Santo Domingo
Boca Chica's beach
Boca Chica's beach is truly unique. Its waters make up a cove approximately 1 mile wide. About 1/4 mile out, there is a reef in the shape of a giant semi-circle that extends from end to end and just protrudes out beyond the water's surface and completely surrounds the cove, forming a giant natural salt-water swimming pool with depths averaging 3-4 feet. The reef acts as a natural break wall to the Caribbean Sea, so the cove is usually glass calm.. Inside the reef, the water is crystal clear, continuously filtered and fed by a series of natural underground springs. It is this "swimming pool in the sea" that provides some very beautiful and distinct views because you have the deep azure blue of the Caribbean beyond the reef, contrasting with the shallow bay, which varies between a deep sky-blue and an intense blue-green, depending on the angle of the sun.
The water starts at the beach about ankle deep and reaches a depth of just few feet after about 100 yards out, with nothing but smooth clean sand underfoot. As one approaches the middle, they may encounter a short distance of 10 yards or so where the water depth reaches 6 feet but it quickly returns to just a few feet in depth and slowly decreases until it is again ankle deep as one approaches the natural reef.
This naturally calm, clear, and shallow water makes it ideal for all sorts of water sports and swimming. It is great for paddle boats, kayaks, water skiing, banana boat rides. Jet skis are restricted to the far end of the beach, away from the hotels and swimmers. It is especially good for small children. The sand along the shore varies in appearance from a light colored tan to white, depending on the angle of the sun. It is usually flat for easy walking and the beach varies from 40 to 100 yards wide. One can easily find room on the beach to throw a Frisbee around any day of the week, any time of the day. There is lots of open space.
On Sundays, the beach gets very crowded, as many Dominicans families come in from Santo Domingo to enjoy the beach, but by Monday morning the beach is empty and cleaned up of any debris left from the Sunday crowds. The rest of the week is equally quiet until Saturday, when the beach sees more visitors.
La Matica.
Off shore and inside the reef, there are two small islands. At about the center is a mangrove named La Matica, or "Little Bush". There is very little firm ground on this mangrove but it is home to thousands of birds called "garzas" (herons). Many visitors enjoy wading out to the shore of the mangrove and just hanging out, as the water off-shore is only a couple feet deep and it recedes gently up along a soft and smooth sand bar. A narrow waterway cuts through the center of the mangrove and curious visitors like to float through in a boat, just to see where it goes.
Off shore and inside the reef, there are two small islands. At about the center is a mangrove named La Matica, or "Little Bush". There is very little firm ground on this mangrove but it is home to thousands of birds called "garzas" (herons). Many visitors enjoy wading out to the shore of the mangrove and just hanging out, as the water off-shore is only a couple feet deep and it recedes gently up along a soft and smooth sand bar. A narrow waterway cuts through the center of the mangrove and curious visitors like to float through in a boat, just to see where it goes.
Los Pinos.
On the very far west end of the cove lies the island of Los Pinos, or "The Pines". This island is larger and has plenty of firm land. It is somewhat polluted along the edges from all the visitors that throw trash onto the ground but few venture beyond the first 20 yards once landing on this island. This is partly because Hurricane Georges uprooted many trees and bushes making navigation across the property difficult. Another reason is because most people arrive with bare feet and swimsuit. An exploration of this little island requires sturdy shoes and mosquito repellent.
On the very far west end of the cove lies the island of Los Pinos, or "The Pines". This island is larger and has plenty of firm land. It is somewhat polluted along the edges from all the visitors that throw trash onto the ground but few venture beyond the first 20 yards once landing on this island. This is partly because Hurricane Georges uprooted many trees and bushes making navigation across the property difficult. Another reason is because most people arrive with bare feet and swimsuit. An exploration of this little island requires sturdy shoes and mosquito repellent.
Playa Andrés.
