• For those sunlovers, Punta Cana harbors the Caribbean's longest stretch of white-sand beach. Twenty sun-filled miles lined with palms attract even the fairest of faces.
• East of Santo Domingo, a fast-developing area known as the Costa Caribe, includes the once-sleepy villages of Boca Chica, Juan Dolio and Guayacanes. Now dotted with first-rate hotels and restaurants, this area proves to be a popular tourist spot on the island.
• Besides clear azure waters, sailing, diving and fishing buffs are enticed by the sunken galleons, undersea gardens and offshore reefs that line the eastern coast of the island.
• To the north, the Samana Peninsula comprises the city of Samana and Cayo Levantado, a beautiful offshore cay. This secluded area boasts exciting watersports and majestic scenery.

• Puerto Plata is an interesting town on the north coast. Those visitors who venture into town will find some notable Victorian architecture and streets lined with charming boutiques offering regional arts and crafts.
• A cable-car ride up Mount Isabel de Torres, 2,565 feet above sea level, is a good orientation to Puerto Plata. There is a sensational view of the city and the azure coast, in addition to a small collection of gardens atop the mountain.
• The region around Puerto Plata is often called the Amber Coast because it's the world's largest source of clear amber. You wouldn't forgive yourself if you went home without stopping by the nearby Amber Museum. The museum houses some of the most remarkable samples of amber in the world, including some that contain the remains of prehistoric plant and insect life.
• Another frequented site is the Fort of San Felipe, a daunting stone fortress dating back to the 16th century. It was originally built to protect the island from French and English pirates, but later turned into a prison for political protesters. Today, the fort is a museum housing interesting remnants of the city's past.
• An enjoyable day trip from Puerto Plata is Sosua. It was founded by Jewish refugees in the late 1930s who fled Germany to escape Nazi persecution. The town's Jewish Museum retells the experience of the 700 refugees, who established a dairy and a sausage-manufacturing facility. Today, the town is popular with travelers from Canada, Europe and the U.S. because of its lovely beaches and dive sites.
• The small, simple village of Sosua is actually two villages straddling the bay: Los Charamicos to the west and El Batey to the east. Los Charamicos has a typical Dominican village atmosphere, complete with lively Creole restaurants and bars, street vendors and loud music. El Batey is the hub of Sosúa's tourist activities. It is home to upscale restaurants, bars and boutiques.
• A 10-minute drive east of Sosua is Cabarete, one of the ten best windsurfing spots in the world.

• Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is the oldest city in the New World with buildings that are almost five centuries old standing just steps away from modern 5-star resorts. The major historical attractions are concentrated in what is known as the Colonial Sector.
• The Calle Las Damas (Street of the Ladies), the main street, is lined with historic sights that you won't want to miss. The best place to begin a tour is at the Fortaleza de Santo Domingo, a 16th-century military complex built to guard the city's entrance at the Ozama. The fortress tower is haunted by legends, and maybe a few ghosts.
• Nearby is the noteworthy Museum of the Royal Houses. This restored 16th-century complex originally housed the official headquarters for the government of the New World. Reproductions of the king's throne room, as well as the old colonial courtrooms, can still be seen.
• At the end of Calle de las Damas sits the Alcazar de Colon, the imposing stone palace of Christopher Columbus' son Diego and his wife. The Alcazar holds one of the most significant collections of period furniture in the Americas.
• Santo Domingo harbors the oldest cathedral in the New World, dating back to the 16th century. It is one of the most distinguished structures in the Colonial Sector.
• Be sure to visit the city's main waterfront street, El Malecón. Hotels, restaurants, discos, shops and cafés line the sidewalk and palm trees offer shade along the beach.
• Another popular attraction is the Tres Ojos de Agua, which are three breathtaking underwater lagoons. Located along the Las Américas Highway, they offer a most unique setting for adventure-seeking visitors. Several Tarzan movies were filmed here.
• Also worth a visit is the Acuario Nacional, a beautifully landscaped park that features giant turtles and sharks. Nature lovers might also enjoy the Jardín Botánico and the Parque Zoológico Nacional.
• The Carretera Sanchez, a scenic highway that runs along the serpentine coastline from the capital of Santo Domingo to Barahona, is yet another scenic paradise and definitely worth the drive. You will be rewarded with incomparable vistas of mountains and the azure ocean.
• As you near the Barahona, the mountains rise up from the skyline. It's beaches, Bahoruco and Paraíso, are famous for their white-sands and crystal-clear waters.
• Another of Barahona's attractions is Lago Enriquillo, a saltwater lake 144 feet below sea level. In the center of the lake, the Parque Nacional Isla Cabritos (Goat Island National Park) serves to protect endangered American crocodile. Visitors can stop in at the National Parks Department headquarters in Santo Domingo to make arrangements to visit the island.
• A day trip away is the industrial center of the island, Santiago. The wonders of Santiago and its surroundings are best appreciated by driving there from Santo Domingo. The two-lane Carretera Duarte passes through some of the islands most pleasing landscapes, including El Cibao Valley, with the highest peak in the Caribbean Basin, La Vega Real, the burial sight of Columbus, and Jarabacoa.

© Copyright 2000 CaribbeanWeddings All rights reserved