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If you're lucky enough to find yourself in this tropical paradise in the Caribbean, you'll never be short of things to do in the Dominican Republic. Known as the 'coconut coast,' you can easily spend hours relaxing on the beach, where coconut palm trees line the coast and rare birds nest deep within the island's jungle. But, there's a lot more to do here than lounge on the beach. You'll also have an abundance of tropical mangroves, jungle and charming villages to explore. With so much to see and do, it's difficult to know where to begin. So, here are just a few of the best things to do in the Dominican Republic to get you started:
Places to see
A lot of the best places to visit in the Dominican Republic are natural wonders such as the Los Haitises National Park. This mangrove forest is packed with tropical plants, exotic flora and an abundance of wildlife. As you're busy exploring, you'll stumble across sinkholes and caverns too.
If you're a beach fan, make sure to visit Bavaro, an area dedicated to some of the most stunning places to see in the Dominican Republic. Lounge beneath a swaying palm tree, top up your tan or head into the water and explore the coral reefs with an hour or two of scuba diving. While you're here, you can also do some shopping in the Palma Real Shopping Village, which is just a short walk from the beach and home to a variety of regional arts and crafts.
Top attractions
If you happen to be on a city break in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, you should probably prepare your to-do list in advance because there's way too much to see and do here. To start, you've got a collection of stunning museums and cathedrals to hit such as the Basilica Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor.
The Zona Colonial is another great area to visit and home to a number of historical landmarks such as the Alcázar de Colón palace and the Fortaleza Ozama fort. One of the best attractions in the Dominican Republic is the Three Eyes National Park in Santo Domingo. It's an open air limestone cave system hiding beneath the city. After you walk down the main steps, you'll see three 'eyes', which are freshwater cave pools. You'll even see vines and trees down there, making it look like a secret island from the movie, 'Avatar' or 'Jurassic Park'.
Sightseeing and things to do
Whale watching is a huge deal in Península de Samaná, which is a sliver of coastal land on the southeast of the Dominican Republic. If you want to join in on the fun, you can hop on a boat and snap some photos of humpback whales dipping in and out of the water. You might want to wear a raincoat for this one as your chance of getting drenched is rather high.
Dominican Republic sightseeing ranges from historical buildings and villages such as the 16thcentury Mediterranean village of Altos de Chavon to tropical islands such as Catalina Island. When you visit the Dominican Republic, you'll have the best of both worlds with plenty to see and do during your stay.