Directly across from this island towards the main shore is an old but still operating sugar factory, a key source of employment for the town of Andrés, often called "Andrés de Boca Chica". Also across the shore is a marina, home to many large yachts, a Dominican Customs facility for use by the large freighters that arrive here at the port of Andrés, and there is a good stretch of beach called Playa Andrés that covers the distance between the marina and Boca Chica Beach. It is seldom crowded and lined with natural palm-leaf beach umbrellas and wooden slat chairs.
Directly across from this island towards the main shore is an old but still operating sugar factory, a key source of employment for the town of Andrés, often called "Andrés de Boca Chica". Also across the shore is a marina, home to many large yachts, a Dominican Customs facility for use by the large freighters that arrive here at the port of Andrés, and there is a good stretch of beach called Playa Andrés that covers the distance between the marina and Boca Chica Beach. It is seldom crowded and lined with natural palm-leaf beach umbrellas and wooden slat chairs.
Juan Dolio
Why choose Juan Dolio?
Juan Dolio and its neighbor beach town Guayacanes are for those who seek a couples or family restful vacation but like being able to take many excursions. If you are staying in Juan Dolio, you are equidistant from the culture, shopping and dining and nightlife of Santo Domingo, great beaches, scuba diving and other attractions in La Romana, and just half an hour away from busy Boca Chica. The small towns of Guayacanes and Juan Dolio are set up along four interrupted stretches of road, following the shoreline. Juan Dolio has a boulevard and a main street where most hotels and restaurants are located. So you can walk, jog or cycle in safety here. This destination is perfect for those looking for a quiet escape with the comforts of home.What else is nearby
Almost anywhere you could possibly want to go is accessible from the coastal highway which cuts through the town of Juan Dolio and follows the shoreline. Villas Del Mar is an area of Juan Dolio where many restaurants and all-inclusive hotels are located. Going west from Juan Dolio you’ll find the fishing village/beach town of Guayacanes, then the pretty cove-like beach of Playa Caribe, followed by Boca Chica about 20 minutes from Juan Dolio. Santo Domingo is less than a 40 minute drive to the west of Juan Dolio.
Tourists headed for La Romana, that is to the east of Juan Dolio, should stay on the Boulevard that heads straight into the old San Pedro de Macoris highway and not take the expressway (Autovia del Este) that still has stretches under construction. The signage is lacking and confusing. About 15 minutes further east is the baseball city of San Pedro de Macoris, home town of Sammy Sosa. Shopping is good in San Pedro at the Jumbo store. Another 40 minutes beyond that is the La Romana/Bayahibe area.
How to Get There
Most travelers to the Juan Dolio area will arrive at the Las Americas International Airport, a 30 minute drive. However, some flights are now starting to arrive at the new La Romana airport. This airport is just over an hour’s drive from Juan Dolio. For scheduled flight connections to these two airports, check out the Santo Domingo and La Romana travel pages.
Getting around
Everybody walks in Juan Dolio. The beach road is quiet and has very little traffic. What traffic it does have is slowed down by dozens of very large speed bumps. Good to remember if you ride a bike! Most hotels here have bicycles on loan to guests. Motoconchos (motorcycle taxis) also cruise the beach road but we don’t recommend using them or the hotel bicycles on the busy highway. Your hotel can help you get a taxi. Rates are usually posted near the entrance of the hotel.
If you’re on a budget, the public buses or guaguas travel east and west on the highway, passing every few minutes. Just stand anywhere by the side of the road and they’ll stop for you.
Attractions:Those seeking action can head for the area's casinos, discos, 18-hole golf course or participate in the water sports programs offered by the many large all-inclusive complexes.
Go Kart Bahn is a racetrack on the highway to San Pedro where go karts can be rented for a fast spin around the track.
The Cueva de las Maravillas should be included in every visit. Down under, browse at the very good collection of pre-Columbian art amidst spectacular stenography created with lighting against stalagmites and stalactites.
