amphitheatre, hike in the East National Park, or take tour to the capital Santo Domingo. There are also boat excursions to nearby islands including the uninhabited Isla Catalina, named by Christopher Columbus.

The various resorts offer activities such as diving, snorkelling and water-sports or you can simply relax in true Dominican style and watch the world drift slowly by. With fabulous beaches, beautiful scenery and a wealth of attractions, Bayahibe in the Dominican Republic has it all.

boca chica holidays

our hotels in boca chica

Boca Chica is on the Dominican Republic's south coast and is backed by tropical vegetation and palm trees. This area's trademark is the shallow crystalline waters and pretty flat bay of fine white sand. Boca Chica has the best beaches within walking distance of hotels in the Dominican Republic. This was once a favourite spot for prosperous Dominicans to have a summer home and was frequented in the thirties by Hollywood movie stars. You can wade out to a pair of small islands that are not far off shore or jet-ski, windsurf, sail, snorkel and bathe in the warm water shoals. The coral reef protects the bay and acts as a natural breakwater thus magically creating the world's largest natural bathtub!

The bustling and picturesque village at Boca Chica has colourful Caribbean-style houses and is home to a prestigious yacht club. This area hosts several international fishing competitions and motorboats set out from its port for La Romana and Saona Island. You can take a glass-bottomed boat tour, charter a yacht, scuba dive or go deep-sea fishing. This is the closest resort to Santo Domingo and there are trips to capital for excellent sightseeing and shopping.

As the sun sets why not try locally caught seafood or a range of cosmopolitan cuisine at one of the plethora of restaurants. The nightlife has a lively atmosphere with bars and discos, live shows and bands. Boca Chica is a paradise of leisure and entertainment!

costa dorada holidays

our hotels in costa dorada

Costa Dorada is situated on the northwest coast of the Dominican Republic and is one of the most exclusive spots on the Amber Coast. Costa Dorada has lush tropical vegetation, golden sand beaches and warm tranquil waters. The gorgeous beach, which stretches for two and a half miles, is shared with Playa Dorada and has shops, bars and restaurants which combine to make this a chic tourist resort.

Coasta Dorada has a beautiful setting with Isabel de Torres in the background. This is a popular tourist attraction as visitors can take a cable car ride up the mountainside to explore the summit offering a botanical garden and cruciform Christ statue. Costa Dorada provides everything you need to keep you entertained on holiday including fine dining and a wide range of activities such as diving, deep-sea fishing, and paragliding. Just 750m away is a championship 18-hole golf course surrounded by palm trees with four greens facing the sea. You can even take a jaunt in an off-road vehicle or there are excursions to fishing villages where you can sample a meal of the local shellfish.

Watch the sun slowly set over a beach that stretches as far as the eye can see and then merengue the night away! You will receive the warmest welcome in the Caribbean and hospitality that is second to none - what more could you ask for from your holiday in the Dominican Republic.

juan dolio holidays

our hotels in juan dolio

Juan Dolio is situated towards the east end of the Dominican Republic’s Caribbean south coast. Juan Dolio and its neighbour Guayacanes are tranquil, picture perfect locations with a coastline of tropical farmland, palm trees and light sand beaches protected by a reef. The town was originally a small fishing village and now its buildings form a long and thin strip hugging shoreline. Everybody walks in Juan Dolio as the beach road is quiet and many small shops line the beachfront.

Juan Dolio and Guayacanes have earned a reputation for excellent cuisine with a variety of fine restaurants. For nightlife, there are casinos, hotel bars, live shows and discos where you can merengue or salsa ‘till the small hours. Juan Dolio is within easy reach of the culture attractions, shopping and nightlife of Santo Domingo and the attractions of La Romana. Busy Boca Chica is just half an hour away.

This holiday destination is perfect for a quiet escape but still offers a varied choice of local excursions. Trips are available to the Altos De Chavon artists' village, the seven kilometre long underground river at Cueve Fun Fun, Los Haitises, Saona Island and Catalina Island. However, if you are seeking action, head for the area's casinos, discos, 18 hole golf course or participate in any of the water sports on offer. Take part in a jeep safari, try the scuba diving, snorkelling, deep-sea fishing or horseback riding.

playa dorada holidays

our hotels in playa dorada

Playa Dorada, meaning 'golden beach', is situated on the Atlantic north of the Domincan Republic on the spectacular Amber Coast. This purpose built resort is horseshoe shaped and clustered around a championship 18-hole golf course. The lush palms, attractive lakes and sandy coastline combine to make this a well-planned holiday oasis.

The beach has miles of fine, golden sand and is fringed with palm trees where you can sit in the shade and watch the world go by.
Playa Dorada has a wide range of water sports on offer including snorkelling, windsurfing, paragliding and banana-boat rides. Land based activities include horse riding, go-karting, and some holidaymakers come just for the golf. At Plaza Playa Dorada, there is a good choice of gift shops, relaxed restaurants and even a small cinema.

