EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDES
TOP 10 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
10
Beaches for scuba diving & surfing
10
Exciting sports ...
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EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDES
TOP 10 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
10
Beaches for scuba diving & surfing
10
Exciting sports & activities
10
Best restaurants & bars
10
Glorious secluded coastal spots
10
Most spectacular festivals
10
Walking trails & beauty spots
10
Most fun places for children
10
Liveliest resorts & clubs
10
Hotels for every budget
10
Insider tips for every visitor
YOUR GUIDE TO THE 10 BEST OF EVERYTHING
The Dominican Republic Area by Area This Top 10 Travel Guide to the Dominican Republic divides the country into six areas: Santo Domingo and the South Coast, the Central Highlands, the Amber Coast, the Northwest, the Samaná Peninsula, and the Southwest. This map shows the location and extent of these areas. Each area is color coded; the color bands of the chapters correspond to the colors shown on this map. Almost every place mentioned in the book has a map reference, which takes you to the large maps on the front and back flaps. Northwest pp94–99
La Isabela Bay
Monte Cristi
Va
Luperón
de
Dajabón
Cib
ao
Santiago
Central Highlands
Moca
pp80–85 San José de las Matas
Co
rd
ill
La Ve Jarabacoa
er
Pico Duarte 3087m
a
Las Matas de Farfán
C San Juan de la Maguana
Sierr
a d e
Sie
rra
de
Bonao
en
Constanza
tr
a
l
Vil
Nei
Jimaní
Lago Enriquillo
San José de Ocoa
ba
Azua
Neiba
Fondo Negro
Cabral
Ba
So
G Hern
Esperanza
l
Mao
Sabaneta
Playa Dorada
Puerto Plata
La Isabela
lle
L
oru
Ba Barahona
co Baoruco
Pedernales
pp108–113
Southwest Cathedral, La Vega
50
miles
0
km
50
Left Torre del Homenaje Center left Coat of Arms, Catedral Santa María de la Encarnación Cen
Left Kayaking, Punta Cana Right La Vega
osúa
Amber Coast pp86–91
Gaspar nández
Cabrera
Samaná Peninsula pp100–105
Nagua
Salcedo
ega
Atlantic Ocean
Las Terrenas
San Francisco de Macorís
Samaná Samaná Bay Sabana de la Mar
Cotuí
Miches
Cordillera Monte Plata
Yamasá la Altagracia
aní
Hato Mayor
Ori
Nisibón
en
El Seíbo
Co
tal
st
a
de
Bávaro
lC o
Higüey Punta Cana
Boca Chica San Cristóbal
Santo Domingo
San Pedro de Macorís
La Romana Peñón Gorda
pp70–77
Santo Domingo & The South Coast
Caribbean Sea
nter right Playa Cabo Rojo Right Christopher Columbus’s Tomb, Santo Domingo
co
Playa Playa Monte Cristi del Morro
La Isabela Bay
1
Martín García Partido
Santiago de la Cruz
18
Loma de Cabrera
DAJABÓN Restauración
Sylvestre
Parque Nacional Armando Bermúdez
i l 2524m l e r a
ELIAS PIÑA
Thomassique Bánica 45
Guaroa
Higüerita Yacahueque
Los Rinconcitos
Matayaya
Las Matas de Farfán
2
Guayabo 47
Rancho de la Guardia
Jimaní
Neiba
Isla Cabritos
48
46
Puerto Escondido
El Aguacate
INDEPENDENCIA
Banano
a
de Aceitillor
Las Mercedes Playa Pedernales
46
PEDERNALES
POLO MAGNÉTICO
Juancho Manuel Golla
Laguna Salada
Isla Beata
Oviedo Laguna de Oviedo
ur
San
44
Azua
Barreras Bahía de Neiba
Barahona Playa Quemaito
LARIMAR MINES
La Ciénaga
Playa C
S
~ María Montéz Airport
Cabral
El Paraíso
Cabo Rojo
lS
2
Pueblo Vie
BARAHONA
Playa Cabo Rojo
Parque Nacional Jaragua
de
El Cercado
Sajona
Canoa
ruco
El Higuero
Bahía de Las Aguilas
e qu
La Cueva
