Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is one of the Caribbean's most geographically
diverse countries, with stunning mountain scenery, desert scrublands, evocative
colonial architecture, and beaches galore. Beyond the capital, much of the DR
is distinctly rural: driving through the vast fertile interior, you’ll see cows
and horses grazing alongside the roads, and trucks and burros loaded down with
fresh produce. Further inland you’ll encounter vistas reminiscent of the
European Alps, rivers carving their way through lush jungle and stunning
waterfalls. Four of the five highest peaks in the Caribbean rise above the
fertile lowlands surrounding Santiago, and remote deserts stretch through the
southwest, giving the DR a physical and cultural complexity not found on other
islands.
Culture & History
The country’s roller-coaster past is writ large
in the physical design of its towns and cities. Santo Domingo’s Zona Colonial
exudes romance with its beautifully restored monasteries and cobblestone streets
along which conquistadors once roamed. The crumbling gingerbread homes of
Puerto Plata and Santiago remain from more prosperous eras, and scars from
decades of misrule are marked by monuments where today people gather to
celebrate. New communities have arisen only a few kilometers from the ruins
where Christopher Columbus strode and where the indigenous Taíno people left
traces of their presence carved onto rock walls.
The social glue of the DR is the
all-night merengue that blasts from colmados (combined corner stores and bars),
and this is true everywhere from the capital Santo Domingo to crumbling San
Pedro de Macorís to Puerto Plata, where waves crash over the Malecón.
Dominicans greatly appreciate their downtime and know how to party, as can be
seen at Carnival celebrations held throughout the country and at each town's
own distinctive fiesta. These events are windows into the culture, so take the
chance to join the fun and elaborate feasts.
Flavors
Dominican cooking is a cultural blend of Taino, Creole, European and
African influences in an explosion of flavors rich in colors, condiments, and
tastes. It is above all a simple and nourishing cuisine that is not highly
spiced.
When it comes to meat, the goat is commonly used in stews - for
example, chivo guisado (goat marinated in a mixture of herbs, lime juice, and
rum). The goat meat here has a delicious flavor since the goats graze on wild
oregano. Beef (res) and pork (cerdo) are also common. While Dominicans love long-simmered
dishes, they also adore fried foods like pastelitos (little turnovers stuffed
with beef, chicken or cheese...), platanos (plantain banana), and tostones
(green plantain banana) always served at lunch, part of "La Bandera"
(the flag), the traditional lunch including white rice, red beans (habichuelas)
and meat.
On the seafood side, the shrimp, fished mainly in Samana Bay, is
succulent. Crab and rock lobster are expensive and mostly reserved for
tourists. The most common fishes found on market stalls are mahi-mahi, tuna,
marlin, and tazar.
Soups are made even in the poorest households and constitute a unique
part of Dominican cooking. You can also discover chicharones, pork rind
marinated in the juice of bitter oranges, and cooked in its fat. Stop in at a
pica pollo and try fried chicken prepared the local way, served with plantain.
Urban Experience
The tiny town of Munoz on the outskirts of Puerto Plata might just be
your new favorite destination in the Dominican Republic. Though most visitors
to this city end up staying at any of the fancy, all-inclusive resorts that
litter the beach-side, Munoz is about fifteen minutes away, and houses one of
the best accommodations you’ll come across with some of the friendliest
neighbors.
Santo Domingo is usually missed by most tourists as they fly in and out
of the capital city of the Dominican Republic, but don’t stop to look around
for a little while. Once you make your way out of the airport and into the
center of the city, don’t be surprised if you fall in love with this beautiful
cultural capital of the Caribbean. The streets are filled with artists,
painters, musicians, and locals, all trying to sell their craft and get by;
you’ll soon find that most of these painters or musicians are full-time
professionals or former professionals.
Food vendors litter the streets alongside Michael Jackson
impressionists; young couples courting one another frequently walk by
hand-in-hand; old ladies sit around and gossip as the sun comes down and the
streetlights turn on. This is easily one of the most magical places in the
Dominican Republic, and it’s not on the beach.
Outdoors & Adventure
The north coast resort of Cabarete is known internationally as the
windsurfing capital of the Americas and is the venue for the Cabarete Race Week
and the Encuentra Classic, both major world competitions. If you’re starting,
the scenic beach town Las Salinas along the southern coast has quietly become a
center for windsurfing as well, with milder conditions and a small windsurfing
club that’s used mostly by wealthy Dominicans.
Mountain resort town Jarabacoa, deep in the heart of the Cordillera
Central, is the center for whitewater rafting and kayaking. Several tour
operators with experienced guides run daily trips down the turbulent Río Yaque
del Norte. You can also spend as long as a week kayaking through the Cordillera
Central rivers on excursions from operators Rancho Baiguate and Iguana Mama.
Jarabacoa, Cabarete, and Las Terrenas also have terrific opportunities for
cascading (descending a rock face on elastic cords) down various waterfalls as
high as 75m.
Another tempting outdoor option available is caving in
one of the numerous extensive systems throughout the island, many bearing vast
collections of Taino rock art. The
best hiking can be found along the five separate trails that lead from
disparate parts of the Cordillera Central to Pico Duarte, the highest peak in
the Caribbean