Hello ladies and gents this is the viking telling you that today we are talking about
Punta Cana is the undisputed king of tourism in the Dominican Republic.
Poking out of the extreme eastern end of Hispaniola Island, the area is sprawling patchwork of five-star hotels and swish golf resorts, all complete with verdant fairways that undulate along the Atlantic shore and infinity pools that seem to merge seamlessly with the sparkling Carib waters.
Of course, there are beaches aplenty too, with the likes of powdery Macao Beach, palm-peppered Bavaro and scintillating white Arena Gorda often topping the list.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Roam the Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo
While Santo Domingo’s booming metro population of over two million people makes it the largest city in the entire Caribbean, the over 500-year-old town is also known for its rich history and heritage.This is focussed almost entirely on the so-called Ciudad Colonial (or Zona Colonial), which buts up to the western banks of the Ozama River as it flows to meet the sea. This collection of cobbled streets and regal residences is actually the oldest colonial city center in the New World.
Columbus himself trod here in the 15th century, and a grand bronze statue in the central Parque Colon stands as testimony to his enduring influence. There are oodles of must-sees in the UNESCO district, especially the First Cathedral of America (the first of its kind in all of the Americas), the grand Alcazar De Colon, and the crenulated tops of the Ozama Fort.
Sample luxury in Punta Cana
Poking out of the extreme eastern end of Hispaniola Island, the area is sprawling patchwork of five-star hotels and swish golf resorts, all complete with verdant fairways that undulate along the Atlantic shore and infinity pools that seem to merge seamlessly with the sparkling Carib waters.
Of course, there are beaches aplenty too, with the likes of powdery Macao Beach, palm-peppered Bavaro and scintillating white Arena Gorda often topping the list.
3. Get a feel for the Med in Altos de Chavon
Just a stone’s throw from the city of La Romana on the southern shore, raised above the bends of the Chavon River, the curious little town of Altos de Chavon is certainly worth a visit.
Coming complete with everything from half-timbered Italian-style homes and an ancient-looking amphitheatre in the Roman tradition, the gorgeous stonework of the St Stanislaus Church and a series of cobbled plazas and alleyways, it’s hard to believe the whole place was actually conceived and built in the 1970s and 80s! Designed by an Italian architect, the town is supposed to mimic the look and feel of a 16th-century European settlement.
Today, it comes packed with excellent arts and crafts stalls, and a series of galleries besides.
I hope you liked this post and as always have a chilled day from the Viking
brilliant, great to discover these lesser known places on here
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