Bao
l
Valle Nuevo
Fondo Negro
Laguna Rincón
Polo
Pedernales
Ya
Tamayo
Cristóbal
Parque Nacional Sierra de Baoruco
Sierr
AZUA
Hato Nuevo
Mena
Mella
Cons
a
Padre las Casas
Guanarate
El Palmar
Duvergé
La Florida
t r
Villarpando
El Salado
El Limón
n
Presa de Sabana Yegua
Cardón
Galvan
Lago Enriquillo
e
San Juan de la Maguana
ba
BAHORUCO
El R
C
Cabeza de Toro
Nei
LA VEG
Yaque
Las Cañitas
Vallejuello
de
La Descubierta Los LAS CARITAS Ríos
Jarabaco
Los Loma La Rucilla 3040m
Parque Nacional Jose del Carmen Ramirez
50
Derrumbadero
Mata Grande
La Ciénaga
El Coco
El Cercado
50
48
Coral de los Indios
Barranca
Sierra
Boca de Cachón
SAN JUAN
La Estancia
Las Lagunas
Las Lajas
Arroyo Limón Yabonico La Maguana
Ba B
Rancho en Medio
Pico Duarte 3087m
Monte Mijo 2276m
Jánico
Presa de Bao y deTravera Vagua
d
Platicos
Matanzas
Guajaca
Ya qu e
Cerca-la-Source
Savanette
San José de las Matas
SANTIAGO
C o r d
Río Limpio
HAITI
Belladere
ao
Jicomé
Cruz de Cabrera
Comendador
Santiago Cuesta Abajo
Monción
SANTIAGO RODRIGUEZ
El Carrizal
Pedro Garcí
C i d el b a No r te o
La Cacique
Sabaneta
Inaje
Río Grand
Bisonó
Yaq u e
Mao
Los Quemados
PICO ISABEL DE TORRES
5
Esperanza
Piloto
n
LOS INDIOS DE CHAUCEY
u bí
La Ciénaga
u ay
Dajabón
Imbert
Altamira Damajagua
Maizal d e l VALVERDE
Cerro Gordo
G
Fort Liberté
PUERTO PLATA
Hatillo Palma
Pu
Costambar
e
Castañuelas Copey Guayubín Santa María
44
Manzanillo
La Isabela
nd
l e
45
Bahía de Manzanillo
M
Cayos de los Siete Hermanos
29
Cacao El Jabo Playa Monte Cristi Ensenata Sabana Cruz El Rincón Punta Estero Hondo Villa García MONTE CRISTI Rucia V a l Villa Vásquez
Bahía de Monte Cristi
Gra
Parque Nacional Monte Cristi
Puerto Blanco Marina Playa Grande Luperón Las La Sabana Cofresí Lagunas
Playa Isabela
El Arroyo Playa Baoruco
Baoruco San Rafael
Los Patos Caletón Los Cocos
Peninsula Baoruco
Las
A t l a n t i c
uerto Plata Playa Dorada
Cabarete
Gaspar Hernández
ESPAILLAT
Magante La Entrada
233
Palo 21 Quemado Puesto Grande Tamboril
Arroyo Sabana
SALCEDO
José Contreras
Moca
Los Bejucos
Santo Cerro
no ví
lN
Las Guáranas
or
te 1
La Mata
Presa de Hatillo
Bonao
Blanco
MONSEÑOR NOUEL Presa Alto Yuna
SALTO AGUA BLANCA
Guazumita
PERAVIA
g Santo Domingo
2
San Cristóbal
abana Buey
Los Llanos Quisqueya La Yeguada
Los Tres 4 La Jina Ojos Andrés Acuario k Nacional
Las Gallardas
La Montería
orbanito
Ig uamo
Herrera Airport ~
Presa de Valdesia
Yerbabuena
Guayabo Dulce
ac
Las Parras La Victoria Guerra
DISTRITO NACIONAL
El Guineo
Presa de Jigüey-Acuate
11
EL POMIER CAVES
1
Ya
L
Dos Ríos
23
Chirino
San Felipe
a
Las Carreras
el
o
a
Hatillo
Hatillo
La Laguna
Los Ranchitos
La Jina
ab
za
Nizao
Villa Altagracia
Magu
Manchado
Monte Plata
Río Boyá
Is
Ni
Oco
José de Ocoa
ejo
SAN CRISTÓBAL
10 4
San Rafael 10 3
PLATA Centro de Boyá Bayaguana
Yamasá
Básima
o
Cacique
Las Matas
Sama
HATO MAYO C o r d i l l e r a
Sabana Grande de Boyá
MONTE
1
Rancho Arriba
La Horma
Juan Sánchez
Piedra Blanca
g
Punta El Negro
Parque Nacional Los Haïtises El Valle
Rincón Claro
17
Maimón
Las Arroyo Garitas Barril
Trujillo del Yuna
El Valle
Samaná
Sabana de la Mar g
Abadesa Zambrana Abajo
Hatillo
Sánchez
Ceiba de los Pájaros
SÁNCHEZ RAMÍREZ
Río
stanza
Cotuí
Pringamosa
12
La Cueva
SAMANÁ
5
Las Taranas
132
ya b o
GA
Castillo
Pa
Fantino
SALTO DE JIMENOA
s Corozos
La Majagua
Cruce de Rincón
