Dominican Republic attractions

One of the premier nightlife destinations in the Dominican Republic, the Imagine Punta Cana Disco is a cave-turned-club that boasts several dance floors and bar areas as well as unique acoustics. The nightclub draws huge crowds on its themed nights, which focus on musical genres including pop hits, reggaeton, salsa, and Latin music.

Monte Cristi National Park is popular for birding, especially May–August, when migrating seabirds flock here. The area extends from the Haitian border to the tip of Punta Rucia, and includes subtropical dry forests, lagoons, mangrove swamps, beaches, and a 777-foot (237-meter) limestone mesa called El Morro that juts up from the water.

A small, rocky beach frequented by locals, Caleta Beach (Playa Caleta) gives visitors an authentic view of beach life in the Dominican Republic compared to other touristy beaches in La Romana. Convenient for cruise passengers, this remote beach area features stunning scenery with an excellent view of Catalina Island, local cuisine, and a small bay ideal for swimming.

Perched on cliffs overlooking the ocean, Corales Golf Club is considered one of the most scenic courses in the Caribbean. Located in the exclusive Punta Cana Resort and Club, the 18-hole par 72 course was the first Tom Fazio-designed course in the country and is a PGA Tour stop.

A former fishing village on the east coast of the Dominican Republic, Juanillo Beach is today one of the region's most desirable stretches of white-sand beach. Wide open, powdery soft, and lined with palm trees, this stretch of sand runs from Cap Cana Marina to the Sanctuary Cap Cana Golf & Spa Resort. While open to the public, the beach is only accessible through Cap Cana Resort, making it a calm and quiet place to soak up some rays.

Centrally located within Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, the Plaza de España (also known as the Plaza de la Hispanidad) is a popular gathering spot for locals and visitors alike. The large, open square is surrounded by important landmarks and museums, including the Alcázar de Colón (Columbus Alcazar), plus historic buildings housing restaurants and cafés.

In operation since 1903, La Aurora Cigar Factory in Santiago de los Caballeros is the oldest tobacco company in the Dominican Republic. Here, you can learn more about the brand, see the cigar production process, and buy cigars and other goods during a factory tour of the original Dominican cigar factory.

Snorkeling opportunities, dolphin shows, and a beach full of lounge chairs all contribute to Ocean World Adventure Park’s standing as a top family attraction in the Dominican Republic. The park is prime for kids during the day and transforms into a casino after dark, complete with a restaurant, gaming, a disco floor, and a Vegas-style show, offering parent-friendly nightlife with Caribbean flair.

One of the biggest and best rum producers in the Dominican Republic, Brugal & Co. has been making rum since 1888. The Brugal Rum Center—also known as Casa Brugal—in Puerto Plata is their flagship factory, where you can learn about the history of rum-making, see the process of transforming sugarcane into rum, and taste the award-winning elixir.

With its powder-soft white sands and warm waters, Boca Chica is a classic beach resort and a popular escape from the Dominican capital. It’s fittingly referred to as the “largest swimming pool in the Dominican Republic” as the coral reefs just offshore keep the warm water here calm.

Perched on a hill near downtown Santiago, the Monument of Santiago (Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración) is the most prominent and popular landmark in Santiago de los Caballeros. Originally built by dictator Rafael Trujillo to honor himself, it was later rededicated to honor Dominican soldiers who fought for independence from Spain.

Near Cabarete on the Dominican Republic’s north coast, Encuentro Beach is a surfing beach known for consistent breaks suitable for beginners and more experienced surfers. Backed by trees and offering a laid-back atmosphere, it’s also popular for windsurfing, kiteboarding, and other water sports.

Situated in a lush rainforest near Jarabacoa, Jimenoa Falls (Salto de Jimenoa or Salto de Jimenoa Dos) is one of several waterfalls in the mountainous region. Tucked in a canyon near a hydroelectric dam, the 141-foot (40-meter) waterfall is easily accessible and a popular scenic and adventure destination.

In the Jarabacoa interior—surrounded by lush trees and natural beauty—you'll find the Dominican Republic's Baiguate Waterfall (Salto de Baiguate), one of three much-visited falls that play a large role in the country's ecotourism. Set in a picturesque canyon popular with hikers, rafters, and adventurous souls who rappel down the waterfall, this is a popular stop-off on excursions from nearby Jarabacoa.

Isla Cabritos National Park in southwestern Dominican Republic spans 3,936 acres (1,593 hectares) and is a haven for wildlife, including endangered iguana, crocodiles, and numerous species of birds. The park’s main attraction is Cabritos Island, a deserted island brimming with life at the center of Lake Enriquillo, a hypersaline lake 131 feet (40 meters) below sea level.

