Planning to visit the Dominican Republic? Here's some information for you which is extracted from the second edition of The Adventure Guide to the Dominican Republic by Harry S. Pariser. This text is copyright 1996, Harry S. Pariser. All rights reserved.Contact the author for reprint or other rights.

WHEN TO COME: When you should come depends upon your motives for coming. The best time is definitely off season when rates for hotels plummet and there are few visitors to be found in the more popular spots. The rain is heaviest May through Sept. and in Nov. If camping and hiking are important items on your itinerary, it would definitely be preferable to arrive during the dry season. And, if you travel to the more inaccessible or untouristed towns, parks, and reserves, crowds shouldn't be a problem no matter what the season. The times the average visitor will not want to arrive is at Christmas and Easter when Dominicans themselves go on holiday or visit loved ones, and both hotel rooms and flights from the States are frequently booked.

WHO SHOULD COME: The Dominican Republic offers something for practically every type of visitor. Large resorts provide every amenity for the well-heeled tourist, and there are a number of inexpensive options for those on a budget as well. Hikers and naturalists will revel in the country's national parks; swimmers, snorkelers, and divers will love its beaches Most definitely a Latin American nation, the Dominican Republic is also a great place to study, improve, or use your Spanish.

PLANNING EXPENSES: If you are planning to stay in tourist-oriented hotels and eat at resort-style restaurants, you should plan as spending as much as you would for a similar trip in Florida. If you dine at local restaurants, you'll find your costs substantially reduced. low budget travel: Expect to spend from US$10 pp, pd at a minimum for food and accommodation. Generally, you'll find yourself spending at least US$20 total and, depending upon your needs, probably more. Differences in price from top to bottom reflect upon facilities and the level of comfort, so the more you can do without the cheaper you can travel. The best way to cut down on expenses is to stay in one (relatively inexpensive) location for a time.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY: There is no list of must-see places in the Dominican Republic. The reason to come is to enjoy yourself. If you value historical sites, Old Santo Domingo is the place to be. If you want to rope yourself off from Dominican realities, you should stay in a seaside resort. If you'd like cool weather and aren't that fussy about accomodation, head for Jarabacoa or Constanza. The national parks are great but only are a practical alternative for intrepid travelers. Don't try to go to too many places in too short a time!

GETTING THERE: Major carriers are American and United.

Barahona--Set on the S coast some 130 mi. (240 km) and three hours by car or four hrs. by bus from Santo Domingo, this town was named after one of its earliest colonists. It was founded in 1802 by Haitian General Toussaint LÍOuverture. An international airport has opened this area up a bit, and it's now an up-and-coming resort spot.

Boca Chica--Somewhat overdeveloped beach resort set 16 mi. (26 km) east of Santo Domingo.

Cabarete--Set east of Sousa and near Puerto Plata Airport, this small village of is one of the Caribbean's windsurfing capitals.

Casa De Campo--Located East of Santo Domingo and near the town of La Romana, Casa de Campo is the nation's top resort. Nearby Altos de Chavon--a replica of a 16th-century Italian village--offers handicraft shops and an archaeological museum.

Higüey--Set northeast of La Romana, Higuey was founded in 1502 on the orders of Frey Nicólas de Ovando; the most notable feature of Higüey are its churches. The Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Merced (Our Lady of Mercy) is located on the spot where Columbus's forces planted their cross while fending off an Indian attack. According to legend, Columbus and his men, suprised by an attack by Tainos, were nearly done in when lo and behold a vision of the Virgin Mary appeared on the Cross, frightening the Indians and allowing the Spaniards to repel the attack. Inside the shrine are kept two splinters of wood believed to have come from Columbus' original cross; it's said he cut wood for it from the nispero tree nearby. Replacing Nuestra Seřñora de la Merced (Our Lady of Mercy) as the nation's patron saint in 1922, La Altagracia (the Virgin of the Highest Grace) is credited with numerous miracle cures. One an aged and mysterious pilgrim (believed to have been one of the apostles) arrived in a small village in the E part of the country and begged food and shelter from a father with an ill daughter. Upon his departure, he gave a small picture of the Virgin Mary to the father. When the daughter gazed at the Virgin, she was cured instantaneously. The modern church--shaped like a pair of 200-ft. high hands folded in prayer--was constructed on the site where the picture was first admired, and an annual pilgrimage is made here on Jan. 21 and Aug. 16.

Jarabacoa--This relatively cool mountain town is set 70 mi. (112 km) north of Santo Domingo Another town, Constanza, is nearby. Laguna Enriquillo y Parque Nacional Isla Cabritos--Set inside a national park, this 21 mi.- (12 km-) long inland saltwater lake is due W of Santo Domingo near the border with Haiti. Plummeting to 130 ft. (40 m) below sea level at its bottom, it is the Caribbean's lowest point. A reserve to protect the endemic American crocodile, 5-mi.-long Isla Cabritos (Goat Island) is in the lake's center.

