Dominican Republic – A Country of Contrasts

Dominican Republic is a country located on the Caribbean island of La Espanola, sharing an island with Haiti. The Spanish is the second largest island in the archipelago of the Antilles, to be located west of Puerto Rico and east of Cuba and Jamaica.

Dominicans sometimes refer to their island as Quisqueya, a name for La Espanola used by the indigenous Taino which means “mother of all lands”.

If somebody asks you about the Dominican Republic, for certain the first thing you think of are beaches and hotels / resorts all inclusive, but the Dominican Republic is much more than sun and sand. Beginning from Santo Domingo, founded in 1496 was the first city in the new world; it opened the doors to the monumental route, with its colonial zone declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

For those interested in visiting the Dominican Republic, you can get your stay with all kinds of luxuries in one of the exclusive resorts of the Dominican Republic, all of which are located mainly in Punta Cana and Puerto Plata, but on the contrary, if you like more adventure, this country has so many cultural blends, wildlands, beautiful landscapes and personality are worth explore it in depth, being the most southwestern Dominican Republic, the most unknown on the island and with fewer tourists, a region severely depressed economically, but for its diversity of landscapes, make it next to the Samana area, the place with more charm and magic of the country.

The Dominican Republic is a country with many contrasts and without a doubt, once you visit it you will be captivated by the charm of the country. You can visit the highest peak in the Caribbean, walking along the first streets, the first hospital, the first university and the first paved road in the New World.

The landscapes of the Dominican Republic are very contrasting and captivating, and have unusual places of inestimable and remarkable beauty.

Spanish heritage highlights the extraordinary monuments, secular witnesses of the first events that marked the early colonial history. The Tainos, inhabitants of the island in the pre-Columbian era, have left the territory on all sorts of objects testimony to a surprising and original art: objects in leather, wood, amber, larimar (national stone), mud, etc..

To learn about the culture of the Dominicans is necessary to discover the joy of life that is expressed mainly through the popular traditions: the Carnival, fighting cocks, and especially the omnipresence of the dance: The Merengue and Bachata.

As an island nation the Dominican Republic offers a variety of attractive dishes, which are blended with the influence of Taíno, European and African, offering an explosion of flavors rich in nuances and condiments.