Going on vacation to the Dominican Republic, many are wondering what is worth seeing in this beautiful country. Beautiful tropical nature, a variety of birds and lizards, white beaches and the warm sea - this is what you can see in this region. In our article we will talk about the most popular excursions in the Dominican Republic.
Wonderful nature
The amazing nature of the country is the biggest attraction. It is hard to imagine, but in a relatively small area there are nine climatic zones and four ecological ones. About 8500 plants grow in the Dominican Republic, which is three times more than throughout Europe. Here is also located the highest mountain in the Antilles - Duarte peak (height 3098 m). You can get to the top of the mountain only on horseback or on foot. In the western part of the country is the salt lake Enricillo, which is inhabited by real crocodiles. The lake has long been a protected area, but everyone can enjoy its beauty. Local guides offer an exciting three-hour boat tour of it.
Travel to Santo Domingo
One of the most interesting excursions in the Dominican Republic is a visit to the capital - Santo Domingo. The ancient city was founded during the time of Columbus. A lot of things have since remained in the old part of Santo Domingo, including the residence of the explorer's son H. Columbus, the oldest cathedral on the mainland and the National Cemetery.
The ancient district of the city consists of the intricacies of narrow streets. The very first and oldest is called Dam street. The name was given in honor of the wife of Diego Columbus - the son of that same discoverer. Also of particular interest is the lighthouse of Columbus. It was built recently, in 1992, but it is believed that the remains of the navigator are resting here. During a city tour, tourists are certainly invited to dine. During the meal, guests can enjoy the best creole dishes, as well as local drinks. If you want to feel the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, then such an excursion you will like.
In general, according to tourists, excursions in the Dominican Republic are quite expensive. So, for example, a trip to Santo Domingo will cost about $ 80 (4.5 thousand rubles). In general, the number of impressions directly depends on how much money you take with you on vacation.
Saona Island
Excursion to Saona (Dominican Republic) is the most popular. Experienced travelers will definitely recommend visiting it. The trip begins with a visit to Altos de Chavon - the city of artists. The ancient city is so called because it was built by artists. The place is of interest for its medieval history. Here, for example, an ancient amphitheater is located, accommodating more than thousand people. By the way, stars and politicians often come to concerts here. Then tourists are escorted to the Chavon River, where boarding is carried out. By water, guests are transported to the reserve - on the island of Saona. Since the island is relatively close to Punta Cana, you should dare to take an excursion.
Saona is an unusually beautiful place. The amazing nature of the island impresses not only with palm trees, but also with the contrast of clear blue water and white sand. It is for this reason that it is called the Bounty Island. I don’t feel like leaving this beautiful place. On the island, tourists are traditionally treated to lunch and a local drink called Cuba Libre. Also, travelers are given the opportunity to swim in the sea and soak up the sand. On the return trip, guests are taken by catamarans to the town of Bayahibe, after which they are taken to the hotel by bus. The cost of the trip is 95 dollars (5.3 thousand rubles).
Samana Peninsula
Another grand tour in the Dominican Republic is a visit to the Samana Peninsula. The trip includes a flight to the northern region of the peninsula and further transfer to the port of Samana by bus. It is from here that an amazing trip to the whales begins. It is worth noting that such an excursion is not always available. The humpback whale season begins in the Dominican Republic from mid-January and lasts until mid-March. Sometimes whales can be admired at the end of March. If you want to see these amazing animals, then you need to go to the Dominican Republic during this period.
By the way, the tour also includes a visit to Cayo Levantado, a small island where you can dine, enjoy water sports and just swim. During the trip you will also see another attraction - Salto de Limon waterfall. It can only be reached on horseback. During the trip you can admire the natural beauties. The end point of the tour is Punta Cana (Dominican Republic). The cost of the trip is $ 250 (14 thousand rubles).
Manati Park
If you are interested in excursions in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic), then you can go to Manati Park. A natural amusement park will allow you to get acquainted with the wildlife of the country. Here you can see incredibly beautiful plants and watch shows with animals. In addition, in this center you can swim with dolphins. This is a visiting card of the park. Many believe that Manati Park is the best place to relax with children. The cost of the tour is about $ 30 (1.6 thousand rubles).
By the way, in the park there is a village built in the style of the Tiano tribe. Ritual events are held here to judge the life of the tribe.
Catalina Island
Catalina Island is that amazing place that all tourists try to visit. It is a national park. Local guides claim that the island is one of the best places on the coast for snorkeling. For many decades, a wall of corals has grown here, where local animals live. It is a real pleasure to admire the underwater world thanks to the clear waters. You will be surprised, but visibility is from 15 to 30 meters. There are many entertainments on the island for guests, including water ones. You can also go fishing or just relax on the beach. Each resident decides for himself what to do on the island. The purest water combined with white beaches allow you to fully enjoy your vacation surrounded by beautiful nature. Catalina is a great place for a family visit. There are absolutely no waves and no current, thanks to the reef. And this means that the children here can swim quite calmly.