Monte Cristi And Parque Nacional Monte Cristi--Set in the NW, this dusty coastal town's highlights are its unusual town clock as well as the home of patriot Máximo Gómez, who played a key role in the Cuban independence struggle and in the Dominican Restoration. Owing to its windswept, desertlike setting, it's known as Estamosmoriendo de sed. ("We die of thirst"). Nearby is Located in the NE near the border with Haiti, this park is also known as "El Morro" after its principal feature--a 900 ft. high mesa overlooking the sea. There are also a number of small islands offshore known as the Cayos Siete Hermanos (Cayes of the Seven Brothers).

Parque Nacional Armando Bermudez y Parque Nacional Jose Le Carmen Ramirez--Contains Pico Duarte (10,417 ft., 3,175 m), the Caribbean's highest mountain. Allow a few days for the trek up and back.

Parque Nacional Los Haitises--Set on Samana Bay south of Samana, this park has covers 78 sq. mi. (208 sq. km). Here, incredibly lush and verdant tropical limestone islands, up to 1,000 ft. high, appear like ships floating on the sea.

Playa Dorada--Near Puerto Plata, this seaside resort complex comprises a number of first-class resort hotels centered around a golf course.

Puerto Plata--Set on the north coast, set some four hours by car from Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata (pop. 60,000) is a small town with some old houses and a laid-back atmosphere. Its most notable sights are Fort San Felipe (the oldest European fort in the New World, the sometimes-on, sometimes-off cable car running to the top of Isabel de Torres, and the Amber Museum.

Punta Cana To Bavaro--At the nation's eastern end a number of resort hotels stretch along the 20 mi. (32 km) white sand beach which run between Bavaro and Playa Punta Cana. An isolated area which is primarily of interest as an expensive getaway.

Samana--Founded by English-speaking American slaves in the 1820s., this town is the center of the peninsula of the same name. The resort village of Las Terrenas, set on the peninsula's north side, offers an idyllic beach and basic to resort-style accommodations.

San Cristobal--Set to the west of Santo Domingo, this is birthplace of ex-dictator Trujillo; his homes here are under restoration.

Santiago De Los Caballeros--The nation's second-largest city in the country, Santiago (pop. 500,000) is a pleasant business center for the Cibao Valley. It's 85 mi. (136 km) south of Puerto Plata. Sights of minor interest include Trujillo-constructed Monument to the Restoration, the Folk Art Museum, and the Tobacco Museum. There is a large market that is well worth a visit.

Santo Domingo--The nation's capital and one of the Caribbean's most historic cities, Santo Domingo (pop. 2.5 million) received a much-needed sprucing up. The historic old town is one of the most impressive places to visit in the Americas. Other sights include the Columbus Lighthouse the Cathedral of Santa Maria La Menor (the Americas' oldest cathedral), the Alcazar of Columbus, the National Botanical Gardens, and the National Zoo.

Sosua--Set near Puerto Plata Airport, this popular tourist spot which has a small beach was founded by German Jewish refugees who arrived by invitation of Trujillo in 1940.

luxury: A recently renovated classic, the 355-rm. Ramada Renaissance Jaragua Resort and Casino (tel. 221-2222, fax 686-0528) is on Av. George Washington 367. Set on 14 acres, the hotel's rooms have marble bathrooms, hair dryer, color TV, and computerized door locks. Other facilities include a nightclub, ballroom, the nation's largest casino, a European-style spa, five restaurants, an Olympic-style pool, four tennis courts, and a convention center which can service up to 1,000. Prices range from $110 for a "standard" room to $1,500 for the penthouse, and this does not include 23% tax and service. You can call (800) 228-9898 toll free in the US and (800) 331-3542 toll free in the Dominican Republic.

Set right next to each other in the W side of town, the Hotels Santo Domingo and Hispaniola share common owners, and their meal plans are interchangeable. The colonial-style 220-rm. Hotel Santo Domingo (tel. 221-7111), Av. Independencia and Av. Abraham Lincoln, offers elegant interior decoration by designer Oscar de la Renta. The rooms have lots of lush red lacquer work and Dominican mahogany furniture. Featuring 69 rooms, its "premier floor," a complete floor designed with executives in mind, features a breakfast lounge and additional facilities in the room including a hairdryer and remote control for the TV. Renting for around US$725 pn, the huge presidential suite on this level includes a business room. Facilities include restaurant, pool, night club, tennis and volleyball courts, sauna and massage, beauty parlor, boutique, and . Call (800) 223-6620 in the US. The Santo Domingo's less elegant and less expensive sister is the 160-rm. Hotel Hispaniola (tel. 535-7111), Independencia at Av. Lincoln, has comfortable a/c rooms with cable TV and radio, a restaurant, bar, disco, pool, three tennis courts, beauty parlor, car rental, gift shop, and massage. Built in 1956, it still has manual elevators with operators--a nice blast from the past. Call (800) 223-6620 in the US.

