The Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic is part of the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago. Hispaniola lies west of Puerto Rico and east of Cuba. The Dominican Republic makes up the eastern third of Hispaniola, and the nation of Haiti makes up the other part of the island.
For most of its history, the Dominican Republic has experienced political turmoil and unrest and has suffered through many non-representative and tyrannical governments. The present-day nation has moved toward representative democracy.
The island is a classed as tropical maritime with a wet season from May to November. It can also be prone to hurricanes in season, from June to November.
Like its Caribbean neighbors, Dominican Republic is made up of a blend of European colonists, Tainos Indians and Africans. The official language spoken there is Spanish, with Haitian Creole, English, French, German and Italian also heard in varying degrees.
The cuisine of Dominican Republic is made up of a combination of Spanish, Taino and African influences and is similar to that of other Latin American cultures. Lunch is usually the main meal of the day, with chicken, pork or fish being commonly served. Meat or seafood, rice, potatoes or plantains, served with some type of vegetable or salad makes up a typical meal. Sofrito, which is a mix of local herbs and spices, is a common ingredient in many dishes.
One of the main features that draws tourists to Dominican Republic is its fantastic beaches. There are more than 1,000 miles of fine sandy beaches found in this nation with clear warm seas washing up against them. Dominican Republic’s beaches are thought to be among the world’s best. The east coast is lined with super fine white sand beaches, while the beaches of the north are made up of golden sand. In the west in Barahona, the sand is more a grayish color.
Dominican Republic is widely populated with resorts that host a full array of water sports on its many beaches. The east coast beaches consist of Isla Catalina, Isla Saona, Playa Bayaro, Punta Cana, Playa Cominicus and Playa Minitas. Isla Catalina offers one of the best coral reefs in the area for scuba diving and snorkeling. Punta Cana is known for its 30 mile strip of super fine white sand beach and is often referred to as the ‘coconut coast’ due to the many swaying coconut palm trees scattered along its length. Punta Cana is this regions most popular vacation resort area.
The north coast beaches of Cabarete, Playa Cofresi, Playa Dorada, Playa Grande, Playa Punta Rucia and Playa Sosua are great for sunbathing, kite-boarding and wind surfing. In fact, Cabaret is listed as one of the top five kite-boarding and wind surfing areas in the world. Visitors to this area can also enjoy golfing, boogie-boarding, body-surfing and all manner of other sun and water activities.
There are a number of beaches located in the north east of Dominican Republic, with Playa Rincon topping the list. This beach as been ranked as one of the world’s ten best beaches and many consider it to be the most beautiful on the entire island. It is over three miles long, surrounded by coconut and almond trees, with a 2,000 foot mountain located at one end. It is an isolated beach that is accessible by boat.
Where-ever you go in Dominican Republic, the beaches will be the highlight of your stay. With the turquoise waves washing up on the super-fine sandy shores, a fantastic beach vacations surely awaits you here.
If you would like a chance to learn a little more about various countries and their unique cuisines, why not try my new Ebook: Tastes and Travels Ebook It offers reviews on various travel destinations and has articles on the cuisine of each place (as well as recipes that you can try).
No comments:
Post a Comment