Eight locations in the Dominican Republic

Bustling turquoise waves, swaying palms and some of the greatest rum on the planet, the Dominican Republic is as well known for its natural beauty as it is for its plentiful all-inclusive resorts.

While there’s no scarcity of locations with swim-up bars built for calm weeks of lounging by the water, getting off hotel property is one of the best methods to really experience the Dominican Republic.

Spending some time in major cities — like Santo Domingo and Santiago de los Caballeros — is perfect for sampling the island culture, while getting off the beaten track and exploring less-developed natural enclaves rewards with waterfalls, whale watching and flora-filled rainforest hikes.

Moving from region to region is pretty standard; you’ll find Dominicans traveling for business, visiting family in the countryside or making their way to school. Taxis are available just about everywhere, and ride-sharing services are accessible in three major cities: Santo Domingo, Santiago and Puerto Plata. Public transit in the form of bus service is a budget-friendly and memorable way to experience island life.

Should you be uncertain where to start discovering all that the Dominican Republic presents, here is a collection of eight essential sites.

1. Santo Domingo

Best for culture buffs

The gritty energy and activity of city life collide with vibrant Dominican culture in the island’s capital (“El Capital”), Santo Domingo. It’s among the Caribbean’s oldest cities, rendering it ideal for history enthusiasts hoping to explore colonial-era architecture and take a deep dive into the country’s past.

You’ll find the Zona Colonial in the city’s center, which the island’s oldest church, European fortress, monastery, university and hospital all reside in. But step outside the cobblestone streets of the Zona, and a metropolitan joyride awaits, with elegant restaurants, boisterous nightclubs and plenty of cultural institutions to add to your itinerary.

Reserve a table at the elegant El Mesón de la Cava for dinner in an ancient Taino cave, and afterward, hit the edgy, strobe-lit club Jet Set; Onno’s, a local bar chain, is also a popular spot for a casual night of beer and cocktails.

2. Punta Cana

Best for casinos and resort living

When most people consider the Dominican Republic, it’s Punta Cana they envision. It’s the resort hub of the island, with a flurry of all-inclusives catering to the bottomless-bar crowd.

But past the tourist-focused, theme park–level lodging, Punta Cana has beaches that rival some of the Caribbean’s finest. Punta Cana’s 97km (60 miles) coastline faces both Atlantic and Caribbean waters, inviting you to hop on a catamaran, go deep-sea fishing or get lost in a book while basking under the warm sun.

The area also has a lively party scene that pulsates late into the night, due to the various resorts’ casinos and clubs.

3. Samaná

Best for whale watching

The Samaná Peninsula is where the unspoiled natural beauty of the Dominican Republic blends with friendly small-town sensibilities — a stark contrast to the glitzy resorts of Punta Cana and the bustling pace of Santo Domingo.

The capital of this peninsular province is the eponymous Samaná, situated in northern Samaná Bay. Eco-tourism is popular here, with one major draw: whales. The best time to go is between January and March, when thousands of humpback whales come upon the bay to give birth to their calves.

El Museo de las Ballenas (Whale Museum) in the neighboring town of Salinas is an attraction in its own right, with guided tours of marine mammal exhibits, handcrafted souvenirs and a full 12m (40ft) skeleton of a humpback whale found along the rocky coastline between Las Galeras and Santa Bárbara de Samaná in 1993.

4. Sosúa

Ideal for late-night revelry

By day, Sosúa is your average sleepy beach town: wide stretches of sandy shores softly caressed by the Atlantic’s blue waves. It’s also the island’s dairy and cheese hub, thanks to a 1938 presidential directive that permitted 100,000 Jewish refugees to reside here.

Around 800 individuals accepted the offer and started a dairy and cheese factory, many of whose products you can buy today.

Although this all seems quite pastoral and relaxed, Sosúa by night is a completely different animal. After dark, the main strip (Calle Pedro Clisante) is shut off to traffic. Partiers pour onto the streets from the local bars, lounges and nightclubs, many of which showcase local live music, like the Blue Ice Piano Bar and the well-known Jolly Roger.

But a word of warning: the area is also notorious for sex tourism. Dominican and Haitian sex workers are known to approach and solicit tourists in the area, so exercise a fair amount of caution.

5. Cabarete

Best for thrill seekers

Of course, drinking cocktails beside the beach is pleasant. However, there’s only so much unwinding you can manage, correct? When you’re set to change your holiday into high gear, set your bearings for Cabarete, a beach town on the Caribbean shore of the Dominican Republic.

Established in 1835 by a British merchant and former slave owner, Cabarete is now an adrenaline enthusiast’s dream, a sanctuary for kayakers, snorkelers and wind and kite surfers (numerous international competitions are hosted here). It’s also a favored spot for keen surfers, because of some of the finest winds and tides in the Caribbean.

6. El Limón

Ideal for a daring hike

Fasten your shoelaces and gather your balance — the 2.4km (1.5-mile) trail to reach Cascada El Limón is mainly wet and stony ground visitors travel on horseback. However, it also can be reached on foot — you’ll cross streams and jump over muddy stones to arrive at your destination, so be sure to bring some rubber footwear.

Following a 30 to 60-minute trek or horseback ride from the little town of El Limón, you’ll arrive at a stunning 46m (150ft) waterfall that pours into the refreshing waters of a large swimming hole. Reserve a tour with one of the companies in Las Terrenas, a 30-minute drive from El Limón; the trip commonly includes a guide, horse and lunch.

7. Bayahibe

Best for scuba diving

Located on the Caribbean coast of the Dominican Republic, Bayahibe is a former fishing village transformed into a calm resort town with access to some of the island’s most vibrant (and spectacular) beaches.

Just a few miles from town, you’ll find Bayahibe Beach, Dominicus Beach and boat launches that transport you to Isla Saona, a national park that’s more booze-cruise layover than unoccupied sanctuary. Your best option: stay in Bayahibe and take advantage of one of some 20 different dive sites in the area — it’s one of the most energetic areas for scuba divers in the country. If scuba diving isn’t in the cards, try your hand at stand-up paddleboarding or snorkeling the reefs instead.

8. Jarabacoa

Best for mountainous treks and whitewater river rafting

Jarabacoa is the opposite of the Dominican Republic’s oceanside towns. So when you’ve had your fill of lounging on the beach, go to Jarabacoa’s soaring peaks for verdant hikes, whitewater rafting on a roaring river and warm mugs of irresistible Dominican coffee on cool, misty mountain mornings.

Known as the City of Everlasting Spring, Jarabacoa has no lack of activities: waterfall hikes, rope-bridge crossings over the Jimenoa River, plentiful rounds of golf and visits to the Cistercian monastery of Santa Maria del Evangelio.

The area is also home to the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve, where more than 600 species of flora and fauna populate one of the most humid areas on the island (arrange a tour of the reserve ahead of time). Jarabacao is also known for its Carnaval festivities in February, one of the most famous celebrations in the Dominican Republic.