THE GREATER ANTILLES, “SPECTACULAR CARIBBEAN”

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, “THE ISLE OF MERENGUE”

BY CLAY LARROY

Leisure travel is a wonderful experience that everyone should have in their lifetime. Even business travel can be made enjoyable. There are some aspects of travel that can detract from your enjoyment.  When planning to fly for a trip, don't forget any frequent flier miles you might have racked up. It does you no good to hang onto those once you've already gone on your big vacation. Even if you don't have enough miles to cover the whole trip, many airlines will allow you to discount your rate using your miles. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Things to see and do in Dominican Republic

Casa de Campo

This vast resort offers a smorgasbord of different activities, from horseback riding, shooting and tennis to scuba-diving, riverboat fishing and golf. Its "Teeth of the Dog" golf course has received numerous international accolades (www.casadecampo.com.do).

Catch some baseball

Baseball isn't so much the national sport as the national obsession - male and female, young and old, they're all hooked. The domestic seasons lasts from October until late January, providing a chance to experience the game in all its noisy, rum-fuelled glory.

Columbus Lighthouse

A colossal cross-shaped monument to Christopher Columbus, the 'lighthouse' (rarely used as such) doubles as a world museum. The explorer's remains are kept here under a grand sarcophagus.

Dance, dance, dance

Throw yourself into Santo Domingo's nightlife by dancing to down-and-dirty merengue with the locals along Avenida Venezuela's row of nightclubs and 'super-colmadons'. City boardwalk the Malecon has a number of further lively options.

Drink like a local

Order a cuba libre servicio - a small bottle of rum, a coke and a bucket of ice - from one of the country's omnipresentcolmadons (grocery stores-cum-bars) and practice your Spanish on the locals.

Join the carnival

The city of La Vega bursts to life each February for its annual carnival, renowned as the most colourful and raucous in the country. More than 100,000 people cram the streets over the last weekend of the month.

Lago Enriquillo

Populated by countless flocks of tropical birds (and a healthy population of crocodiles), Lago Enriquillo is a spectacularly large salt-water lake near the Haitian border.

Mount Isabela de Torres

Close to Puerto Plata, Mount Isabela de Torres provides exceptional views of the ocean and surrounding landscape. Adventurous sorts can climb it under their own steam; others might prefer the cable-car.

Mountain-biking

The country's geographical diversity makes the interior great for mountain-biking, with the Cordillera Septentrional a particularly good choice. Iguana Mama (www.iguanamama.com) offer this and other adventures.

Museo del Hombre Dominicano

Santo Domingo's best museum gives a fascinating look at the country's anthropology, with a focus on sculptures and artefacts relating to the Tainos, the island's original inhabitants (www.museodelhombredominicano.org.do).

Offshore fishing

Those staying at coastal resorts won't have to look far for the chance to go offshore fishing - hotels, in fact, can usually arrange the activity themselves. Marlin, dorado and sailfish are among commonly found game fish.

Pick up some amber

Arguably the most authentic Dominican souvenir on the market, amber is widely available at reasonable prices; the semi-precious stone is usually set in jewellery. Be mindful, however, of fakery.

Puerto Plata

The northern city has an absorbing Old Town, most notably in the form of the Fort San Felipe, first constructed by the Spaniards in 1540 as both a defensive outpost and a keep for captured smugglers.

Tee off

Enjoy a round of golf under the Caribbean sun. Several of the country's courses enjoy dramatic ocean-facing settings. For more information, contact the Federation of Dominican Golf (FEDOGOLF) (www.golfdominicano.com).

Whale watching

When thousands of humpback whales make their annual winter arrival off the Samana headland, it makes for an incredible spectacle. The season generally stretches from mid-January to mid-March.

Windsurfing

The waters around Cabarate on the north coast are said to offer the best windsurfing in the Americas. Equipment can be easily rented - beginners are best off taking to the sea in the early morning.

Zona Colonial

Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial boasts some of the most important buildings in the Americas, including the grand building that Columbus' son called home and the cathedral built to proselytise the region.

REFERENCE SITES

http://www.travelresearchonline.com/

“The Dominican Republic is my holy land, my Mecca.”
― Raquel Cepeda

Travel to create marvelous memories for you and your family or friends!