expensive: Centrally located in the old part of town at C. Las Damas 53, Hostal Nicolás de Ovando (tel. 687-3101/3107) is a restored 16th C. mansion which once belonged to the famous conquistador and Hispaniolan governor of the same name. It has a pool and is a/c.

moderate: Newly opened in 1993, Hotel Restaurante La Casona Dorada (tel. 221-3535, fax 682-1832) is a small and quite elegant hotel. ItÍs at Av. Independencia 255 (cor. C. Osvaldo Bŕáez).

inexpensive: At C. Presidente Vicini Burgos 58 in Gazcue a half-block from the obelisk on the Malecon, 13-rm. Hotel El Seřñorial (tel. 687-4367, fax 687-0600) is renowned for its relaxed and social atmosphere. Its comfortable rooms (priced at around $30 s or d) are a/c with cable TV. It has a nice dining room and good food. The staff are affable and easygoing. Priced from around $20 s and $27 d, Hotel Palmeras del Caribe (tel. 689-3872, 682-0959) is on the MalecŃn at C. Cambronal 1. It has small but attractive rooms with B&W TVs. Its Dominican management is very friendly, and the location is ideal. In the old town, attractive, extremely atmospheric, but aging Hotel David's (tel. 688-8538, 685-9121/9123, fax 688-8056), Arz. Nouel 308, offers TV and refrigerator in its rooms which are priced at around US$40 s or d.

apart-hotels: Among these there is one clear standout in design, service, and location. German-owned and operated a/c Hotel Palacio is set in the heart of the old town at C. Duarte 106 (corner of Salome Ureña). Opened just in the fall of 1991, its 10 rooms are furnished Castilian style. There are also two single rooms and a large suite which has a private Jacuzzi. The seven regular rooms feature remote-control color cable TV, wardrobe, phones (one for the room and one for the bath), furnished kitchenette, and minibar. Other facilities include secretarial service, fax, tourist guide service, bar, small gym, and a patio. The hotel is actually a restored home which was once the private house of the offspring of Buenaventura Báez who served five times as president between 1848-78. It has a pleasant patio facing a courtyard. Rates run from around US$50. To reserve, call 682-4730, fax 800-687-5535, or write Apdo. 20541, Santo Domingo. At Plaza Naco, the Plaza Hotel and Casino (tel. 541-6226) is administered by the Naco chain. The tallest hotel, it features 54 suites and 165 efficencies, all of which come with kitchenettes. At Av. Tiradentes 22, a convenient mid-town location, its rooms also include cable TV, radio, and a complete kitchenette, and other facilities include a pool, cafeteria, restaurant, casino, and babysitting service. In the US call (800) 223-6510 and in Canada call (800) 424-5500. The Aparta-Hotel Plaza del Sol (tel. 688-5596/5497/5686, fax 542-5454), JoséContreras 25-A, offers fully furnished studios.

Here's what some people are saying about it:

"a complete practical guide"Wisconsin Bookwatch

"The history section is a wonderfully succinct and powerful description of the island from Columbus to post-Trujillo. The section on Trujillo's rule is outstanding."--Howard Zinn, author of A People 's History of the United States

Lively merengue and haunting Spanish ruins. The Caribbean's lowest point and its highest mountain peak. Waterfalls, spectacular beaches, natural parks, multicolored tropical birds, rolling fields of sugarcane, baseball, and savory food. These are but a few of things the Dominican Republic has to offer. A cultural melange, the nation occupies the eastern half of Hispaniola, the largest island in the Caribbean. Long a favorite among US visitors--hundreds of thousands visit annually--the Dominican Republic offers some of the lowest food and accommodation prices in the Caribbean along with some of its friendliest inhabitants.

While Old Santo Domingo has been restored to its colonial grandeur, many of the nation's thousands of miles of palm-lined beaches remain pristine and sedate. The capital's frantic pace contrasts favorably with the resort town of Puerto Plata, Sosua's European sophistication, the Samanŕ Peninsula's sprawling jungle, and deserted beaches. The more adventurous will want to climb Pico Duarte or visit the other national parks, all of which are described in detail in this comprehensive guide.

THE ADVENTURE GUIDE TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC also includes:

• Maps and color photos
• Extensive information on history, culture, and food
• Information on all types of accommodation--from the most spartan family-run hotels to luxurious resorts such as sprawling Casa de Campo
• Where to play tennis, ride horseback, hike, and swim
• The best snorkeling and diving spots
• Car rentals, local transportation, and tips on saving on airfares and visitor's cards
• Local carnivals and patron saint festivities
• All local services including shopping, changing money, bus companies, and transport to and from airports

(Published in German as Reisehandbuch Dominikanische Republik : IBSN 3-923550-27-8)

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the Dominican Republic

This page last updated:Sat, Feb 3, 1996