THE ISLAND'S TEN MOST
ROMANTIC SPOTS

1. In the northeast, take a boat ride from Samana to Cayo Levantado, a castaway's dream with its lush forests and secluded beaches.
2. Love is sure to blossom when you rent a sailboat and take off for one of the secluded beaches and quaint villages dotting the island's breathtaking eastern coast.
3. Go diving together and explore the vivid colors of coral formations, tropical fish and amazing reef caverns along the island's coastline.
4. Fundación Ecológica Punta Cana, a non profit organization that overseas a 10 million square meter natural reserve, includes a garden of tropical fruit trees and offers visitors a chance to discover the flora and fauna of the region.
5. Altos de Chavón, a hand-constructed replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean village, is perched on the cliffs above the Chavón River and is a site not to be missed. The village serves as both a living museum and an artists' colony, providing a picturesque setting in which artists live, study and work.
6. Take advantage of Punta Cana, home of the longest stretch of beach in the Caribbean. Twenty glorious miles of white-sand lined with coconut palms and other trees affords a sparkling hideaway for couples.
7. Curl up together on a blanket on the beach and watch the sun rise over the glorious horizon.
8. Bávaro, with its string of resort hotels, parks and golf course, is a migration center for couples looking to be pampered.
9. A chance of a lifetime...Manatí Park offers the chance to swin with dolphins and interact with marine mammals.
10. A boat trip to enchanting Catalina or Saona Island is a must. Both offer couples spectacular scenery and the underwater magnificence of coral reefs.

1. Discover together the hidden treasures of Puerto Plata, a charming city of wooden houses and Victorian architecture.
2. A cable-car ride up Mount Isabel de Torres, 2,565 feet above sea level, rewards you with a sensational view of the city and the azure coast, in addition to a small collection of gardens atop the mountain.
3. Surprise your sweetheart with a gem from the heart. 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.
4. Finally, if you miss it during the day, be sure to visit the Fort of San Felipe, an imposing stone fortress dating back to the 16th century. At night, it is outlined in a dazzling display of lights.
5. Los Charamicos, the western village of Sosua, is worth a trip to experience a typical Dominican village atmosphere, complete with lively Creole restaurants and bars, street vendors and loud music.
6. Treat yourselves to a scrumptuous dinner for two at one of the upscale restaurants in El Batey, the eastern village of Sosua.
7. In Sosua, La Roca is the oldest bar, disco and eatery in one. With beautiful decor, comfy couches, good food and music, it boasts a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
8. Don't miss the chance to discover Cafe Cito in the center of Puerto Plata. This little cafe is hidden down a narrow alley in a shaded courtyard under a towering mango tree. With jazz in the air and the smell of delicious Caribbean and Mediterranean specialties grilling, the cafe beckons you to sample their delicious menu.
9. Downtown Puerto Plata features quaint gingerbread houses with white fences aflame with bougainvillea. The newly restored gazebo in the central square of Independence Park affords a romantic place to relax and recap your wonderful adventures.
10. Pick out the perfect memorabilia together at the Centro Artesanal, a shopping arcade that sells local arts and crafts.

1. Slip into a time warp when you tour the beautiful buildings and ruins dating back to the 16th century in the Colonial Sector.
2. Take a tour of "Los Tres Ojos," a fresh-water spring that is set like a crystal jewel in a fern-covered cave.
3. Glam it up with a night on the town in Santo Domingo. The dining choices are outstanding, the club-hopping is first-rate, and you'll find plenty of live entertainment plus high-stakes casino action at the major resorts.
4. Rent a convertible and drive along the Carretera Sanchez, a scenic highway that runs along the serpentine coastline from the capital of Santo Domingo to Barahona. You will be rewarded with incomparable vistas of mountains and the majestic shoreline.
5. Experience the exotic moves of Taino dancing at Parque Mirador. The shows are performed in a deep natural cave with stalactites and pictographs.
6. A stroll along Las Damas street recalls a world of court ladies and soldiers, monks and noblemen, pirates and slaves.
7. The Fortaleza de Santo Domingo, a 16th-century military complex built to guard the city's entrance, is haunted by legends and fairytales, and a few ghosts.
8. Feed each other some of the best in Caribbean fare at one of the many first-rate restaurants around the city.
9. Those who pray together stay together, so be sure to stop by the oldest cathedral in the New World situated in the Colonial Sector.
10. Magical things are known to happen in the many secluded courtyards throughout the city. Bring a blanket and some champagne for a night of star gazing and whispers of love.