The second largest nation in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles, with Haiti occupying the western portion. To the west are Jamaica and Cuba; Puerto Rico is east beyond the 112-kilometer Mona Passage; and the southern tip of Florida is about 1,000 kilometers away.

Situated in the heart of the region between North and South America, the country is bathed by the Caribbean Sea on the south coast and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. With a land area of 48,442 square kilometers, it is larger than the Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, all the Virgin Islands and the entire French West Indies put together. The Dominican Republic is slightly larger than the Netherlands, and approximately the size of the US state of Maryland.

The Dominican Republic is a land of contrasts with towering mountains and rocky cliffs, rain forests, fertile valleys, cacti-studded deserts, 1,600 kilometers of coastline and about 300 kilometers of prime soft sand beaches. The country is crossed by four rugged mountain ranges bisecting northwest to southeast. The largest is the Cordillera Central with Pico Duarte, the tallest point in the Caribbean, rising over 3,175 meters. Three large fertile valleys rest between the ranges, one of which holds Lake Enriquillo in the southwest, the lowest point in the Caribbean falling 40 meters below sea level. It’s the only salt water lake in the world inhabited by crocodiles.

 

	Santo Domingo Santo Domingo is the oldest city in the New World, where the settlement of all the Americas began. See the first cathedral, the first hospital. Wander down cobble stone streets among the Spanish colonial architecture and imagine how things were back in the 1600s.
	Bavaro/Punta Cana Today, the East Coast beach strip is one of the best choices for those seeking the perfect beach and R&R (rest and relaxation) vacation. Bill and Hillary Clinton in April 2001 chose Punta Cana for their first sojourn after leaving the White House. Punta Cana is that perfect place for a honeymoon.
	La Romana This tourist area comprised of La Romana, Casa de Campo, Dominicus and Bayahibe is an excellent choice for R & R vacations, honeymoons, family holidays, family reunions, teenagers, active travelers, scuba divers and golfers.
	Boca Chica Fly in to Las Americas airport and in 15 minutes you can go wading into a natural giant swimming pool. This makes it a good choice for families with small children. And Boca Chica is great for singles. It is a free-spirited tourist town where 80% of the people out partying on any given night will be single.
	Juan Dolio Juan Dolio and its neighbor beach town Guayacanes are for those who seek a couples or family restful vacation but like being able to take many excursions. If you are staying in Juan Dolio, you are equidistant from the culture, shopping and dining and nightlife of Santo Domingo.
	Puerto Plata Puerto Plata is for those seeking an attractively-priced R&R vacation with the option of lots of places to visit in the vicinity. Choose Puerto Plata if you like to explore. Playa Dorada, Cofresí, Maimón, and Luperon are the main tourism enclaves located near Puerto Plata city.
	Playa Grande Choose Playa Grande if you are a serious golfer. Many consider the Playa Grande Golf Course to be the best in the Dominican Republic. Golfers are calling it the Pebble Beach of the Caribbean.
	Cabarete Choose Cabarete if you love windsurfing. Cabarete is famous for having excellent conditions for the sport. Everything revolves around the six kilometers of Cabarete Beach. On a two kilometer stretch (Cabarete Bay) businesses of all types have sprung up, many run by foreigners who first came as tourists.
	Samana Samana is a destination for nature lovers and adventurers. Green, green mountains, long beaches, solitude, lively little towns in between, turquoise waters. Samana is also a romantic destination, and several of its small hotels are perfect for honeymooners.
	Sosua Sosua is for bargain-hunters, explorers and singles looking for an active beach town, including a hopping night life. Sosua is centrally located on the North Coast, close to many other destinations you can explore on your own or on excursion. You will find many small hotels as well as large all-inclusive resorts.

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