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Santo Domingo is the capital and the oldest city in the Americas, founded in 1496. The city’s cobbled streets feature the continent’s first cathedral, hospital, chapel and university. Otherwise, Santo Domingo is a modern city divided into two parts by the Ozama River. The western side is more developed than the eastern part, known as "Santo Domingo Oriental." Santo Domingo’s most important tourist destination is the Zona Colonial or Colonial Zone, on the Ozama’s western bank facing the Caribbean Sea.
Santo Domingo’s attractions include the cave complex Los Tres Ojos (the Three Eyes), featuring three turquoise lagoons on different levels. There's also the National Palace, or seat of the Dominican government, the National Theater, the museums in the Plaza de la Cultura and the Palace of Fine Arts. There's also the Lighthouse in the older part of town, where the explorer Christopher Columbus' remains are purported to be buried.
If you're looking for beaches, this area features 21 miles of white-sand beaches and more than 30 all-inclusive resort properties. This is the perfect place for a variety of water activities, including fishing, racing speedboats, snorkeling through the reefs, and swimming with wildlife including dolphins and stingrays.
At 10,164 feet, Pico Duarte is not only the tallest mountain in the Dominican Republic, but all of the Caribbean. If you are an experienced hiker, take the 14.4 mile trek to the top of the peak, located in the Cordillera Central mountains, but be prepared for an overnight stay on your way to the top.
Like most of the Caribbean, expect plenty of tropical fruits, rice, beans and seafood. However, Spanish culture plays a strong part in food, with lunch being the main meal followed by a siesta, or afternoon nap. In recent years, other cultures have started playing a part in Dominican cuisine, such as Middle Eastern, as there was a huge influx of immigrants from the area in the 19th century.
The alcohol is just as delicious, with plenty of local beers and rums to partake of. However, do not drink the tap water! It is dangerous and unhealthy. Either drink bottled water or boiled water. Avoid salads washed in tap water and ice unless it's from a luxury resort.
The tropical weather in the Dominican Republic is beautiful, but best to be avoided during hurricane season, which is between June and October.
There are really three different areas in the Dominican Republic that ships may call on:
Options for getting around the country include bus service and 'guaguas' (pronounced "Gwa-Gwas," small vans or trucks that serve as a collective taxi running fixed routes that are very cheap but can also be very overloaded). Most towns and cities have regularly scheduled bus service, if not by one of the big bus companies, then by guagua. You can take taxis, but you have to be judicious of the drivers, as some can be unlicensed. Cars are available for rental, but due to high gas prices, are not advised.
Documents: U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport to enter.
Language: Spanish, although in the major cities there are often bilingual Spanish-English speakers. If you speak a little Spanish, the locals will usually try to meet you halfway.
Currency: The Dominican peso
Safety: The Dominican Republic is generally a safe country. Although the major cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago have experienced growth, the Dominican Republic remains a developing nation and poverty is still rampant, so take common sense precautions
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