Personal Impressions
The Dominican Republic is a country of tremendous diversity and in
many ways different to the English speaking islands. A high number of
idyllic
palm-fringed sand beaches and a bad economy make the Dominican Republic
a perfect destination for mass tourism. Flights and holiday packages
from Europe are much cheaper than to most other Caribbean countries.
Prostitution and even sex tourism is common in many places. The crime
rate is high and tourists get bothered and
cheated almost everywhere. I had the feeling that many locals did
consider me to be a walking wallet. If you like to have a nice vacation
in the Dominican Republic, learn some Spanish and stay away from the
main tourist
areas.
= STRIEWA =
AttractionsCabarete
Cabarete is a charismatic little beach village about 30 minutes east
of Puerto Plata's International Airport on the North Coast. It is known for
its beautiful beach that attracts sports enthusiasts and sun worshippers
from all over the world. Cabarete has the reputation of having the best
kitesurfing conditions in the world. It has been the location of professional
kitesurfing competitions.
Sosúa
Playa Sosua is a beautiful beach in a crescent-shaped bay and
one of
the most popular beaches in the Dominican Republic. In Sosua men and
women alike may encounter prostitutes offering their services. On the
main street in Sosua a single tourist can't walk at night without
getting bothered by prostitutes. The sex workers
have to support their families, and don't just look for quick money.
Many
try to get married to a tourist, and not a few holidaymakers got ripped
off badly. These women are very skilled in fooling lonely tourists.
Puerto Plata
Traveling from Puerto Plata to the Samana Peninsula, a formidable
150 km long (93 miles) seafront, takes you through one of the best-known regions
of the Dominican Republic. More than anywhere else in the country, the
development of tourism has been particularly intense here over the last
20 years, and many of the region’s towns and villages have become major
resort areas.
Samaná Peninsula
Samana is a peninsula in the north-eastern part of the Dominican
Republic. It is perhaps the most beautiful area of the Dominican Republic,
yet remains one of the least known. Its tourist industry has not yet exploited
the full potential. More backpackers come here than package tourists. Still
no tourist hordes disturb the natural beauty. The long white sand-beaches
are fringed by coconut palms and lapped by turquoise waters. Away from
the coast are lush forests, waterfalls, and deep green mountains.
Whale Watching
Samana is
one of the breeding places of the humpback whale.
Other places to watch the whales are Silver Bank and Navidad bank. The
World Wildlife Fund considers Samana Bay one of the best places in
the world to watch whales.
Thousands of humpback whales come from the North Atlantic to the
sheltered warm waters along the
coast between January and March to mate and give birth. The
Dominican government enforces strict whale protection laws and
guidelines to ensure the safety and conservation of these gentle
giants. Limón Waterfall
Salto del Limon, as the waterfall is locally known, is found
in the northeast of the Dominican Republic in the attractive peninsula
of Samana. It is a spectacular waterfall with crystal clear water
located in the community of Limon. The cascade is composed by three starts
flowing water that slides over a solid greenish wall.
Punta Cana
The Dominican Republic's eastern point is characterized by an almost
unbroken succession of sugar-cane fields and orange groves. Most travellers
come to this region for its beaches, among the most beautiful in the country,
if not the whole Caribbean. For over a decade now, the once nearly uninhabited
north-eastern shore of the Dominican Republic, known as the Coconut Coast,
has become a major holiday destination. Most developers have followed the
same general plan, building grand luxury hotels on large properties, at
the edge of breathtaking and completely isolated beaches.
Santo Domingo
The first city founded in the Americas, the capital Santo Domingo,
is today the largest and most populated city in the Dominican Republic.
It is also the country’s financial, industrial and commercial centre. Santo
Domingo is a pleasant city, particularly the old area where colonial-era
buildings are concentrated. But take care, some areas are not safe for tourists.
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