Dominican Republic Holidays

If you’re searching for that iconic Caribbean scenery, you’ll find it in the Dominican Republic. Saona Island offers an undeveloped, untouched beachfront, while the Hoyo Azul cenote has water that’s so blue it’s hard to believe it’s real. And for palm-lined sands, there’s nowhere better than Punta Cana.Just so you know, the beaches on this stretch of coastline sometimes experience increased levels of seaweed – called sargassum. It’s influenced by the weather and ocean currents. If your hotel’s affected, the staff will do everything they can to clear it.

For a relaxing beach holiday, head to the Dominican Republic’s east coast, where you’ll find a number of luxury beach resorts. They range from lively Bavaro with its plaza full of gift shops, to the quieter fishing village of Bayahibe. Bayahibe is home to some of the country’s most impressive dive sites. You can swim through the extensive cave system, or dive down to the wreck of the Saint George which sank in 1999.

Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, can be reached in just over two hours by car from the coastal resort of Punta Cana. This Spanish colonial city boasts UNESCO World Heritage status, and is considered to be the cultural centre of the country. Having been presented to Spain by Christopher Columbus, many tributes to the explorer can be seen here. Check out the statue in the city square, and the Columbus Lighthouse.