Dominican Republic: Culture, Nature and Activity

The Dominican Republic appeals to travelers with a variety of interests: Altos de Chavón combines a stone-built model village with a collection on Indigenous culture; other highlights include waterfalls, a beach in a national park, trekking in the mountains, and the Malecón in Santo Domingo. When choosing a destination for a hotel stay, it’s worth first asking whether you’d like to focus on culture, nature watching, or activity.

Architecture and culture in Altos de Chavón

Altos de Chavón is a model of a 16th-century Mediterranean village built entirely of stone. Its all-stone construction and Mediterranean inspiration offer two concrete aspects of its architecture. The Archaeological Museum of Altos de Chavón houses a collection on the Indigenous culture of the Dominican Republic. Architectural design and cultural collections therefore offer distinct points of interest: one draws on the form of a Mediterranean village, while the other focuses on Indigenous culture. If you’d like to include culture and architecture in your travel plans, these two themes offer a clear starting point.

Hiking and waterfalls at the 27 Charcos de Damajagua

At the 27 Charcos de Damajagua, the experience begins with a hike through dense forest and across footbridges. Then, wearing a helmet and safety equipment, you descend through waterfalls into turquoise pools by jumping or sliding. The route through the forest and across the bridges is just as much a part of the experience as the waterfall descent. If you include the excursion in your travel plans, allow for both parts and follow the latest safety advice for the activity.

Beach and protected natural area

Bahía de Las Águilas is a five-mile-long beach and part of Jaragua National Park, a protected area. The length describes the beach; its location within the national park also gives you an indication of its protected status. For choosing travel themes, this offers a concrete combination of beach and protected natural area. This coastal focus complements experiences centered on activity or nature watching in the mountains.

A multi-day hike to Pico Duarte

A hiking route to Pico Duarte starts at the main office of Armando Bermúdez National Park. The overnight trek is planned to take two or three days. This duration makes the hike a distinct multi-day part of your travel plans: account for the overnight stay and choose between the two- and three-day options. Certified guides and mules can be hired for the trek; check their availability before your trip. This lets you consider the trip duration and the stated support options separately when planning.

By the sea in Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo’s Malecón has marked cycling and inline skating lanes, as well as seaside promenades and seating. This offers two different ways to spend time there: get active on the designated lanes or relax along the promenade and in the seating areas. The Malecón was renovated in 2017. As infrastructure details can change, check the current condition of the paths and facilities you plan to use before making your plans.

Birdwatching and trekking in Valle Nuevo

Valle Nuevo National Park offers opportunities for birdwatching and trekking in the mountains. These two activities appeal to different interests: careful birdwatching or active exploration of the mountains. Compared with Bahía de Las Águilas, this presents a clear choice between mountain activities and a long beach in a protected national park. Which of these nature experiences you focus on depends on your plans.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Independencia, La Romana, Espaillat, Abreu, Los Alcarrizos, San Pedro De Macorís, La Altagracia, Elias Pina, Puerto Plata, María Trinidad Sánchez, Peravia, El Seibo, Samaná, Santiago, Barahona, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Santo Domingo, Dajabón, San Cristóbal, La Vega, Monte Cristi, Sanchez Ramirez, Azua, Duarte, Monseñor Nouel Province.

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