La confluencia
Head to this waterfront park, located a mere ten minutes from downtown Jarabacoa, where two of the area’s rivers–the Jimenoa and the Yaque del Norte–merge and create mini pools amid the rocks. The spa-like bubbling sections allow groups of friends or family to safely relax in a circle. Bring your picnic and cooler to enjoy […]
José del Carmen ramírez National Park
Just like its adjacent Armando Bermúdez National Park, yet less explored, this is one of the country’s first national parks and protected areas. Stretching across three provinces at 764 square kilometers (295 square miles), the park was named after a prominent Dominican general. Flora and fauna abound, from pine and broadleaf forests to cedar trees, […]
Armando Bermúdez National Park
Established in 1956, the Armando Bermúdez National Park stretches 767 square kilometers (296 square miles), and together with the neighboring José del Carmen Ramírez National Park, boasts the tallest peaks in the Caribbean region, including the mighty Pico Duarte, source of the Yaque del Norte river, as well as several more river sources. The two […]
barahona enriquillo costal highway
There’s no drive in the country quite like the one that takes you rolling down the Barahona Enriquillo Coastal Highway, on the way out of Barahona town and along the southwestern coast. The Caribbean Sea sparkles turquoise on your left, while the mountains of Barahona tower on your not-so-distant right. Along the way, you’ll pass […]
Playa boca chica
Because of its proximity to Santo Domingo, Boca Chica is considered the capital’s main beach. Stretching a near mile long with brilliant, white sand, this bustling stretch is well protected by a large coral reef, and its shallow turquoise waters—not more than four feet in depth, and often compared to a giant natural pool—make it […]
Playa caribe
Facing a picturesque cove, this half-moon shaped beach attracts surfers and boogie boarders on the weekends, flocking here from the capital for a bit of wave action. There are surfboards for rent, and you can get an introductory lesson. Fill up afterwards with a seafood lunch.
Museo del Ámbar
Puerto Plata’s Amber Museum, sitting smack in the heart of the city in a neo-classical style residence, displays some of the DR’s stunning amber stones on several floors, including samples containing animal fossils. Showcased in a room designed like a cave, you’ll view close-ups of stones containing a near 43-centimeter (17-inch) lizard, a scorpion, a […]
Mount Isabel de Torres
Hike your way up or hop on the only cable car in the Caribbean to reach Mount Isabel de Torres, flanked by a giant statue of Christ the Redeemer–one of the province’s iconic landmarks. You’ll be standing 793 meters (2,600 feet) above Puerto Plata’s verdant hills, surrounded with phenomenal views of Puerto Plata’s Atlantic Ocean […]
Malecón de Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata’s residents proudly state that theirs is the most beautiful seafront boulevard in the Dominican Republic. You’ll realize why when you see the multiple white sand beaches that line the city’s main avenue, each bearing a name. Aside from days at the beach right within the city, the boulevard’s long, shaded sidewalk is ideal […]
Fortaleza San Felipe
A key piece of Puerto Plata’s history, Fortaleza San Felipe was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century to defend the north coast of the Dominican Republic from the British and Dutch, and from French pirates in search of the area’s abundant gold and silver. Considered one of the most important colonial military structures in […]
