59 Best Sights in Dominican Republic

A highlight of any visit to the Samaná Peninsula is Los Haitises National Park (pronounced high-TEE-sis), which is across Samaná Bay. The park is famous for its karst limestone formations, caves, and grottoes filled with pictographs and petroglyphs left by the indigenous Taínos. The park is accessible only by boat, and a professionally guided kayak tour is highly recommended (a licensed guide from a tour company or the government is mandatory for any visitor). You'll paddle around dozens of dramatic rock islands and spectacular cliff faces, while beautiful coastal birds—magnificent frigate birds, brown pelicans, brown booby, egrets, and herons—swirl around overhead. A good tour will also include the caverns, where your flashlight will illuminate Taíno petroglyphs. It's a continual sensory experience, and you'll feel tiny, like a human speck surrounded by geological grandeur. Dominican Shuttles can arrange a park tour and a stay at the adjacent and rustic Paraíso Caño Hondo Ecolodge, which has authentic Creole cuisine and multiple waterfalls.

This is a long, wonderful stretch of nearly white sand and the best beach close to the town of Las Terrenas. Previously undeveloped, it's now reachable by a new highway, Carretera Cosón, and there are a number of condo developments under construction (so the current sense of solitude probably won't last). One excellent restaurant, called The Beach, serves the entire 15-mile (24-km) shore, and there's the European-owned boutique hotel Casa Cosón and its restaurant and bar. If beachgoers buy lunch and/or drinks at either, then they can use the restrooms. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets. Best for: surfing; sunset; swimming; walking.

This replica 16th-century Mediterranean village sits on a bluff overlooking the Río Chavón, on the grounds of Casa de Campo but about 3 miles (5 km) east of the main facilities. There are cobblestone streets lined with lanterns, wrought-iron balconies, wooden shutters, courtyards swathed with bougainvillea, and Iglesia St. Stanislaus, the romantic setting for many a Casa de Campo wedding. More than a museum piece, this village is a place where artists live, work, and play. You can visit the ateliers and see the talented artisans making pottery, tapestry, and serigraphic art. The artists sell their finished wares at the Art Studios Boutique. The village also has an archaeological museum, a handful of restaurants, and a number of unique shops. Strolling musicians enliven the rustic ambience of ceramic tiles and cobblestone terrace, but there are now more bars and nightclubs geared to Casa de Campo's guests. Big names, including Elton John, perform at the amphitheater. Christmastime is sheer magic, with lights, music concerts, a giant Christmas tree, and a cameo appearance by Santa.

Without question, this is a world-class cultural center for Dominican arts and culture. A postmodern building full of light from a crystal dome, the center includes several attractions, galleries for special exhibits, a sculpture garden, and an aviary. It has a replica of La Aurora's first cigar factory, too. Tobacco money coupled with the Jimenes family's generosity built this wonder. Many visitors are most enthralled with the permanent collection of photography and Dominican art, but temporary art exhibits can also be a draw. There's a first-rate cafeteria and a museum shop, where you can buy high-quality, artsy souvenirs, books, and jewelry. It's best to give advance notice if you want a guided tour in English.

La Playita, or Little Beach, is a stunner that's a 15-minute walk from the main Las Galeras beach. Here you'll find a small shack serving fresh fish and a newer, two-story stucco restaurant with a variety of seafood offerings and a full bar. Coconut trees lean far out over the water, and the virgin stretch of Cabo Cabrón extends far along one side, providing incredible views and a sense of privacy and solitude. Amenities: food and drink; parking; toilets. Best for: partiers; solitude; sunset; swimming; walking.

Only accessible on foot, motorcycle, or boat, this beach is undeveloped and offers solitude on most days. Have your hotel arrange for a small boat to take you there, either privately or with a group. Intrepid travelers who choose to go by foot will enjoy an intermediate, one-hour hike worth every second of the slight climb--especially for the incredible views. To hike here, ask for directions to Casa Dorado and stay on that path until you reach the beach. Bring water and snacks as there are no facilities. In the low season, expect to be among the only visitors. Amenities: none. Best for: sunbathing; swimming; hiking; solitude.