Near San Cristobal, the Pomier Caves (Cuevas del Pomier) contain the largest collection of prehistoric rock art in the Caribbean. Covering an area of 1.5 square miles (4 square kilometers), the complex of 55 caves is home to thousands of pictograms and petroglyphs left by the Taino, Igneri, and Caribs, and date back 2,000 years.

The casino at the Hard Rock Punta Cana offers 40 different table games and more than 450 slots, ranging from one cent slots to a high-roller VIP area. There's plenty of room in this 45,000-square-foot (4,181square-meter) casino to gamble—play Texas Hold’em in the poker room, or test your luck at blackjack, craps, roulette, or baccarat.

Designed by renowned Spanish architect Jose Gancedo, Cocotal Golf and Country Club features 27 holes. Named after the abundant coconut trees on the property, the par-72 course follows the contours of the landscape and features gently rolling terrain with generous fairways and strategically placed trees, bunkers, and mounds.

Arena Gorda Beach on the east coast of the Dominican Republic offers a wide swath of white sand (the name translates as ‘fat sand’), turquoise waters, and the environmentally friendly Blue Flag certification. This quieter stretch of beach, lined by all-inclusive resorts, has shallow and calm waters—perfect for swimming.

On the edge of Playa Rincón—considered one of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic—lies the Cano Frío River. This cool stream feeds into a quiet pool that’s perfect for relaxing along the sheltered shores of the Samaná peninsula. Travelers can escape the heat by taking a refreshing dip in this secluded destination away from the tourists at the other end.

Boca de Yuma is a small fishing village on the northeastern tip of the Dominican Republic’s National Park of the East (Parque Nacional del Este). The village is off the beaten path for tourists, meaning you’ll find a peaceful place to hang among the locals here. The harbor boasts many small restaurants and bars, similar to an Italian seaside town.

Located on the Samana Peninsula near the town of Las Terrenas, Playa Bonita lives up to its name of beautiful beach. With a crescent-shaped beach dotted with palm trees and clear waters suitable for swimming, surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving, it’s no wonder Playa Bonita is considered one of the prettiest beaches in the world.

The marine life of the Dominican Republic’s prized offshore reefs is preserved and exhibited at the Marinarium marine park in Cabeza de Toro, equidistant from Punta Cana and Bavaro. The ecotourism attraction is dedicated to creating a model of sustainable ecological conservation for local marine life.

The former home of explorer and governor of Puerto Rico Juan Ponce de Léon, Casa Ponce de Léon is a simple stone building with an important place in history. Visitors come to travel over 500 years back in time to the days of great oceanic exploration and see an important landmark in the history of the Americas.

Spanning 494 acres (200 hectares), the Dr. Rafael María Moscoso Botanic Garden—or National Botanical Garden—is the largest botanical garden in the Caribbean. Named after the first Dominican botanist to catalog the island’s flora, the garden is home to nearly 70,000 different species of plants and flowers.

This boardwalk winds along the Dominican Republic’s Samaná Bay, where tourists, locals, artists, and musicians gather to relax near the shoreline and take in epic views of the island’s striking blue horizon. Lively outdoor cafes serving strong brews and local cuisine and interesting shops selling handmade items line this strip, a popular destination for travelers to Samaná.

Each year between January and March, some 4,000 humpback whales descend on the cool turquoise waters of the Dominican Republic’s Samaná Bay. The Whale Museum and Nature Center (Museo de la Ballena), part of one of the world’s largest marine sanctuaries, celebrates these ocean giants and offers travelers uninterrupted views for winter whale watching.

La Flor Dominicana produces some of the Dominican Republic’s most well-known cigars at their factory in La Romana. Visitors get a behind-the-scenes look at how tobacco plants are transformed into cigars, from leaf sorting and stripping to hand-rolling, aging, fermenting, and packing.

Nestled in the hills of central Dominican Republic, the town of Bonao rewards visitors who venture off the tourist path. Known for its traditional arts and culture, and excellent museums, the town is also surrounded by lush green hills dotted with rivers, streams, and waterfalls.

When Fidel Castro marched into Havana and seized the Cuban government, he took the island’s tobacco industry and hand-rolled cigars along with it. Cuban cigar makers then fled the country in search of factories elsewhere. One of those places was La Romana in the neighboring Dominican Republic. Established in 1971, Tabacalera de Garcia has grown into the largest hand-rolled cigar factory in the world.