This Caribbean Destination Has Colonial Towns and the Tallest Island Mountain

Rewards beyond the resorts.

Do n’t be take in by anyone make the “ stay to your resort ” claim when it come to thisCaribbean gem . Sure , you may choose to solely debase up on calm turquoise waters , soft livid sand , and gallons ofmamajuana(a Dominican staple of rum , red wine , love , and spice ) at your all - inclusive hotel inPunta Cana . There is certainly a well - deserved time and seat for that .

But if you have a travel itch that postulate to be scratched , the Dominican Republic offers the highest heap peak in the Caribbean , a worldly concern - class kite - surfing utopia , and a Washington city witha colonial zone that gasconade 500 - plus years of account . The gum to each endeavor is the invincible forgivingness of the Dominican hoi polloi .

It ’s never been easier to search the Dominican Republic than now . A make - novel highway link up the Dominican Republic ’s second largest city , Santiago , and the northern port of Puerto Plataopened late last class . And , as easy as it can be to rent a machine and plat your own journeying through windy , mountainous roads , it ’s growingly easier to find a favorable guide to make DR journey seamless , too .

Wooden pier to Saona island

You can almost hear the squeaking planks.|©Marco Bottigelli/Moment/Getty Images

With visit to coffee tree farm , whale watching excursions , and hiking or gondola rides to the round top of mountains , the Dominican Republic is a world of risky venture — one whose ok qualities are too often stuff to the back burner amid a stationary resort stop . Here are some of the best escapades for those who truly want to have the Dominican Republic .

Hike the Caribbean’s tallest peak

loom at 10,164 foot and situated in the cardinal and vastArmando Bermúdez National Park , you ’ll discover the gamy peak in the intact Caribbean , Pico Duarte . Let ’s restate here : The common is massive—296 square miles ( ! ) to be exact — and has many entering in many towns . guide to the town ofManaboa , approximately 35 minutes west ofJarabacoa , where you ’ll discover a park entranceway with the most seamless route , known as La Ciénaga .

The journeying to the top of Pico Duarte is nearly 15 mi ( 25 kilometers ) so , at a minimum , plan on the hiking lasting two full day , including an overnight refugee camp . Contrary to the landscape painting here , it is not “ a walk in the park , ” and count on a solid sweat during your trek . For extra aid , the park federal agency proffer pathfinder and even trustworthy mules to assist lug your gear wheel .

Walk through centuries of preserved history in Santo Domingo’s Zona Colonial

The Santo Domingo metropolitan field is as bustling as a capital city gets , witha waterfront boulevard(Malecón ) full of parks and walk / biking paths or its Piantini neighbourhood lined with skyscraper and luxury shopping . To receive the capital ’s most unique side , head to Zona Colonial , a UNESCO World Heritage sitethat date stamp to the late 1400s . Baroque - style construction , stone walls , and pops of tropical color make up the vicinity . historic staples include the first cathedral and castle in the Americas ( Basilica Cathedral of Santa María la MenorandAlcázar de Colón ) .

For as much historic elegance that the Zona packs , it know how to rent loose , too . Calle El Condeis a tourist - favorable , walker - only street that include cafés , souvenir shop class , and little ginmill where locals downPresidente beerson the regular . For a craft cerveza , head toLa Cacata , which on a regular basis weave in Dominican - grown crop — from mango tree to cacao — into its brews .

Tour a coffee plantation and drink a lot of it, too

Fun fact : The Dominican Republic is the35th enceinte coffee produce country in the worldand it hassix coffee growing regions . And while the stapleSanto Domingo coffeeis advertised everywhere , the country is experiencing a distinctiveness coffee tree revolution . Leading the charge are a smattering of small pile coffee tree roasters , cafés , and farmers throughout the country . To experience Dominican coffee bean at its finest , book a farm duty tour and/or cupping experience with the country ’s specialty coffee berry king , Alfredo Diaz ofCafé Don Alfredo . He has farms as well as a roasting / tasting room near Jarabacoa in the heart of the land and , best of all , he ’ll make you feel like family .

lover of pour over ( for example Chemex and V60 - brew burnt umber ) and fancy lattes have limited options in the Dominican Republic . The spots that will pass any coffee aficionado ’s litmus mental testing includeEl Rincón Del Caféin Puerto Plata , CalCalí Coffee Roastersin Santiago , andCasa Barista & Co.in Santo Domingo .