This dramatic mile-long stretch is widely considered to be one of the top beaches in the world. Many a photo shoot has been staged at this picture-perfect beach with off-white sands and turquoise water. Just east of the famous golf course of the same name, Playa Grande's drama comes from craggy cliffs dropping into the crystalline sea. Shade isn't easy to find and requires a 30-minute walk on the road (not recommended).

Vendors sell from cutesy, brightly painted Victorian-style huts and have relocated to one end of the beach, where a large parking area was constructed. Security is present, and there are clean restrooms. Surfboards, paddleboards, and boogie boards are for rent—although the surf can swell, it can also be smooth. Two luxury resorts can be found nearby: the Playa Grande Beach Club, just behind the beach and screened by a palm-frond fence, as well as the newer Amanera. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.

There are no public beaches in Samaná town, but you can hire a boat to take you to Cayo Levantado, which has a wonderful white-sand beach on an island in Samaná Bay. Today the small island has largely been turned into a commercial enterprise to accommodate the 1,500 cruise-ship passengers who anchor here; it has dining facilities, bars, restrooms, and lounge chairs. It can be extremely crowded and boisterous when there's a ship in port. The beach, however, is undeniably beautiful. The Bahía Príncipe Cayo Levantado an upscale, all-inclusive resort with its own launch, sells adults-only day passes.

Remote Playa Rincón, a stunning white sand beach, is one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire region. Relatively undeveloped, there are no facilities per se, but spread out across the large stretch there are two or three restaurants offering traditional Dominican food. Other vendors may have beach chairs or sell bracelets and kitschy souvenirs or massage and braiding services. The water can be rough, but there are some calmer areas. The beach is cleaned regularly but not often enough. You can reach Rincón by boat, bus, or car from Las Galeras, with a boat the better option. Driving here takes about 30 minutes from town.  Theft is a real problem here, so when swimming, watch your belongings, don't bring valuables, and don't stay late. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; swimming; walking.

The castle of Don Diego Colón, built in 1517, was the home to generations of the Christopher Columbus family. The Renaissance-style structure, with its balustrade and double row of arches, has strong Moorish, Gothic, and Isabelline influences. The 22 rooms are furnished in a style to which the viceroy of the island would have been accustomed—right down to the dishes and the viceregal shaving mug. The mansion's 40-inch-thick coral-limestone walls make air-conditioning impossible. Bilingual guides are on hand for tours peppered with fascinating anecdotes, like once-upon-a-time weddings. Audio tours (about 25 minutes) are available in English.

A 5,000-seat, Grecian-style amphitheater features concerts and celebrity performances by such singers as Elton John, Julio Iglesias, his son Enrique, Sting, and the Pet Shop Boys, who all share the amphitheater's schedule of events. Show dates vary to coincide with cruise-ship arrivals, usually Sunday and Monday nights. You can combine the show with dinner at one of the village's restaurants.

Higüey's concrete basilica was completed in 1972, and is characterized by its representations of oranges, symbolic of the nearby orange grove, where a vision of the Virgin Mary has become legend. There's a shrine depicting an orange tree and stained-glass windows with cutouts shaped like oranges inside the cathedral. The pinched arches of the facade stretch 250 feet (76 meters) high (many visitors comment that it looks like the McDonald's arch). The basilica is the site of annual pilgrimages on January 21 and August 16. If you want to go to mass, call first as the hours are subject to change. There is a museum on the grounds of the cathedral that chronicles the history of religion in the D.R. as far back as the 1700s. The cathedral is best seen on a guided tour of Higüey.

Sosúa's cultural center is open to the public and free of charge. The ground-floor gallery has rotating exhibitions that primarily feature work by Sosúa and Dominican artists, such as Teddy Tejada. Music and dance lessons, from violin to ballet, are offered to local children on the second floor, as are other culturally minded activities, including photography workshops.

This modest wood-frame house is where Puerto Plata's famous son, General Gregorio Luperón, spent his last years. Known for his courage and patriotic love of his homeland, he led the Dominican revolution against Spain, ending the island's foreign occupation in 1865. The museum's mission is to expose the life and ideals of this national hero to visitors both foreign and domestic. It has been accomplished with quality cultural displays depicting the various stages of Luperón's life, enhanced with signposting in both Spanish and English. The home is a slice of 19th-century life and an emblem of the city's rich history.