The choice of local excursions offers something for everyone. You could take a cable car ride to the summit of Mount Isabel de Torres, travel in a jeep to La Isabela, site of Columbus' first town in the Americas, see the highland towns of Jarabacoa and Constanza or travel through the Cordillera Septentrional to Moca, the cigar making capital of the Dominican Republic. Damajagua and El Limon even have waterfalls for that perfect photo opportunity. After watching the sun slowly set, enjoy a live show, try the casino, enjoy some live music or merengue the night away at a local disco. A perfect way to end the day in your tropical paradise.

 

puerto plata holidays

our hotels in puerto plata

Puerto Plata sits on the Atlantic north coast of the Dominican Republic on the spectacular stretch of coastline called the Amber Coast. Puerto Plata nestles at the foot of the majestic Mount Isabel de Torres, to the west is the colonial fortress of San Felipe and to the east are the golden sands of Playa Long. Christopher Columbus founded Puerto Plata, and it became a major port and trading centre for the Spanish colonies.

This region is popular not only for its beaches but also for the many other attractions it offers. The bustling sea front boulevard, the Malecon, is lined with open-air restaurants, shops and brightly painted Caribbean-style houses. There are markets and shops around the city with the largest shopping complex at the nearby Playa Dorado Plaza. Puerto Plata has a good selection of specialised restaurants as well as little bars and eateries where you can try the famous Creole-style crab legs and ginger cakes. Enjoy a night on the town at a Dominican Casino or if dancing the merengue and salsa sounds like fun then hit the local discos and clubs. In Puerto Plata, you can experience the real flavour of the Dominican Republic.

Excursions from Puerto Plata include riding the cable car to the summit of Mount Isabel de Torres and visiting the unspoilt beach at Playa Grande. In La Isabela, see the remains of Columbus' house and the museum of the Taino civilization. The Amber Coast has one of the world's largest amber reserves and many exquisite examples are on display at the Amber Museum. Explore the highland towns of Jarabacoa and Constanza and the Laguna Gri-Gri National Park or marvel at the Damajagua and El Limon waterfalls.

punta cana holidays

our hotels in punta cana

Punta Cana, also known as Bavaro, is situated on the east tip of the Dominican Republic on the Atlantic East coast. This part of the Dominican Republic is so popular due to its gorgeous, almost unbroken stretch of powdery white sand beaches and crystalline turquoise waters which are protected by a long coral reef. These spectacular beaches have even been defined by UNESCO as among the world's most beautiful. Punta Cana's long coastline is backed by flat coastal countryside that has a large lagoon and extensive mangrove thickets.

The lush vegetation, pleasant climate, wide range of outdoor activities and Dominican hospitality have turned this region of the Dominican Republic into one of the best tourist spots in the Caribbean. The coral reef at Punta Cana promotes safe bathing and water sports, and windsurfing, sailing and diving are particularly popular with visitors. Swimming with the dolphins is and experience you cannot miss.

You could try go-karting, a round of golf or take a look around the native Taino village. Local excursions are also available to the islands of Saona and Catalina, East National Park, including caves with pre-Columbian petroglyphs and there are boat trips along the Chavon River. A visit to Santo Domingo is a must for sightseeing and shopping. Look out for local rum, cigars and amber products.

If you are feeling really adventurous you could take to the skies and go for a helitour of the area. Superb hotels, amazing beaches and an unbeatable welcome make this the ideal holiday destination.

sosua holidays

our hotels in sosua

Sosua in the Dominican Republic, is situated on the Atlantic North coast on the stunning Amber Coast. This bustling resort is wrapped around a curving bay of calm, clear turquoise waters with a long fine golden sand beach. The beach is fringed by palms and almond trees against a backdrop of towering cliffs. The spectacular beach and authentic Dominican atmosphere makes Sousa the perfect location for your holiday in the Dominican Republic. Sosua has an interesting history if  and gave shelter to hundreds of Jewish refugees after World War II and many of their original wooden houses can still be seen today. The main beach is backed by a promenade and is lined by shops, bars and cafes. It is one of the best places for a wide choice of Haitian paintings, carved stone and handicrafts. There is a wide choice of water sports including sailing, water-skiing, jet-skiing and suba diving.

Many local excursions are on offer from Sousa you can take a cable car ride to the summit of Mount Isabel de Torres, journey by jeep to La Isabela, site of Columbus' first town in the Americas. Visit the highland towns of Jarabacoa and Constanza, or see the Laguna Gri-Gri National Park and unspoilt Playa Grande Beach. Sosua has many restaurants and for a real taste of the Caribbean try the selection of bars. The ambience in Sousa is relaxed, informal and friendly, perfect for either dancing the night away in the disco, or finding a pleasant spot for a sundowner cocktail.