Hop on the Teléferico Puerto Plata for panoramic mountain and water vistas

From the center of the bustling Northern port wine townsfolk of Puerto Plata , you may see a tiny red dot arrive at its way up a unripened mountain in the space . It ’s theTeléferico Puerto Plata , the Caribbean ’s only fully - operational cable car system , which has been run since 1975 . The drive takes about 10 minute up the 2,600 - plus foot mountain , where a botanic garden where most 600 types of works , the restaurant , and Christ the Redeemer statue look . From the top , see how many Puerto Plata icons you could spot in the distance , including theBrugal Rum distillery , Ocean World Adventure Park , andFortress of San Felipe .

Watch humpback whales breach in Samaná

If you find yourself in the DR between January and the ending of March , head neat toSamaná Bayalong the country ’s westerly edge . This isthewindow to see one C upon hundreds of humpback whales attend out in the inwardness of their migration season . During this timeframe , the true laurel is noticeably absent of vas except for the casual whale - watching craft . To see them frisk up close , book an digression withKim Beddall , a Canadian - born environmentalist that has been in the biz for decades .

And even if you do n’t bewitch the fabled brute , Samaná Bay is a howling beach address with humps of terra firma spread across the ocean and link by bridges , making for a gorgeous saunter .

The Best Caribbean Destinations for an Easy Beach Getaway

Beach. Rum. Repeat.

Kitesurf and then eat some waffles in cozy Cabarete

The beach Town along the DR ’s northerly coast be given the spectrum fromSosúa , with its rowdy street lined with saloon , toCabarete , with its blue , coral reef - clad waters . With kitesurfing signage splash along Cabarete ’s Camino Cinco chief pull , you ’ll quickly pick up that it ’s the quintessential thing to do in this Bohemian town . The spot has been the sight of many global kitesurfing competitions through the years , so whether you ’re a novice or pro , there are instructors and equipment for you . For a lesson , hit upKite Club , Pro Kite CabareteorProgress Kitesurf .

stake - beach , Vagamundo Coffee and Waffleshas open - air quarter with live music and waffle - revolutionize spins on global saucer , such as a Graceland waffle topped with peanut butter , bacon , and maple syrup .

Eat beef with plantains, fish with plantains, and everything with plantains

The Dominican Republic itself is a colorful hybrid of influences , span autochthonic Taíno , Spanish , African , and more . Its cuisine is no exclusion . Adrian Tropical , on Avenida Abraham Lincoln in Santo Domingo , remains an unpretending must for stress Dominican staples likemofongoandsancochounder one cap . For a more upscale take on Dominican menu in the capital , Don PepeandLaurelare mainstays as well .

Beyond the majuscule , culinary experiences often fit the vibe of their surroundings . For a bird’s-eye mountain horizon like no other , head toJamaca de Diosoutside of Jarabacoa , whose carpaccio , croqueta , and paella offerings are as rally as the vistas . In Puerto Plata , take in the townsfolk ’s buzzing and historic town square ( Parque Central Independencia ) from the upscale straitlaced firm - gone - restaurant , Casita Azul . regularize the eggplant cutpurse — with plantains , ointment , and onion — and prepare to reserve a trip back to Puerto Plata just to have it again .

Unwind at the DR’s finest hotels and resorts

If you are looking for the all - inclusive , carefree vibe , Punta Cana is your destination , withIberostar Grand BávaroandEden Roc at Cap Canacatering to your every pauperization . If you gain the latter , load down your golf nightspot as there is a Jack Nicklaus golf trend .

For a jumping off full stop for central DR escapade — spanning Pico Duarte treks to coffee experience — book theGran Jimenoa Hotelin Jarabacoa , posit next to a rushing river that you could watch flow from your elbow room . The hotel has its own raised bridge circuit up in the hobo camp canopy , so you’re able to feel like you ’re hang out in an undivided treehouse .

In Santo Domingo , theCasas del XVIis an intimate collection of houses - gone - hotel in the Zona Colonial . you could either opt for a single elbow room or hire the entire house . Many of the house have their own courtyard or secret swim puddle , and are perfect for openhanded group . Some construction were former convents , monastery , or sixteenth hundred buildings that preserve their history with modern update . The hotel offers experiences like clay shop , veranda tours , and cigar classes .

Person looking at a river next to a tent