República Dominicana: The Land Beyond Blue
- Tasnia Mozammel
- Feb 4, 2024
- 6 min read
Dominican Republic, situated on the island of Hispaniola, hosts millions of tourists each year - a prime paradise destination known for its white sand beaches lined with coconut trees and sparkling turquoise waters brimming with colourful marine life. However, there is more to the Dominican than just its beaches that will surprise you! Experience the many facets of Dominicana such as exploring the destination's authentic Caribbean lifestyle following its rhythmic music, culture, art, colonial architecture, and immersing in its unique landscapes!
Punta Cana and Puerto Plata are the most sought out destinations in the Dominican, known for their beaches. However, we arrived in Punta Cana, and drove straight to explore the best of Santo Domingo, DR's colourful cobblestoned capital. Destination-based e-brochures with detailed guides and city maps by the Dominican Ministry of Tourism may be found here.
BEFORE YOU GO:
1. Tourism. Tours via sites including GetYourGuide are quite pricey in DR, and may be negotiated onsite. We encountered a few good tour guides, however, our favourite was Davey Alberto who became a friend and dropped us all the way back to PUV from Santo Domingo on our return. DM for details of his contact.
2. Local Transport. Make sure to download Uber - an affordable and convenient commuting necessity on the island! Santo Domingo and nearby attractions are in close-proximity and easy to commute via Uber. Additionally, airport transfers may be quite expensive. We flew into Punta Cana and booked our transfer from PUV to our hotel in Santo Domingo via MyTransfer, reliable and reasonable.
3. Food. If you have a spicy tongue like us, local DR food may taste quite bland. Best carry some Sriracha in your pockets.
4. Don't forget your camera!
Santo Domingo - a Heritage Trip
Santo Domingo is one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean, founded by Bartholomew Columbus in 1496. Epitomizing the pulse of Dominican culture, La Capital - as Santo Domingo is affectionately called, exhibits a seamless converging of the old and new, from its centuries-old architecture to modern upscale buildings, buzzing shopping scenes, and nightlife. The city is surrounded by the Atlantic's untamed centuries-worth of trade and travelled waters! An e-brochure with a detailed guide and city maps may be found here.
Venture in La Zona Colonial
If you're in DR, Santo Domingo's La Zona Colonial or the Colonial City is a must-visit location! This historic central neighbourhood is one of the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlements in the Americas, and declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Stroll through the colourful cobblestoned Calle El Conde, the first commercial street in the New World, which remains to date a popular shopping area lined with restaurants, cafes, souvenir, and Caribbean art shops. Share a drink with locals and tourists in buzzing Parque Colón or Columbus Park. Take a tour with local guides onsite or simply venture through the centuries-old streets!
Zona Colonial - the place of departure for the European conquest of the continent...
Some landmarks to visit while venturing through La Zona Colonial include the Cathedral of the Americas, Museum of the Royal Houses, Fortaleza Ozama, Monasterio de San Francisco, and Plaza de España Square. City tours may be pre-arranged via GetYourGuide, however, are also available for much less on-site!
Immerse in Cenote Adventures - Los Tres Ojos
Los Tres Ojos or the Three Eyes National Park, about 9 kilometres east (at the entrance) of Santo Domingo, offers a beautiful nature break from the buzzing historic capital. This site enables an immersive experience in its lush park with a series of underground caverns decorated with ancient Taino petroglyphs and pottery, iridescent blue lagoons, and wildlife.
We visited Los Tres Ojos followed by Columbus Lighthouse in one day. The two-site tour takes approximately 3 hours as they are nearby to one another as well as close the heart of Santo Domingo. The open-air water-fed limestone caves were incredible to experience as well as the combination of indigenous and colonial history within them. Worth the visit!
Beach Day in Boca Chica
Playa Boca Chica is the closest scenic beach town to Santo Domingo, about 35 kilometres east of the city. The town is often overcrowded with residents on the weekends, but all free to tourists on the weekdays! Boca Chica is a popular getaway destination known for its shallow turquoise-coloured waters, troves of waterfront restaurants and beach clubs, nightlife, boat tours, and water activities such as diving, jet skiing, and snorkelling.
People often contemplate visiting between Boca Chica and Juan Dolio, as Juan Dolio is supposedly quieter. But, we personally loved the local sellers and the energy of Boca Chica! By this time, we met Alberto who took us to Bocana Restaurante, where we spent a beautiful day under tall coconut trees on Boca Chica's long white sand coastline and dipped into clear turquoise Caribbean waters.