Cave of the Miracles is one of the island's most incredible cave networks with the requisite stalactites and stalagmites, and hundreds of primitive Taíno cave paintings to boot. There are walkways and ramps, a tram, and even an elevator that can accommodate wheelchairs. State-of-the-art lighting utilizes sensors, illuminating the artwork only as you approach. The cave can safely accommodate groups, which is the only way you can visit. If driving between, say, Santo Domingo and La Romana, make a pit stop and the multilingual staff will pair you up with others to form a group for a one-hour guided tour. The semi-arid gardens are well maintained, as are the restrooms, museum, shop, and snack bar.

Children must be at least eight years old to swim, and no pregnant women are allowed. No cameras are permitted; all photographs are taken by the crew and sold at the end of the trip.

Past the towns of Abreu and El Bretón, just west of the entrance to Cabrera, this 50-foot cascade empties into the icy pool at the bottom. You're likely to encounter local kids who jump down the falls into the pool for tips. You can scoot down the embankment to swim in it, too, but proceed with caution. The moss makes the rocks slippery.

The only remaining vestige of the colonial era in Puerto Plata was built in the mid-16th century to defend the city against pirates bent on pillaging the growing wealth from its shipping port. In 1605, the fort was dismantled, and it was rebuilt in 1739. It has a moat and a small museum with some historical artifacts. The thick walls and interior moat made it ideal as a prison, which is exactly how the fort was used. Kids will enjoy the opportunity to run around and explore. The centuries-old view of the bay is excellent, and a grassy knoll provides a pleasant place to sit. The fort is included on most city tours; a self-guided tour will take about 15 minutes. A restored lighthouse is adjacent, and is included in the entry fee for the fort.

This combination church and fortress, the only one of its kind in Santo Domingo, was completed in 1562. It is a fine example of colonial Spanish architecture, and not as touristic as the cathedrals. Mass is held on Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6 to 7, and on Sunday morning from 8 to 9 and 10 to 11. The site is open every day but the church is open to the public only on days mass is held.

Founded in 1510, this graceful building is still a Dominican church and convent. Note the prominent and beautiful rose window. In 1538, Pope Paul III visited here and was so impressed with the lectures on theology that he granted the church and convent the title of university, making it the oldest institution of higher learning in the New World.

This diminutive, picture-postcard Caribbean island lies off the coast of the mainland. Catalina is about a half hour away from Bayahibe by catamaran, and most excursions offer the use of snorkeling equipment as well as a beach barbecue. Some cruise lines also use it as a \"private island\" experience.

Off the east coast of Hispaniola and part of Parque Nacional del Este lies this island, inhabited by sea turtles, pigeons, and other wildlife. Indigenous people once used the caves here. The beaches are beautiful, and legend has it that Columbus once stopped over. However, the island is not nearly as pristine as one might expect for a national park. Getting here, on catamarans and other excursion boats, is half the fun, but it can be a crowded scene once you arrive. Vendors are allowed to sell to visitors, and there are a number of beach shacks serving lunch and drinks. Most boats traveling here leave out of the beach at Bayahibe Village. Most tourists book through their hotel or cruise ship. Please note that there is little to no refrigeration on the island and the sun is strong, so take caution when dining.

Named for all the kitesurfing that goes on here, Kite Beach is therefore fairly hazardous for those who just want to swim. On the sand you'll see instructors teaching new students how to work the lines that hold the colorful \"kite.\" Experienced kiters are like poetry in motion, and it's mesmerizing to watch them. It is windy most of the year, but September through the beginning of December tend to have the lightest wind days. Kite Beach passes a sandy peninsula at its east end and becomes Playa Cabarete. There are restaurants and bars on the beach for \"fuel.\" Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; kitesurfing; stand-up paddleboarding

This memorable natural wonder is a small complex of three natural features a few miles west of Cabrera. It has recently evolved and has been made more like a park. A zip line has been installed, and you can jump off a cliff into one of the deep swimming holes, where a lifeguard is usually on duty below. The lagoon offers cold, clean water that you can swim in. Nearby is a natural cave you can explore (bring your own flashlight). Then, across the way take stairs down into a spring that flows inside a cave; adventurous types swim into the mouth. A restaurant serves a small menu and cold drinks, and there are toilets and even a shower.

