Dominican Republic Holidays

Most tourists visiting Dominican Republic are initially attracted by the magnificent golden sandy beaches along its 1,400km coastline. But relaxing in the tropical sunshine isn't the only thing to do on the island. Dive a huge variety of sites around the island, go offshore fishing, swim with dolphins and visit the greatest preserve of wild American crocodiles. Wander in awe along the miles of beautiful picture-postcard perfect, unspoilt beaches of the Atlantic coast or tee off on some of the world's best golf courses. For the more daring, get wet in the islands rapids with white-water rafting, abseil down a waterfall or conquer the highest mountain in the Caribbean, Pico Duarte, either by foot or on a mule.

Punta Cana Beach Resort

The first beach destination developed for tourism in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata, remains one of its most popular, with a long string of affordable beachfront resorts and a reputation as one of the best spots for windsurfing in the world. The city of Puerto Plata, meaning ‘Port of Silver' in Spanish, dates to 1502, but much of its charm is from its Victorian-era architecture, such as pastel buildings with gingerbread details, and its warm, Dominican-style friendliness. Most of the hotels are all-inclusives and are built on Playa Dorada, about 10 minutes to the east of the city. The resort can also serve as a gateway to the rest of the North Coast resorts, including laid-back Cabarete (famous for kiteboarding) and Sosua, a budget-friendly beach village with low-cost shopping and dining and good snorkelling.

Punta Plata Beach Resort

Boasting a series of wide white beaches that stretch nearly uninterrupted for 56km (35 miles), Punta Cana was almost completely undeveloped just 40 years ago. Now it's a busy international holiday destination, with 20,000 rooms scattered among more than 30 large hotels and resorts, almost all offering all-inclusive meal and beverage plans. It has a well-deserved reputation as one of the most affordable destinations in the Caribbean, as well as one of its friendliest (although many natives do not speak English), thanks to the Dominican Republic's lively, Spanish-influenced culture and music.