Dominican Republic is located on the Hispaniola Island in the Caribbean Sea, close to its neighbor and longtime foe Haiti. As such, the country is bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to its south and north respectively. Despite attaining its independence in the early years of 1844, the Dominican Republic is still a very poor country which has been facilitated by lack and poor political leadership. However, the country is largely stable today and has an impressive economy that is growing fast with tourism at the center of the country’s economy. Dominican Republic is a hot destination for adventure tourists thanks to its highly diverse countryside which comprises of tropical rainforests, alpine ranges, mangrove swamps, and expanses of arid desert. For trekkers, water sport enthusiasts, and mountain bike junkies, no other place offers a better experience than the Dominican Republic.
You will find luxurious resorts distributed all over the country’s eastern and northern coasts. You will also experience the entertaining Caribbean dance and music, exotic drinks and foods, wonderful colonial architecture, and the popular baseball games. Sugar plantations seem to cover the whole country which when compounded to the other attractions, you shouldn’t have any doubt about having a relaxing and awesome holiday in the Dominican Republic. Natural calamities in the Dominican Republic and its neighbor Haiti are not strangers. The country experiences severe storms, periodic droughts, and occasional flooding. The landscape consists of rugged mountains and highlands with interspersed fertile valleys.
National parks are a major aspect of attraction in the Dominican Republic such as the Los Haitises National Park, Parque Nacional del Este, Jaragua National Park, Monte Cristi National Park, and Parque Historico La Isabela among others. The cosmopolitan capital of the Dominican Republic is largely surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches. The Eastern Plains house the world-famous inclusive hotels such as Punta Cana and Bavaro and many major resorts.
The capital city of the Dominican Republic is Santo Domingo which is the center for politics, culture, and commerce. Other cities include the Punta Cana, San Pedro de Macoris, Higuey, Juan Dolio, La Romana, Sosua, and Rio San Juan, and a few more. Other destinations in the Dominican Republic worthy of your time are such as the Bayahibe, Cabarete, the secluded village of Bonao, Dominicus, and the secluded Playa Bonita beach strip.
Despite being a largely poor country, the Dominican Republic is quite safe. However, as usual, you should use common sense when touring in the big cities. Being one of the third world countries, muggings are not uncommon in cities and you should avoid touring alone. Since most of the regions in the country including its capital Santo Domingo experience frequent power outages, you should remain indoors at night not to find yourself trapped in dark in the city.
Recently wild dogs have become a common sight in the Dominican Republic and regardless of how much you want to feed them, you should be careful as they can become aggressive at times. Western tourists need to dress casually to avoid being the center of attraction as this can jeopardize their safety.