Occupying the eastern half of the
island of Hispaniola, the
Dominican
Republic (or the DR, as it's
often known) is a hugely popular
destination, thanks to the portion
of the country that most resembles
the image of a Caribbean playland:
the crystal-clear waters and sandy
beaches lined with palm trees, of
which the DR has plenty. This vision
of leisurely days spent by the sea
and romantic nights filled with
merengue and dark rum is supported
by what turns out to be the largest
all-inclusive resort industry in the
world.
Set on the most geographically
diverse Caribbean island, the DR
also boasts virgin alpine
wilderness, tropical rainforests and
mangrove swamps, cultivated
savannas, vast desert expanses and
everything in between within its
relatively small confines - slightly
smaller than the US states of New
Hampshire and Vermont combined -
providing staggering opportunities
for ecotourism and adventure
traveling.
The DR also lays claim to some of
the more intriguing culture and
history in the area, dating back to
its early cave-dwelling groups, the Taínos
, who recorded much of their
activities in the form of rock art -
it's quite likely you'll find
yourself clambering down a dark cave
to view some of these preserved
paintings during your stay. In
addition, as Dominicans are often
quick to point out, their land was
the setting for Christopher
Columbus's first colony, La Isabela,
and Spain's first New World city, Santo
Domingo , at the end of the
fifteenth century. Though the island
quickly lost this foothold, the
events that took place during its
brief heyday did much to define the
Americas as we know them.