Pimentel Y una
Rincón
Playa El Portillo Playa Bonita Barbacos Cosón Naranjita
El Factor
DUARTE
Peninsula de Samaná
Las Terrenas
Matancita
N a gu a
17
de
Ce
El Ranchito
Buena Vista
Playa Matancita
Nagua
Demajagual 13 2
La Vega
Las Gordas
El Valle
San Francisco de Macorís
aitoa Burende
a
MARÍA TRINIDAD SÁNCHEZ
Canete
Salcedo
Arroyo Salado
ao
25
Yásica Abajo
a
Playa Playa Grande Abreú Caletón Cabo Tres Amarras Laguna Río Cabrera Gri Gri San Juan
Bahía Escondida
Los Brazos
4
5
b
Gregorio Sosúa Lupéron Airport
e
O c e a n
Bombita
k
Parque Las Americas Airport Submarino La Caleta
SAN PEDRO DE MACORÍS
Boca Chica 3
Juan
Dolio Playa Guayacanes
San de M
Playa Najayo
Galeón
Arroyo Hondo Salinas Las Calderas
Baní
Carretón
Sombrero
Najayo Abajo Santana Playa Palenque
Baní Dunes
C a r i b b e a n
40
S e a
20
miles 0 k
Dominican Republic
n The Caribbean USA
Atlantic Ocean
BAHAMAS
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
CUBA
Caribbean Sea
HONDURAS
e
Playa Rincón
PUERTO RICO
HAITI
JAMAICA
NICARAGUA COSTA RICA
Las Galeras
COLOMBIA
VENEZUELA
PANAMA
CUEVAS DE AGUA
Los Cacaos Punta Balandra Cayo Levantado
an á Bay Punta Mangles
Laguna Redonda Laguna del Limón
La Loma
Miches
El Morro
El Jovero
S
Pedro Macorís
km
co
Campiña
Higüey
Diego
LA ROMANA
CUEVA DE LAS MARAVILLAS
Jagual 3
Cumayasa
Batey Cacata
k Airport
Punta Cana
LA ALTAGRACÍA
El Limón
Juanillo
3 CASA PONCE DE LEÓN
La Romana Airport
~ La Romana
Campo Nuevo
4
Guaymate
102
av
La Balsa
El Cuey El Salado El Pintado Bonao Bávaro La Cruz del Isleño Bejucal Charca MANATÍ PARK El Guanito La Otra Banda Cabeza de Bávaro Sabana de Toro Punta Cana
co
Platanitos
4
o
So
os
C
Hato El Seíbo Mayor Covadonga
C
7 10
Pedro Sánchez
Nisibón
ta La Vacama EL SEÍBO O r Boca de Maimón i e n La Guama d t a Playa e l Macao l el Macao
ón
La Loma
Playa Limón 4 10
OR
Ch
uá
San Rafael del Yuma
ALTOS DE CHAVÓN
Boca de Yuma
Bayahibe CUEVA JOSÉ MARÍA
Cayuba
CUEVA DE BERNA
Guaraguao
Martel
Peñón Gorda
Punta Laguna
Parque Nacional del Este Isla Saona
Punta Cana
KEY Top 10 place of interest Maya
guez
(P u e r to Ric o
Other place of interest )
k International airport ~ Domestic airport g Ferry port Highway Main road Other road National Park boundary International boundary
20
40
Regional boundary
Playa Punta Cana
EYEWITNESS TRAVEL top 10
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
JAMES FERGUSON
Contents
Left Windsurfing, Cabarete Center Church, La Romana Right Victorian houses, Malecón
Contents Dominican Republic’s Top 10 Reproduced by Colourscan, Singapore Printed and bound in China by Leo Paper Products Ltd� First American Edition, 2005 07 08 09 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Published in the United States by DK Publishing, Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 Reprinted with revisions 2006 Copyright 2005, 2006 © Dorling Kindersley Limited, London A Penguin Company ,/.$/. .%79/2+ -%,"/52.% -5.)#(!.$$%,()
All rights reserved under International WWWDKCOM and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the copyright owner. Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited ISSN 1479-344X ISBN 0-7566-0904-6 ISBN 978-0-7566-904-7 Within each Top 10 list in this book, no hierarchy of quality or popularity is implied. All 10 are, in the editor’s opinion, of roughly equal merit.