Fun Fun Cave
What to see in the Dominican Republic? An excursion to the Fun Fun Cave is one of the most popular. The fact is that Fun-Fun is one of the largest in the world. In addition, it is incredibly interesting for guests of the resort. Such excursions in the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana) are very in demand. It can be visited by all those who chose Punta Cana or the east coast of the island for relaxation. On the way to their destination, tourists pass the Samana Peninsula. The price includes a descent into the cave. This may not surprise you, but you need to go down into the dungeon rather than enter. And then tourists are expected to walk along the multi-kilometer tunnels. Of course, guests are taken only on a short, well-studied route. After all, the entire cave is still not fully understood. Inside it you will find many mysterious inscriptions made very long ago by the Indians, unusual phenomena, lagoons.
Before the descent into the cave you need to get through the jungle on horseback. And after an excursion through the underground to the base, a horse ride is again ahead. The cost of the tour is 120 dollars (6.7 thousand rubles).
27 waterfalls
When analyzing which excursions in the Dominican Republic are worth visiting, you need to remember about 27 waterfalls. A unique trip gives you the opportunity to plunge into the wild nature of the country. An excursion to the Dominican Republic waterfalls is a special event. It is worth noting that in total there are 27 of them. They existed for many millennia, but people learned about them recently. The natural complex immediately became a center of tourism. By the way, visiting 27 waterfalls is among the ten best excursions in the Dominican Republic. According to reviews, a fascinating journey will give a lot of unforgettable impressions. Although it is worth knowing that getting to the natural complex from Punta Cana is quite far.
It consists of 27 natural waterfalls, whose height reaches 14 meters. All of them form a water park of natural origin. The territory is protected and protected by the state. During the tour you will have to go down and climb the mountains, jump, swim and ride a water slide. Of course, such a journey is a real adventure. But, according to tourists, in terms of safety in the park, not everything is as safe as it might seem at first glance, since everything around is slippery and wet. In addition, travelers recommend taking an excursion to 12 waterfalls, even their people do not have time to see, and even 27 is not necessary.
Fishing
Boat trips in the Dominican Republic (Punta Cana) are very popular. Tour operators organize fishing in the Caribbean or the Atlantic. For such excursions, special boats are allocated that are equipped with special equipment, which guarantees an excellent catch. If you wish, you can go underwater fishing in the coral reefs or admire the underwater inhabitants.
During a walk in the Caribbean, they usually offer to visit the islands of Catalina and Saona. The cost of excursions varies from 90 to 150 dollars (from 5 thousand to 8.5 thousand rubles).
Jeep safari
Reviews of tourists about the Dominican Republic excursions allow you to judge which of them are the most interesting. The popularity of jeep tours speaks for itself. Such travels are very popular. They are organized by almost all travel companies, including Anex Tour. Jeep tours of the Dominican Republic are a fascinating adventure. Even if you do not drive a car, an off-road walk through the mountains and the jungle will definitely impress you. Typically, such trips include visits to interesting places and lunch in a national style.
If you wish, you can visit sugar or coffee plantations, see local villages with residents. Jeep safari necessarily includes horse riding. The cost of such an excursion is 90 dollars (5 thousand rubles).
Helicopter tour
The most unusual excursion that can be booked in Punta Cana is a helicopter ride. There are two options for such a trip. The first is designed for experienced pilots who themselves can be at the helm in the presence of an instructor. And the second option is more familiar, a group of tourists is recruited to fly over the jungle and the resort's beach. Such a trip guarantees a lot of emotions and beautiful pictures taken from a bird's eye view.
Travel to Cuba
Tours in the Dominican Republic, according to reviews, are incredibly interesting. If you wish, you can even go to Cuba. Being in one country, it is quite possible to see another. If you have a desire to get acquainted with the sights and culture of another exotic country, then you can take excursion tours, which are usually organized from Santo Domingo. It is from here that planes fly to Havana. Such trips take more than one day. The cost of the tour will cost more than $ 300 (17 thousand rubles). In this case, you visit Cuba in the context of the tour. However, there are tours that initially imply holidays in two countries at once. In this case, you can spend a sufficient amount of time in one place and in another.
Santo Domingo Zoo
If you relax with children, then you can find excursions that will be interesting to absolutely all members of your family. Santo Domingo has a zoo. Its vast territory is able to impress even adults. For the whole day to go around the zoo is simply impossible.
If you do not like to walk, then be sure to use the train, which runs throughout the territory. The peculiarity of the zoo is that there are practically no cells in it. Animals live here almost in natural conditions.
Unusual lagoons
In the jungle of the Dominican Republic there are often real natural lagoons with incredibly clear water. Very often, tourists are brought to such places during excursions so that travelers can not only admire their beauties, but also plunge into fresh water. By the way, such lagoons are found not only in open spaces, but also in caves.
Recommendations for tourists
The selection of sightseeing tours in the Dominican Republic is incredibly large. They are all very different. However, it is worth choosing the most popular, since not all offers are equally good. It is also necessary to pay attention not only to group trips, but also to individual ones. Relaxing in the Dominican Republic, you are likely to come across such a phenomenon as the numerous offers of local residents as private guides. Of course, such trips attract a lower cost than tour operators. However, it is not recommended to use such services from a security point of view. Experienced travelers believe that it is better to turn to trusted tour operators who organize tours in the Dominican Republic. Anex Tour, for example, offers a wide range of trips. In each hotel there are always representatives of those agencies through which you booked tickets, it is their services that you can use. Or pick up some other company. But in no case do not hire a private person. Remember safety. We hope that our information will be useful to you when choosing sightseeing tours.