It’s easy to think of the Caribbean islands as all the same — silvery-white sandy beaches, waving palm trees and crystal- clear turquoise water. And while that’s (broadly) correct, dig just a little deeper and you’ll quickly discover each island has its own distinct personality.
The Dominican Republic is no exception. Famous for its all-inclusive resorts, it’s well worth venturing outside the gates — here’s why.
Christopher Columbus’s first landing point in the New World in 1492, the Dominican Republic is the site of the oldest colonial settlement in the Americas, including the region’s first university, first hospital and first Catholic cathedral.
Originally called Hispaniola, the country finally gained its independence in 1844
Head to the capital city Santo Domingo to explore the walled neighbourhood known as the Colonial Zone.
This Unesco World Heritage Site has a string of landmarks, but it’s just as tempting to wander around the historic streets lined with galleries, cafés and restaurants.
Thinking you’ll have a day out driving around the island? The Dominican Republic is a lot bigger than you might imagine — almost 250 miles from east to west, and around 165 miles from north to south, so you need to allow five to six hours to drive from Punta Cana and Cap Cana in the south east to Puerto Plata on the north coast.
Santo Domingo is around two and a half hours from the tourist resorts in the south east.
For more info https://www.thejc.com/life-and-culture/travel/tropical-passover-dominican-republic-jctz48qs
