Dominican Republic

thrill seeker | foodie fetishist | sun-kissed castaway | culture hound | resort relaxer

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic—with its 800 miles of coastline, tropical climate and reputation for handily reviving sun-starved visitors—earns its place among the top destinations for relaxation. Even getting there is stress-free, thanks to the 13 U.S. gateways that offer direct flights. But beyond its warm, welcoming and all-inclusive appeal, there’s a ton of natural beauty and diversity to be discovered, too. Start with the land itself; it’s home to both the highest and the lowest elevations in the West Indies, and a range of ecosystems from tropical rain forests, to coastal forests, to estuaries and sand dunes. Then there’s the culture, shaped by a mix of native Taino, African and European influences, all resulting in layered, vibrant and decidedly unique stories, art and architecture—not to mention mouthwatering cuisine. Because each coastal corner, mountain peak and fertile valley has its own singular allure, there’s a getaway for every traveling type to be had in the Dominican Republic. Read on to see what that could look like on your trip—and don’t be afraid to mix and match.

Another reason to dive right in? Water temperatures range between 73 and 80 degrees year-round.

Remember the diverse landscapes mentioned earlier? Thanks to the country's varied terrain and altitudes, sport aficionados can easily take the adventure on land, and keep it going for days. Canyoning—that is, using skills and special equipment to scale, slide and/or scramble one's way from point A to B inside a canyon, is just one such activity on offer here. It's often paired up with rappelling—descending a rock face with the aid of a rope and harness—to create an exhilarating and challenging eco-adventure that is surprisingly approachable, even for beginners. Jarabacoa, at the center of the island, is one place to embark on such tours. Or stay in Puerto Plata on the northern shores, where nearby Cabarete, Taino Bay and Sosua all have their own geologic wonders (read: waterfalls, cenotes, caves and chasms) to navigate, and plenty of well-rated tour companies to show brave visitors how it is done.

Another great way to add adventure and authenticity to a Dominican Republic getaway is to sign on for an inland safari. These tours bring travelers from resort hubs like Puerto Plata and Punta Cana into the countryside via ATVs or all-terrain trucks. Some excursions include encounters with locals—an invitation into a family's home to share fresh coconut water, locally harvested coffee or a meal, for example—or rides through off-the-radar agricultural towns.

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Whether you're a diehard gourmand or simply a fan of things that taste good, you'll find it possible to build an entire DR vacation around the island's unique cuisine. A bold mashup of indigenous Taino, African and Spanish influences, the dishes of the DR rely on local ingredients. Of course, locavore cuisine is easy in a country that's one of the world's top producers of avocado, papaya, cacao and coconut; where bonito, snapper, grouper and other tasty fish are abundant; and where many locals run independent ranches and farms.

A bit further west is the town of Las Terrenas, where you'll find more amenities and stay options without sacrificing access to stunning, uncrowded beaches. The soft golden shores of Playa Cosón; the quiet, palm tree-peppered sands of Playa Punta Popy; and the jungle-beach vibes of El Portillo all make for idyllic stops here, and there are plenty of grills and beach bars to fortify sun-kissed castaways for another hour in the surf. The beaches of La Romana on the southeast coast, though less remote, are equally gorgeous. There's a selection of well-rated all-inclusive resorts on these sands, and nearby Isla Catalina and Isla Saona are ideal for beachy day trips by boat.

Lined by young coconut palms, the white- to golden-sand shore is met by turquoise water that looks almost fluorescent on the sunniest of days. There's a popular all-inclusive resort set here, making access easy, but there are still many stretches on the 3-mile beach that remain quiet, secluded and overall heavenly. Then there's Playa Rincón. This miles-long beach is the crown jewel of Cabo Samaná—a 30-mile, palm-forested, mountainous peninsula on the northeastern tip of the island. The east end of the full-on dreamy, crescent-shaped beach is home to local-owned beachfront restaurants and grills. Otherwise, it is blissfully undeveloped—and 100% worth stranding yourself on for a long, deliciously idle day. Choose a boutique hotel or eco resort in nearby Las Galeras for easy access.

If your vacation dreams can be summed up with one long montage of beach scenes, the Dominican Republic is a place where you can fully embrace that. Given its name recognition and plethora of beach resorts, Punta Cana's Bávaro Beach may be the first spot that comes to mind when you're planning your long-awaited sand and surf marathon, but it shouldn't be your only thought. The DR is rich with gorgeous, secluded beaches where you and your travel partner might be the only ones stretched out on the sand. Drive just a bit outside the Punta Cana resort area and you'll encounter what seems like impossible natural beaches—for example, at Playa Macao.

Get a 360-degree view of an instrumental period in the country's history with a visit to La Isabela in Puerto Plata province, the site of the first European settlement in the Americas. Walk to the ruins of Christopher Columbus' cliffside home and see the outlines of the buildings that made up the first Spanish village that once housed 1,500 Spanish colonists. A museum near the archaeological site harbors Taino and Spanish artifacts, a replica of the Santa Maria ship and other interesting objects. And you can get your whole body involved in your exploration of Dominican culture by taking a dance class. The DR is held to be the birthplace both of merengue (with its signature slide) and bachata (with its tell-tale toe-taps), and learning the basic moves is one way to take a joyful piece of Dominican culture home with you. Head out to some of the island's popular dance clubs to hone your moves amid local experts.

