Planning to visit the Dominican Republic? Here's some information for you which is extracted from the third edition of Explore the Dominican Republic by Harry S. Pariser. This text is copyright 1998, 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$20 pp, pd at a minimum for food and accommodation. Generally, you'll find yourself spending at least US$30 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 Seøñora 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.

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This page last updated: Sat, Aug 15, 1998