Dominican Republic / Special Interests

This multifaceted island is a great destination for active visitors, on sea and on land. A major attraction is golf, with over 20 courses scattered mainly around the coast. Anything eco is big too, well served by the national park network, rich flora and fauna and individual guides who are genuinely excited by their world. Nobody should miss the thrill of seeing ancient Taino rock art, mainly in tranquil, remote locations that require some effort to reach. The lush, rolling interior also hosts numerous adventure sports (see Sport) and horse riding through stunning forests or on beaches.

In and on the water there is a mind-boggling range of activities (see Beach Life) and scuba divers are fast discovering spectacular sites, some inside marine parks. Yachting is not yet a major activity, although sport fishing is well catered for. A thrilling one-off is whale watching during the mating season from February to April in the Bay of Samana (see Things to Do).

Those seduced by less active holidays can laze on the idyllic beaches then indulge in typical Dominican food either in town restaurants or right on the beach, washed down with a chilled Presidente. To recover, there is a reasonable choice of spas in the large hotels, or you can dance it off to the addictive sounds of bachata or merengue, for which there is no shortage of venues. Couples in search of romantic settings for weddings or other celebrations are spoilt for choice, as large hotels are geared up to provide all the trimmings, while quintessential palm-lined beaches provide the ultimate backdrop.