Dominican Republic Highlights
6
Santo Domingo: The Zona Colonial
8
Santo Domingo: The Modern City
10
Constanza & “The Dominican Alps”
12
Santiago
14
Puerto Plata
16
La Isabela Bay
18
Las Terrenas
20
Costa del Coco
22
La Romana
24
Lago Enriquillo
26
Moments in History
30
Taino Indian Sites
32
Museums
34
Children’s Activities
36
Sports & Activities
38
The information in this DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide is checked regularly. Every effort has been made to ensure that this book is as up-to-date as possible at the time of going to press. Some details, however, such as telephone numbers, opening hours, prices, gallery hanging arrangements and travel information are liable to change. The publishers cannot accept responsibility for any consequences arising from the use of this book, nor for any material on third party websites, and cannot guarantee that any website address in this book will be a suitable source of travel information. We value the views and suggestions of our readers very highly. Please write to: Publisher, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, Dorling Kindersley, 80 Strand, London, Great Britain WC2R 0RL. Cover: All photographs specially commissioned except: Alamy Images Cosmo Condina main F/C Corbis Danny Lehman cla F/C; Tom Bean bl F/C, clb F/C; Macduff Everton tc front flap F/C; Richard Bickel tr B/C; Reinhard Eisele tc B/C; Ludovic Maisant tl B/C; Jeremy Horner bl front flap; Franz-Marc Frei bcl front flap; Jeremy Horne br front flap DK Images Kim Taylor and Jane Burton tc F/C
Nature Trails
40
The Northwest
Beach & Sea Activities
42
The Samaná Peninsula 100
Quiet Beaches
44
The Southwest
Views
46
Places of Worship
48
Festivals & Holidays
50
Places to Meet the Locals 52
94 108
Contents
Left San Juan de la Maguana statue Center Playa El Macao Right Calle del Sol, Santiago
Streetsmart Planning Your Trip
116
Arriving
117
Getting Around
118
Driving Tips
119
Shopping
54
Restaurants
56
Bars
58
Sources of Information 120
Nightlife
60
Dishes of the Dominican Republic
Banking & Communications
121
62
Security & Health
122
Trees & Flowers
64
Things to Avoid
123
Animal Life
66
Budget Tips
124
Around the Dominican Republic
Eating & Drinking
125
Special Needs
126
Santo Domingo & the South Coast
Tours & Special Interests 127 70
Accommodation Tips
128
The Central Highlands
80
Places to Stay
129
The Amber Coast
86
General Index
134
Left Exhibits outside Museo de Arte, Bonao Right Boaters near El Morro Key to abbreviations Adm admission charge Free no admission charge Dis. access disabled access
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC’S TOP 10
Santo Domingo: Zona Colonial 8–9 Santo Domingo: The Modern City 10–11 Constanza & “The Dominican Alps” 12–13 Santiago 14–15 Puerto Plata 16–17 La Isabela Bay 18–19 Las Terrenas 20–21 Costa del Coco 22–23 La Romana 24–25 Lago Enriquillo 26–27 Top Ten of Everything 30–67
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC’S TOP 10
Dominican Republic Highlights 6–7
!
The historic jewel in the capital’s crown, this district of restored colonial buildings and shady +$,7, plazas is filled with wellpreserved reminders of a bygone age (see pp8–9).
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Santo Domingo: The Zona Colonial
:
Dominican Republic’s Top 10
Dominican Republic Highlights The Dominican Republic is a country of surprising contrasts and extraordinary variety. From the chilly peak of the Caribbean’s highest mountain to some of the region’s most delightful beaches, the country boasts lush valleys, spectacular waterfalls, and sun-baked deserts. The past and present also blend in a fascinating mix of colonial buildings and modern hotels, sleepy rural villages and lively tourist resorts. The people, too, reflect a kaleidoscope of influences — Spanish, African, indigenous — creating a culture that emphasizes /XSHUµQ 3XHUWR both creativity and fun in the fields /D,VDEHOD 3ODWD 0RQWH&ULVWL %D\ 6RV¼D of music, sport, and art.
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The modern metropolis encompasses crowded downtown streets, charming suburbs, and relaxing parks, where art galleries rub shoulders with US-style shopping malls (see pp10–11).
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& “The £ Constanza Dominican Alps”
Only two hours from the capital, the rugged interior is a walker’s paradise of green meadows and clear rivers, surrounded by pine forests and mountains. Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean, lies here (see pp12–13).
Previous pages Archway in Santo Domingo
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city is different in ambience from bustling Santo Domingo. Its streets are filled with monuments to its past glories as a tobacco boom town (see pp14–15).
Plata % Puerto Steeped in colonial history, the North
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colonization of the Americas really began, the beautiful bay reveals the story of Columbus’s first settlement. Other highlights include some wonderful beaches such as Playa Isabela and Punta Rucia Beach (see pp 18–19).
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& Las Terrenas
One of the coolest spots in the country, a once-tiny fishing village surrounded by idyllic beaches has become a magnet for independent 1LVLEµQ travelers and sunseekers (see &RVWDGHO &RFR pp20–21).
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Isabela Bay ^ La The place where European
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