In the town of Río San Juan is this river-fed estuary leading to the ocean. Greeting you at the water is a picturesque collection of fishing boats. You can hire a boat from a cooperative for a 60-minute trip down a mangrove outlet that teems with tropical seabirds. Graceful egrets, crabs scrambling up the mangroves and beautiful tiny fish playing in the sunlight dappled fresh water are all part of the waterscape. Once in the ocean, the boats follow the shore until reaching tiny Cueva de las Golondrinas, which is named for the swallows that flitter about. You can then swim to a series of virgin beaches. Bring snorkeling gear if you have it. Price varies by group size, call ahead.

Laguna Gri Gri (or Gri Gri Lagoon) has prominent signage throughout the town of Río San Juan, which is on the north coast highway before you arrive in Cabrera. Make sure to call in advance, for on some days if the sea is rough they won't go out.

Constructed between 1512 and 1544, the St. Francis Monastery contained the Franciscan order's church, convent, and hospital. Sir Francis Drake's demolition squad significantly damaged the building in 1586, and in 1673 an earthquake nearly finished the job. Still, when it's floodlit at night, the eerie ruins are dramatic indeed. There's live music every Sunday night from 6 to 10 pm. The scene is like an old-fashioned block party. Zone residents mingle with expats and tourists, who snap pictures of the octogenarians dancing merengue and bachata. Others who come are content to just sit in white plastic chairs, swaying and clapping. It's nice.

In an opulent, galleried mansion, restored to its former Victorian glamour, the museum displays and sells the Dominican Republic's national stone: semiprecious, translucent amber. Amber is essentially prehistoric hardened tree sap, and Dominican amber is considered the best in the world. Many pieces are fascinating for what they have trapped inside, and the small second-floor museum contains a piece with a lizard reported to be 50-million years old, give or take a few millennia. The museum's English text is informative. Shops on the museum's first floor sell authentic, albeit rather expensive, amber, larimar, cigars, souvenirs, and ceramics.

This multimillion-dollar aquatic park in Cofresí has marine and wildlife interactive programs, including dolphin and sea lion shows and encounters, a double-dolphin swim, a tropical reef aquarium, stingrays, shark tanks, an aviary, a rain forest, and a new pirates pool for kids. You must make advance reservations if you want to participate in one of the swims or encounters; children must be at least six years old and accompanied by an adult. The exhilarating (though expensive) double-dolphin swim will produce lifelong memories. If you are brave enough for the (nurse) shark encounter, you will feed them and touch them in the shark cove; the stingray encounter is also included. A photo lab and video service can capture the moment, but there is an extra charge. If you're staying at nearby Lifestyle resorts, or hotels in Puerto Plata, transfers are free. If in Sosúa or Cabarete, transfers are $10 per person; hotels should have the tour schedules.

There’s a private beach, showers, and a locker room on-site.

Orchid Bay Beach is the large public beach within Orchid Bay Estates. It's seldom used by anyone but the residents of Orchid Bay villas, but there is a public road just to the left of the \"Orchid Bay\" sign. Very picturesque, it's swimmable in a couple of choice locations. The beach is named for the wild orchids that grow on the cliffs and drop to the sea, and almond trees growing in the sand emit a lovely aroma. This is the good life. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

The neoclassical facade of the National Pantheon towers over Calle Las Damas, and its interior is just as impressive. Guarded daily by a presidential honor guard, this former 18th-century Jesuit church became the country’s national mausoleum in 1956. It houses the remains of Dominican heroes, such as Gregorio Luperón, Salomé Ureña, José Núñez de Cáceres, Concepción Bona, Emilio Prud’Homme, Juan Sánchez Ramírez, and María Trinidad Sánchez, among others. Explore its striking baroque interior, with a ceiling mural depicting the ascension to heaven and the Last Judgment and an eternal flame burning beneath it.