"La Capital," as Santo Domingo is commonly called, is an amazing place to see a cross-section of the colliding worlds that collectively characterize the Dominican Republic. Head into the Zona Colonial to see Fortaleza Ozama, recognized by UNESCO as the oldest military construction of European origin in the Americas. Further, since Christopher Columbus first landed here when he "sailed the ocean blue" in 1492, it's the site of the earliest European-built cathedral, hospital, university and more historic firsts. Several museums offer a deep look into the country's complex past. These include Museo del las Casas Reales, housed in the building that was the seat of Spanish authority for the Caribbean region dating back to the 16th century. It now showcases antique weapons, scale replicas of ships and villages, objects from Taíno people and sunken Spanish galleons plus other artifacts.

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The resort relaxer

Whichever resort fits your travel style, it's completely possible—and even advisable—to fill entire days with lavish breakfast spreads, stress-melting spa treatments and icy drinks sipped under beachfront palapas. Once your reset is complete, you can always trade your resortwear for a wetsuit, dune buggy or walking shoes to uncover more of the Dominican Republic's intriguing layers.

When the main vacation objective is to relax with a capital "R," the Dominican Republic is an obvious choice. Few will be surprised to learn that the country has made an art of creating the ideal all-inclusive resort experience—but the sheer breadth of options may be something of a revelation.

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Here's a small sliver of the dishes to seek out while you're on the island: Mofongo, a dish with West African roots that stars mashed green plantains and garlic; pescado con coco, or fish in coconut sauce; el sancocho, a traditional soup that combines several kinds of meat with plaintains, corn, yuca and other veggies; and chivo guisado picante, or spicy goat meat stew. DR cuisine addresses sweet tooth cravings as well, with condensed milk-drenched tres leches cake, for example, or the island's favorite Eastertime dessert, habichuelas con dulce, a unique pudding made with pureed red beans. The locally produced chocolate is a must-try as well.

Wherever you find yourself on the island, you won't be far from your next great meal. In the capital city of Santo Domingo, the selection is wide-ranging, with white tablecloth venues serving fresh Mediterranean-style seafood, casual eateries offering lechon-loaded sandwiches on fluffy loaves of pan de agua, all manner of international cuisine and even one rather famous Spanish restaurant located inside a romantically lit cave.

In Puerto Plata, dine on platters of traditional Dominican favorites under the shade of an oversized palapa—and pair your meal with an icy pina colada for max enjoyment. Take an oceanside seat at a beachfront restaurant in the town of Las Terrenas (in Samaná Province) on the northeast coast, where Caribbean-fusion menus list international dishes side by side: shrimp creole, tuna tartare, tempura vegetables and Serrano ham-wrapped lobster, for example. And La Romana on the country's southeastern coast has its own beloved international food scene, with a number of popular restaurants clustered around a square near the Marina and Yacht Basin owned by famed hotel Casa de Campo. Many more eateries are dotted around the city center.

Art lovers can see more than 2,000 works from celebrated Dominican artists in a quirky setting at Museo Bellapart, housed on the fifth floor of a Honda dealership. Entrance is free, and you'll find the most complete collection of works by the late modernist painter Jaime Colsón—one of the country's most celebrated artists—amid the pieces on view. And Santo Domingo is a place to witness modern-day life and culture as well. From bustling streets, to open-air domino games, merengue dancing and the aforementioned hot dining scene, visiting the La Capital is a must if you're after the real essence of the place.

Those who are dive certified (or want to be) will find a veritable marine playground around the DR's deep wrecks, extensive coral reefs and swimmable caverns. And there are half a dozen outfitters dotted around its coast who can equip and train you for the journey.

In the DR, the potential for water-based fun is everywhere, whether you're called to hang ten on the north coast's famously surfable waves, standup paddle board across the south coast's low-key waters or snorkel the colorful reefs in serene Samaná Bay to the east.

If there's a place that can awaken one's inner child — the kid who played chase until his lungs burned, did flips into the pool and strayed to the far corners of the neighborhood on bike rides—it's the Dominican Republic. So if life-affirming playtime is a top priority on your vacation wish list, you're in the right place.

The tour companies who offer these guided adventure rides often have a wide menu of other experiences to try, if you're so bold. There are horseback tours through pastoral ranches and rides up a lush mountainside—specifically, the Mount Isabel de Torres cable car ride, or el teleférico en Español, outside Puerto Plata. And if that's not high flying enough, try paragliding over mountains and valleys in Jarabacoa in the heart of the island. There's a lot of high-octane living to be done in the Dominican Republic, and local guides make it all accessible for those looking to feed their thrill-seeking spirits.

La Altagracia Province on the east coast is home to the best known options. Punta Cana, its exclusive, gated Cap Cana enclave and the beaches of Bávaro just north of the main resort hub offer everything from luxurious 5-star adults-only stays, to oceanfront golf courses to family-focused properties with water parks, roving cartoon characters and kids' clubs.

For those craving a pampering experience in a quieter, less developed portion of the island, the resorts in Puerto Plata, Miches and Samaná Province on the northeast side of the island, plus the upscale hotels in La Romana on the south side are worth a look.

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thrill seeker | foodie fetishist | sun-kissed castaway | culture hound | resort relaxer