The “Cave of Wonders” is so named for the abundance of crystallized minerals hanging from the interior ceiling. Also inside are some 500 petroglyphs etched into the wall thousands of years previously by Taino Indians who used the caves during ceremonial rituals. Ramps and an elevator make the 80-foot descent underground accessible to seniors, young children, [...]
This fortress-like house was once the home of Juan Ponce de León, a 16th-century Spanish explorer and one-time governor of the eastern part of Hispaniola, who is best known for colonizing Florida in 1503. Built in 1505 and beautifully restored by the park service, the house is constructed completely of stone and features a single window [...]
This exclusive community constructed on the Río Chavón a little over four years ago is a charming replica of Portofino on the Italian Riviera di Levante. The marina, with 40-something-plus slips (and growing), fronts two rows of pastel-colored villas built along a curvaceous promenade lined with upscale boutiques, art galleries, al fresco restaurants emitting a [...]
Few visitors to the Dominican Republic know about this idyllic seaside hamlet, yet it is just a few more minutes drive from Casa Ponce de Leon – the 16th-century home of the Spanish conquistador. Perhaps the most charming setting in the country, Boca de Yuma sits along an ocean-pounded bluff overlooking sheltered coves like the one [...]
Beautiful blue skies give way to even more beautiful days in the Dominican Republic such as this one captured over the lush countryside of Bayaguana. Set along the sprawling south side foothills of the Cordillera Oriental mountain range in the east, Bayaguana is dotted with pineapple plantations and cattle ranches – the much treasured livestock often [...]
The biggest attraction in La Romana is a recreation of a medieval European village conceived from the imagination of a former Paramount Studios set designer some twenty years ago. Narrow, cobble-covered alleyways lined with lanterns and shuttered limestone walls yield several good Mediterranean-style restaurants, a number of quaint shops featuring the diverse craftwork of local artisans, [...]
Within the boundaries of this 600-square-mile natural reserve at the southern tip of the peninsula is a six-mile-long saltwater lagoon and collection of small islands forming Laguna de Oviedo. The top bird-watching spot in the country, the lagoon is home to the DR’s largest flamingo population as well as several other species of birds. Also within [...]
The southwest’s biggest attraction is an enormous saltwater lake resting some 140 feet below sea level (the lowest point in the entire Caribbean), with six-mile-long Isla Cabritos emerging from its center. Visitors board motor-powered skiffs for a low-impact exploration of this eco-wonder, populated by the largest colony of American crocodiles outside the northern Americas and shared [...]
This viewing platform, which takes its name from a deep pine-covered canyon in the Sierra Bahoruco mountains, presides over a breathtaking vista of the entire southwest peninsula. Red dirt from bauxite strip mines colors the twenty-mile drive through the mountains to access the platform. The highest point of this vast protected area climbs to more than [...]
This otherwise unremarkable slope in the road south of the town of Cabral has long been the subject of intense debate. Is it a freak magnetic phenomenon or optical illusion? Park your vehicle in neutral and watch as it moves uphill, then write us and tell us what you think. Trying to figure out is it [...]