Tropical Plantation is on the Hato Mayor-Sabana de la Mar road due north of Juan Dolio. This working flower farm has a fairy-tale botanical garden and a natural green jungle with a labyrinth of paths where the fun is in getting lost and finding your way out again.
Make friends with a local and get him or her to take you to a night baseball game in the San Pedro Tetelo Vargas Stadium. The winter baseball season runs from October through the end of January. Sammy Sosa owns a disco in San Pedro city. Some big leaguers like Jose Lima and Bartolo Colon come home during the off season to play for the ‘folks’ back home. This year's baseball season is especially exciting, with Alfonso Soriano, Vladimir Guerrero and many others making up the Estrellas Dream Team.
Excursions
Guided tours are an excellent way to experience this region, since there are relatively few attractions within walking or busing distance. Some of the excursions available are: Jeep Safaris, Santo Domingo City Tour and Half Day Tour, Santo Domingo Night Tour, Altos De Chavon artists village/River boat ride, Cueva Fun (and its seven-kilometer long underground river), Los Haitises and the mangroves park, Saona and Catalina Island.
Juan Dolio and its neighbor beach town Guayacanes are for those who seek a couples or family restful vacation but like being able to take many excursions. If you are staying in Juan Dolio, you are equidistant from the culture, shopping and dining and nightlife of Santo Domingo, great beaches, scuba diving and other attractions in La Romana, and just half an hour away from busy Boca Chica. The small towns of Guayacanes and Juan Dolio are set up along four interrupted stretches of road, following the shoreline. Juan Dolio has a boulevard and a main street where most hotels and restaurants are located. So you can walk, jog or cycle in safety here. This destination is perfect for those looking for a quiet escape with the comforts of home.What else is nearby
Almost anywhere you could possibly want to go is accessible from the coastal highway which cuts through the town of Juan Dolio and follows the shoreline. Villas Del Mar is an area of Juan Dolio where many restaurants and all-inclusive hotels are located. Going west from Juan Dolio you’ll find the fishing village/beach town of Guayacanes, then the pretty cove-like beach of Playa Caribe, followed by Boca Chica about 20 minutes from Juan Dolio. Santo Domingo is less than a 40 minute drive to the west of Juan Dolio.
Tourists headed for La Romana, that is to the east of Juan Dolio, should stay on the Boulevard that heads straight into the old San Pedro de Macoris highway and not take the expressway (Autovia del Este) that still has stretches under construction. The signage is lacking and confusing. About 15 minutes further east is the baseball city of San Pedro de Macoris, home town of Sammy Sosa. Shopping is good in San Pedro at the Jumbo store. Another 40 minutes beyond that is the La Romana/Bayahibe area.
How to Get There
Most travelers to the Juan Dolio area will arrive at the Las Americas International Airport, a 30 minute drive. However, some flights are now starting to arrive at the new La Romana airport. This airport is just over an hour’s drive from Juan Dolio. For scheduled flight connections to these two airports, check out the Santo Domingo and La Romana travel pages.
Getting around
Everybody walks in Juan Dolio. The beach road is quiet and has very little traffic. What traffic it does have is slowed down by dozens of very large speed bumps. Good to remember if you ride a bike! Most hotels here have bicycles on loan to guests. Motoconchos (motorcycle taxis) also cruise the beach road but we don’t recommend using them or the hotel bicycles on the busy highway. Your hotel can help you get a taxi. Rates are usually posted near the entrance of the hotel.
If you’re on a budget, the public buses or guaguas travel east and west on the highway, passing every few minutes. Just stand anywhere by the side of the road and they’ll stop for you.
Attractions:Those seeking action can head for the area's casinos, discos, 18-hole golf course or participate in the water sports programs offered by the many large all-inclusive complexes.
Go Kart Bahn is a racetrack on the highway to San Pedro where go karts can be rented for a fast spin around the track.
The Cueva de las Maravillas should be included in every visit. Down under, browse at the very good collection of pre-Columbian art amidst spectacular stenography created with lighting against stalagmites and stalactites.
