SANTO DOMINGO

A quintessential destination for sun and beaches, this Garden of Eden is sure to make you move to the catchy, swaying rhythms of bachata, a music and dance that originated here. The city cultivates an irresistible lifestyle in the sun, accented by the fragrance of exotic amber rum and coffee. In 1492, the island of Hispaniola, mysterious and untamed, made an impression on Columbus during his stopover here on his quest for gold. He chose this spot to become the cradle of the New World.

Santo Domingo is hidden behind thick walls and has a colonial centre full of rich historical references, such as Spanish Renaissance monasteries, museums, and palaces. Tourism has boomed here since the beginning of the 21st century, with resorts springing up in Punta Cana, Bayahibe, Bavaro, and all along the white sands of the east coast, but, thank goodness, this beautiful tropical island has managed to keep its identity intact.

This green paradise has a rich environmental heritage, as well, and fights with vigilance to preserve the lush forests, national parks, and ecosystems that are admired as the ultimate reference of paradise lost. You can still find vast areas of wild beauty and nature sanctuaries of all types. Anchored on a coral reef, the heavenly beaches you find here are lined with palms waving their fronds at the turquoise horizon. In the province of Samana, the enchanting Rincón has ranked for several years as one of the world’s top ten most beautiful beaches.

Inland, rural areas fulfil an agricultural destiny, simple and rough around the edges, but still cheerful. Made languid by the warmth of the trade winds, shacks brushed with Caribbean pastels coexist with centuries-old coffee plantations dotting the hills. Unpredictable and captivating, a delightful oasis for stressed city dwellers, Santo Domingo symbolises the ultimate destination, where your secret dreams of exploration and adventure can take refuge.