Visit Columbus Lighthouse
Although Faro a Colón or Columbus Lighthouse may seem unimpressive from the outset, this landmark is worth the visit as it houses the tomb of our OG colonization-sparking man himself, Christopher Columbus! This massive concrete memorial to the famous explorer and navigator is shaped as a cross and also comprises a mausoleum and museum.
Shop Caribbean at Mercado Modelo!
If you're a traveller like me, perusing local shops and markets is a MUST to both capture the city's colour and culture whilst taking a piece of it home! While Calle El Conde, the only pedestrian street in La Zona Colonial brims with local vendors, Mercado Modelo is the largest must-visit one-stop shop indoor/outdoor bazaar that offers a kaleidoscope of Caribbean crafts from jewelry to liquor and cigars to Haitian art available for a bargain!
Stroll through el Malecón de Santo Domingo
Although Santo Domingo is surrounded by the roaring Atlantic, El Malecón is the city's designated waterfront boulevard. Lined between the Caribbean sea and elite hotels, restaurants, and nightlife, the Malecón is beautiful place to admire the sea views, take a stroll, rollerblade, or bicycle through. This seafront boulevard becomes livelier closer to nightfall as residents and tourists visit the Malecón at night for drinks, dancing, and betting.
We stayed at Hotel Catalonia Santo Domingo, right on the Malecón. The location is beautiful and easy to explore the city from via Uber. There are some breathtaking sea-view spots nearby, though restaurants and other sites require a drive as they are quite spread out.
Bring Home Larimar - the Gem of Dominican
Blue as the sea, Larimar is born only in the depths of the Dominican and was found in 1974 during an expedition led by Miguel Mendez. The name is owed to his daughter, Larissa coined with the word, Mar, and is celebrated as a unique gem of Dominicana. Larimar can be bought almost anywhere in DR. We brought ours home from Oh la la Plata located in Blue Mall, Punta Cana.
The Dominican Food Scene
Prior to visiting DR, I read some exceptional reviews of delicious Dominican dishes and Caribbean flavours! Unfortunately, we struggled a bit with the local food scene. Most tourists enjoy safe all-inclusive resorts, but the local cuisine was rather quite bland for our spice-geared tongues. I highly recommend carrying spices or hot sauce to add some flavour to some dishes! Other than that, we explored the food scene as follows:
Seafood with Sea Views
Adrian Tropical is a popular restaurant with a number of locations throughout Santo Domingo. We absolutely loved the unique seaside atmosphere at the Malecón location. They offer a range of cuisines from local Dominican and Caribbean flavours to Western fusions. We enjoyed some of their seafood and pollo (chicken) dishes.
Bocana Restaurante, as mentioned above, is also worth the visit if you're making your way to Boca Chica. The restaurant offers a private beach to enjoy alongside the menu.
Santo Domingo Street Food Please
We didn't find much of a street food culture in the city. However, we did explore some local vendors and tried various local dishes in the Colonial city as well as nearby the Malecón. Villar Hermanos is a popular local restaurant that is quite busy throughout the day offering a range of gourmet dishes and baked goods.
Other Things To Do:
Santo Domingo:
1. Party the Night ~ Fiesta en Plaza de España!
Dance to the country's famous merengue and bachata music! The Ministry of Tourism sponsors the Folklore Celebration Santo Domingo de Fiesta, a night of folklore dances and free concerts held in Plaza de España in the Colonial City Sundays from 7–10 p.m.
2. Dine in a Cave - Guacara Taina
3. Day Trip to Soluna
Punta Cana Paradise:
Abutting the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, Punta Cana is Dominican Republic's easternmost point and most popularly visited for its all-inclusive resorts and vacation packages. The region is blessed with one of the longest white sand coastlines in the Caribbean - a whopping 48 kilometres, lined with sky-high coconut palms and offering turquoise waters and colourful sea-life. A detailed guide may be downloaded here.
1. Swim, Sink, Snorkel, or Sunbathe!
Indulge in the Caribbean sun! Punta Cana is an excellent location for those seeking island-style rest and relaxation, with a dash of water activities. Punta Cana's all-inclusive resorts and boutique hideaways offer the whims and comforts of beachfront living.
2. Take a Dip with Marine Friends - Your Pick: Dolphins or Sharks?
GALLERY:
More of Dominican Republic? Visit: Puerto Plata, La Romana, and Samana.
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