dominican republic
Why should I plan your trip? Because the version of the DR that isn't an all-inclusive resort strip actually exists, and it's worth the extra planning.
RECOMMENDED STAY
Ideal Duration
STARTING PRICE
Per Person Per Day
IDEAL MONTHS
Best Time to Visit
$800+
7+ days
dec-apr
Beyond the Resort StripTHE FIRST CITY OF THE NEW WORLD
Santo Domingo opens the trip as the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, colonial streets that predate anything comparable on the continent. The rest of the island resists the all-inclusive reputation most people assume, mountain towns in the Cordillera Central, the Samaná Peninsula's humpback whale migration each winter, and beaches along the northern coast that never made it onto a resort brochure. This is the same island, told without the wristband.
Where to go in
dominican republic
Santo Domingo
The oldest continuously inhabited European city in the Americas, its Zona Colonial holds the first cathedral, first paved street, and first fortress built in the New World, still very much a living neighborhood rather than a museum.
Punta Cana
The DR's most famous coastline, and for good reason, powder white sand and turquoise water, though the real luxury experience here means seeking out boutique, privately run properties rather than the resort megaplexes.
Samaná Peninsula
Each winter, thousands of humpback whales migrate to Samaná Bay to breed, one of the most accessible whale watching destinations in the world, alongside the dramatic El Limón waterfall and largely undeveloped beaches.
Jarabacoa
A mountain town in the Cordillera Central, the DR's "Alps," river rafting, waterfall hikes, and noticeably cooler air, a genuine contrast to the coast most visitors never see.
ready to Travel to dR?
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TRAVEL + LEISURE
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AUSTIN Based Traveler
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BOSTON Based Traveler
"So many nights, my last thought before falling asleep was what a lovely day we'd had together. We can't wait to plan our next trip with her."
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