The top reasons to visit Dominican Republic are revealed solely by its location – the Caribbean region. And much like its neighbors, Saint Martin and Haiti, it offers a number of stunning beach escapes that would certainly make you feel like you are in Paradise. With this said, there is no longer the question of whether or not you'll find great beaches here but where you can go to experience exactly what you are looking for in such a destination.
One of the top reasons to visit Dominican Republic that’s been endorsed by its officials is the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, where Christopher Columbus established the first Spanish settlement in the New World. Here, you will see a lot of memorials and relics of the past, including the old colonial Church aptly named First Cathedral of America and a late 19th century bronze statue of the founder, in Parque Colon. But of course, at the end of the day, you do have the option of spending the night in the antiquated city or driving down to Boca Chica and lounging by the shore, until the sun sets.
Now, aside from Boca Chica, there is another great beach attraction just a few miles up the Las Americas Highway, Punta Cana, which is located in the easternmost province of the country, La Altagracia. It is considered a major resort area with more than 50 megaresorts established, which cumulatively open up as much as 28,000 rooms for tourists.
There are also 12 professional golf courses in the area, some of which are considered the best in the world. And ever since the 1970’s this place has been recognized as one of the top reasons to visit Dominican Republic. If you get bored here, neighboring it are other great coastal retreats too, namely Bavaro and El Cortecito, where you can snorkel, dive, kayak, and engage in other water activities.
But if you are looking to immerse in a more exciting adventure, you could book a trip to Santa Barbara de Samana, in the northern coast and take part in its regular whale-watching tours. As one of the breeding places of humpback whales, this province hosts thousands of them from January to March. But if you are not fortunate enough to catch them, you will still enjoy the area with its tropical rainforests, crystal seas, cozy alcove beaches, protected natural parks with several cascading waterfalls.
This article was originally published on www.paramounttravel.com. Read the original here.
*Image of Beach at Punta Cana, Dominican Republic via Shutterstock
*Image of Columbus Statue and Cathedral, Santo Domingo via Shutterstock
