DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
In the Caribbean Sea lies the island of Hispaniola, which is divided into Haiti, on the west side, and the Dominican Republic on the east side. Natives have lived there for thousands of years, who have been forced to work as slaves since the discovery of the island by Columbus (1494). In 1540 they were almost extinct and slaves were brought from Africa.Haiti (French colony) and the Dominican Republic (Spanish colony) suffered from conflicts and political instability for centuries, which is why the US intervened and had military bases in the area. Haiti still suffers from dictatorship and the consequences of major earthquakes, while the Dominican Republic is doing better today.
The Dominican Republic has a 1288 kilometer long coastline with numerous tropical palm beaches. The country is hilly and in the valleys sugar cane, bananas and tropical fruits are planted. The natural vegetation consists of coconut palms, pine trees, fuchsia, passion flower, begonias, bromeliads and cacti. A rare mammal that looks like a rat, the agouta, lives in caves and limestone holes. There are reptiles everywhere, such as iguanas and lizards. Cocoa, tobacco and coffee are grown on mountain slopes. Eucalyptus forests provide wood for charcoal, which many people use for cooking. There are salt and marble mines. In nature reserves you will find reservoirs and waterfalls. The best time to travel is from December to April, when it is less warm (around 27° Celsius). Hurricane season usually falls in September and October.
The Dominican Republic has over 11 million inhabitants, of which 73% are mixed (descendants of Europeans, Africans and indigenous people). There are also Haitians, Germans, Italians, Jews, French, Americans, Jamaicans, Chinese and Japanese. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic. The school system consists of public schools and expensive private schools. In the countryside, many children do not go to school and many people can barely read and write.
The capital Santo Domingo de Guzmán has 3.5 million inhabitants. The city was founded by Christopher Columbus, at the mouth of the Ozama River. The colonial center (ciudad colonial) is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Alcázar de Don Diego Colón (Palace of Diego Colón) was built from 1510 to 1514 of coral stone and three generations of Colón ruled the city from here. Spanish conquerors of Mexico and Peru received instructions in this palace and returned to report. In 1586 the palace was plundered by the British navigator Francis Drake. The city gate Puerta del Conde and parts of the 17th century city wall have been preserved.
Faro a Colón (Columbus Lighthouse) from 1931 is a huge funerary monument with beams of light and a museum. In the Parque Nacional is the Altar de la Patria (Altar of the Fatherland) a white marble funerary monument from 1976 for national heroes.
If gravestones aren’t really your thing, head to the Acuario Nacional (National Aquarium) or outside the city to Los Tres Ojos, three lakes in a cave with collapsed ceilings. You can buy souvenirs, local specialties and rum at tourist markets.
In the cities, the Dominican Republic is ultra-modern, but in the countryside you’ll see donkey carts and farm workers in the back of a pickup truck going to the sugar cane fields. There are old buses from the US. Tourists are transported in luxury buses. In the cities, minibuses (guagua) operate. Traffic is chaotic, with fast and slow traffic intermingling. There is a highway from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata. There are international airports in Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata and Punta Cana.
Tourism is an important source of income for the country. Puerto Plata is located on the north coast, on the kilometer-long Bavaro beach, with dozens of hotels and all-inclusive resorts. There are many employment opportunities for the local population and tourists enjoy carefree holidays.
The Damajagua waterfalls are located 20 km from Puerto Plata in a nature reserve and are frequently visited by tourists. Puerto Plata has a port for cruise ships.
The town of San Felipe de Puerto Plata has a center with 19th century villas. Very special is the Museo del Ambar (amber museum). You can see a collection of pieces of amber (fossilized resin from trees) in which insects and plants were enclosed 15 to 20 million years ago. The San Felipe fort was built during the Spanish period. A cable car takes you to the top of the Isabel Torres hill, where you can look out over the city and the palm beaches. There is a huge statue of Christ, as you may know from Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro. At La Isabela are ruins of Columbus’ first settlement.
Sosúa is the oldest tourist resort in the Dominican Republic and is known for its wild nightlife. It is a busy town full of shops and discos. The Museo Judio Sosúa provides information about Jewish refugees who came here in the 1940s.
The beaches at Cabarete with their high waves are popular with (kite) surfers and water sports enthusiasts. In El Choco National Park you can visit caves that are 5 million years old. The Yasica River is ideal for water skiing or kayaking. Or do you prefer mountain biking, hiking, motorcycling or horse riding? Everything is possible here!
In the bay of Samaná, humpback whales come to mate in the calm waters from January to March, or give birth to their young. On the north side of the peninsula is Las Terrenas and on the south coast is Samaná.
On the southeastern tip lies Punta Cana. Palm trees have been planted along the beaches and more and more all-inclusive hotels are being built. The village of Punta Cana was set up especially for tourists by project developers. The Punta Cana airport is the largest in the Dominican Republic.
In Parque Nacional del Este there are Indian rock drawings preserved. On the south coast east of Santo Domingo lies a nice fishing village, Bayahibe. From here you can take boat trips to the islands Saona, Catalina and Catalinita.
Saona is an island off the southeastern coast, where only 300 people live in colorful wooden houses. There are beautiful beaches and a few beach bars. No one is in a hurry and it is a great place to relax, swim and snorkel.
La Romana is the center for the processing of sugar cane. The cut sugar cane is transported by rail to the sugar and rum factories. In Casa de Campo there are exclusive villas of world stars.
Close to Santo Domingo are the popular seaside resorts Boca Chica and Juan Dolio.
In the Dominican Republic, the Zona Franca (Free Trade Zone) produces for the American market. Via Puerto Rico it is possible to export to the US at low import duties. Clothing, electronics, shoes and leather goods are well-known products. Traditional export products are sugar, rum, tobacco, rice, coffee, bananas, cement, iron and steel and food.
The music of Juan Luis Guerra reaches an international audience of millions. Johnny Pacheco (musician) and Oscar de la Renta (fashion designer), Cardi B (rapper) and many famous athletes have their roots in the Dominican Republic. Merengue, salsa, bachata and son can be heard everywhere on the streets, in discos and bars along the beaches. Many hotels offer dance lessons.
Dominican cuisine is Caribbean and African in origin and can be spicy. Sancocho is a meal soup with meat and vegetables. Pica pollo is spicy chicken. Brugal is a well-known brand of Dominican rum. In all-inclusive hotels, barbecue meat or fish, stews and countless tropical fruits and vegetables are on the menu. Simple daily meals consist of rice with beans or corn, meat, chicken or fish, as in most Caribbean countries and South America.
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$410,-
| Capital | Santo Domingo |
|---|---|
| Population | 11,4 million |
| Language | Spanish |
| Currency | Dominican peso |
| Visa required | www.visum.nl |
| Vaccination(s) | yes |
| Voltage | 120 V |
| Traffic | Right-hand traffic |
