Puerto Plata - A captivating, Caribbean and Latin fused favourite

"Chill out in the sun and meringue through the night on the Caribbean island with a tropical twist and Latin beat..."

When Christopher Columbus first discovered the island dream that is Hispaniola, he claimed that it surpassed the rest of the world in terms of natural beauty. Today, the Dominican Republic as it is now known, is still as enchanting as ever. Golden beaches wrap themselves around the Caribbean's highest peaks and rivers race down through exotic tropical forests to emerald seas. A laidback Caribbean lifestyle and a Hispanic passion for partying mingle and merge along the northern shores of the Dominican Republic. From Bahia Maimon along the coast to Sosua, resorts have emerged so the carnival atmosphere has a backdrop of natural beauty, with the golden sands that fringe the rugged coastline and lead down to the clear, warm waters of the Atlantic. Sample some of the local spirit at one of the many festivals held throughout the year, or simply sit back and soak up the ambience with some of the local rum!

Beaches

Undisturbed stretches of palm-fringed, porcelain-white beaches lace the curving coastline, dotted with tropical forests in every shade of green and rocky coves carved into the coastline. Some of the more popular beaches are in Sosua, which is blessed with wide snow-white sands and bordered by lofty coconut trees and an exotic reef. Cabarete is stunning and home to what many consider to be one of the best windsurfing bays in the world. If surfing is more your style, catch some waves just to the west of Cabarete. From Samana Bay, you can visit Cayo Levantado, an off-shore island carpeted with tropical forests and bordered by pure white sand beaches. Encircled with a coral reef, the isle, which was once the setting for a Bacardi advert, is ideal for snorkelling.

Shopping

Amber and larimar jewellery is an island speciality, sold in all the local shops. Larimar is a semi-precious, blue volcanic stone, which is only found in the Dominican Republic and the amber mined here is some of the best in the world, so you'll find some appealing pieces to take back home. Tobacco has been grown in the Dominican Republic since the time of the Tainos and hand-rolled Dominican cigars made to traditional recipes make ideal gifts to take home together with traditional native paintings, wood and whalebone carvings.

Eating out

The food in the Dominican Republic is a healthy mix of exotic influences, fusing Afro-Caribbean spice with a Latin American flavour. Sample a sumptuous concoction of Spanish, African and Taino cuisine dining on the island’s national dish sancocho, a stew made with tender meat and vegetables, or try some of the superb seafood on offer such as pescado con coco, fish in a coconut and cream sauce. Other specialities include el moro, a mixture of kidney beans, rice and meat, and el sancocho, a soup of meat, potato, banana, carrots and vermicelli. For something sweet flan de pina, pineapple custard or exotic island fruits serve as a refreshing dessert. The local sugar cane industry makes for some great sweet cocktails such as the delicious mojito and to live like a true local you should get stuck into the island's beer, Presidente, perhaps accompanied by some spicy chicken cooked on a beachside barbecue.

Nightlife

Each resort along the coast offers a different style of nightlife. The northwestern secluded peninsula of Semana, one of the island’s most beautiful corners, is particularly laid-back and low-key. You’ll be seduced by the intoxicating rhythm of the Merengue that floats on the night air at many of the restaurants and beach cafés. Cabarete has a sophisticated ambience with the focus on elegant dining and fine wine, while Sosua is the place to go for a lively night with plenty of vibrant bars to choose from. Dominican music is around every corner, captivating all who hear it, and sounds and colours blend into one as the locals sway to the sparkling salsa.

Sightseeing

Santo Domingo
The capital city of Santo Domingo is the largest in the Caribbean and a city of contrasts. Step back in time to follow in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus around the city's colonial zone and get a taste of what life must have been like in those first days of the New World. Photograph the magnificent Columbus lighthouse where the great man's remains are under constant guard. Visit the first cathedral and walk down the first street in the Americas, and shop in the market - probably the cheapest place to buy souvenirs, but remember to haggle!

Whitewater rafting
Head for the awe-inspiring Jarabacoa Mountains where you can pit yourself against nature’s might with a whitewater rafting excursion that will leave you breathless and ready to go all over again.

Whale watching in Samana
Samana is a destination for nature lovers and the place to go on the experience of a lifetime. Look out for Humpback whales in the bay of Samana, where you can see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

Ocean World - Swim with Dolphins
Take the opportunity of a lifetime and swim with bottle-nose dolphins at Oceanworld, where you can also interact with sealions and stingrays and snorkel in the colourful reef teeming with tropical fish.

Helicopter Ride
Charter a chopper - the ultimate way to see the north coast with a bird's eye view of the coastline’s crystal clear seas and lush vegetation.

Useful links

www.dominicanrepublic.com
www.domrep.org/tourism.htm