Dominican Republic just for you
The Dominican Republic welcomes you as soon as you set foot on the ground with a wet heat slap . The adaptation of the body to the ambient temperature is best carried out when glimpsing from the airport the overwhelming nature that covers the entire Caribbean country.
Here there is no winter as we know it in Spain. The tropical heat of the Dominican Republic attracted in 2017 to 6.2 million tourists thirsty for this inexhaustible sun . It is true that sunscreen should accompany you wherever you go, but do not be fooled by what the brochures say, because this climate he also has his tantrums . The downpours of rain that suddenly come and go several times a day are part of the island charm.
Port of La Romana, Dominican Republic
PALM TREES AND MOUNTAINS SHARE LANDSCAPE IN LA ROMANA
La Romana, to the southeast of the island and **75 kilometers from the well-known Punta Cana **, is a wonderful option to enjoy the coast without having to face the tourists who invade the beaches nor the university students unleashed by their endless party. La Romana leaves space for reflection and time to be calm in the company of oneself.
A luxury destination you deserve a first class stay. Strolling on the beach, eating wonderfully, resting without interruptions, sleeping soundly … You can do it all in the same place: the hotel Cottage .
It's about a 28,000 resort square meters in which one can take refuge to lose track of reality . It has golf courses, restaurants, a swimming pool and even a private beach that is not too far from the rooms. Within the confines of the hotel it's all very well, but the Dominican Republic invites you to go out and explore further.
Because there is so much to explore. Only in beach stuff , the different options compete to find a place among your plans: diving among the Dominicus corals , surrender to the absolute intimacy of Bayahibe or sunbathe on Saône Island , of virgin sands that are worth stepping on for the first time.
The headache can be solved by drinking a splendid cocktail in the tranquility of the Coconut Sea of Minitas , the Casa de Campo's private beach.
Diving among the corals of Dominicus
To live an experience different from what all the travel guides recommend, you have to swim far from the shore and open your eyes wide around you.
Forget your mobile abandoned to its fate on the sun lounger and look at the green mountains that surround this classic caribbean photography , with the almost white sand and the sea water reflecting the sunlight. And do not cease to be amazed when you realize that on the other side of the horizon lies **Caracas**, the capital of Venezuela.
It's a good idea to lose yourself in the fantasy of Altos de Chavon, also called City of the Artists , a curious Mediterranean-style villa that houses the Regional Archaeological Museum .
The Altos de Chavon
Below runs the Chavon River , scene of some of the most tense scenes of _Apocalypse Now._ Unlike in the film, sailing this river creates a tremendous sense of peace as you see the undergrowth stretching out into infinity on either side of the boat. Saving the distances of thousands of kilometers and the many degrees Celsius of difference, the Chavón river takes on an air of Norwegian fjords.
BECOMING URBAN IN SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS
There is no disgust inside the Dominican Republic. For starters, because road trips hide an anecdote around every curve. Dominicans crossing the highway without disturbing traffic. The horn as the preferred means of communication between vehicles . Not even a motorcyclist with a regulation helmet. And so.
What is most striking when traveling by car is the contrast between urban centers and suburbs . On the outskirts of the cities, improvised places with their names painted by hand on the wall act as shops and restaurants.
There is no shortage of dining rooms to feed food enthusiasts. Traditional food . In this country you eat rice with beans (as predicted 'The Joy' ), beef (cow) and goat (goat), lots of local fruit and sancocho , a stew reminiscent of the spanish pouts , but that has the strange and pleasant presence of the corn cob. To drink, mabí , a typical drink made with tree bark.
To go from La Romana to Santiago de los Caballeros, the second largest town in the Dominican Republic, **you can cross Santo Domingo**, which gives you the luxury of watching the waves crash against the boardwalk for a long time. It is a long trip, but it is worth going to know a not so famous area of the country.
In Santiago of the Knights he rises Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration , a hybrid between the Parthenon in Athens and the Tower of Hercules that is titanic compared to the modest buildings that populate the city.
Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration in Santiago de los Caballeros
The Monument, which celebrates 100 years of National Independence , it was a gift that the dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina he made himself. Today, this act of architectural vanity captivates you with its panoramic views of Santiago.
If you travel in low season, walk as much as you want around the Eduardo Leon Jimenes Cultural Center to admire with your own eyes Dominican art and culture. Also don't miss the Cathedral of Santiago Apostol neither outside nor inside.
With so much urban tourism you get an irremediable hunger. You can kill the bug without wasting much time on the latin plank , to taste the most imaginative side of the caribbean cuisine right in front of the Monument.
Where to sleep? A good accommodation to spend the night in Santiago de los Caballeros is the Hodelpa Grand Admiral , an unpretentious hotel that has just what is necessary to allow all the energy that the Dominican city infuses to rest.
JICOMÉ, THE VALLEY OF THE SUN AND THE RAIN
Heading to the north of the island, the rain takes center stage. The intermittent showers they are more and more frequent as you go into the heights.
The Dominican mountains are green, rich and falls in love with those who dare to leave the southern beach to see something different during a day trip.
In Jicome , a tiny corner of the province of Valverde, the tobacco plants grow to their hearts' content , since the climatic conditions of the valley create a natural greenhouse for crops.
The Dominican Republic is happy and explosive , a tropical cocktail that in just an instant overwhelms you with those green and blue landscapes that never end. But it is also a country for savor quiet , which offers corners of privacy for travelers who know how to find them.
Dominican Republic is waiting for you, traveler