Tropical Plantation is on the Hato Mayor-Sabana de la Mar road due north of Juan Dolio. This working flower farm has a fairy-tale botanical garden and a natural green jungle with a labyrinth of paths where the fun is in getting lost and finding your way out again.
Make friends with a local and get him or her to take you to a night baseball game in the San Pedro Tetelo Vargas Stadium. The winter baseball season runs from October through the end of January. Sammy Sosa owns a disco in San Pedro city. Some big leaguers like Jose Lima and Bartolo Colon come home during the off season to play for the ‘folks’ back home. This year's baseball season is especially exciting, with Alfonso Soriano, Vladimir Guerrero and many others making up the Estrellas Dream Team.
Excursions
Guided tours are an excellent way to experience this region, since there are relatively few attractions within walking or busing distance. Some of the excursions available are: Jeep Safaris, Santo Domingo City Tour and Half Day Tour, Santo Domingo Night Tour, Altos De Chavon artists village/River boat ride, Cueva Fun (and its seven-kilometer long underground river), Los Haitises and the mangroves park, Saona and Catalina Island.
Ciudad Colonial (Santo Domingo)
Ciudad Colonial (Spanish for "Colonial City") is the first settlement made by Christopher Columbus and the Spanish explorers in the New World. It has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Colloquially known as "Zona Colonial" (Colonial Zone), Ciudad Colonial is part of the original Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and the origin of the district dates back to the 16th century. The District is located in the west corner of the Ozama River, which bisects the city. The district today covers less than 5 square kilometers.
It is an important section of the city due to the high number of landmarks, including Alcázar de Colón, Fortaleza Ozama, Catedral Primada de America, and others
Further information: List of forts in colonial Santo Domingo
History
The Spanish used this settlement as the first point of influence in the Americas, from which they conquered much of the American mainland. Even though Spaniards focused their attention more on the mainland after conquering Mexico, Peru, and other regions of Latin America, Ciudad Colonial remained an important historical site.
The city was surrounded by a defense wall (murralla, in Spanish) extending from the Ozama River to the Puerta del Conde ("The Gate of the Count", in Spanish), which was the only entrance to the hinterland and the furthest boundary of the city until around the late 19th century. In the 17th century, it is known that the defensive wall was modified after the Siege of Santo Domingo led by the William Penn and Robert Venables. The 1655 invasion was thwarted by Spanish troops commanded by the Captain General of the Colony, Don Bernardino de Meneses y Bracamonte, Count of Peñalva, to whom the Puerta del Conde is named after. Prior to the invasion, there was a fort at the site where the Puerta del Conde is today, Fuerte San Genaro. It is believed that the modification that occurred after the siege involved the expansion of the wall to the fort, effectively creating a bastion,El Baluarte del Conde.
The defensive wall was composed of various bastions, such as El Baluarte del Conde and gates such as La Puerta de la Misericordia. There were also several forts which ran along the wall, such as El Fuerte de la Concepcion and El Fuerte de Santa Bárbara.
Ciudad Colonial today
The cobblestone Calle Las Damas is the oldest street, dating from 1502. The pedestrian-only street is bordered by many of the zone's more prominent landmarks.
There are two important commercial districts in or adjacent to the Zona Colonial, including the Calle del Conde and Avenida Duarte (Duarte Avenue). Both have many shops and cafes. The portion of Avenida Duarte just north of the Zona Colonial is the local shopping center, and is currently undergoing a renovation plan that aims to make the area more appealing to tourists.
The recently restored and expanded Plaza de España is bordered by Las Atarazanas, filled with small shops and restaurants. This area was one of the first commercial centers in the Americas, and is still a hub of activity today. The Alcázar de Colón, having once been the colonial palace of the Columbus family—beginning with his son Diego—is now a well-regarded museum displaying period furniture and decorations. The building was originally built in 1510.
A 700 million US dollar investment was made in the Port of the Ozama river adjacent to the Ciudad Colonial aiming to turn Santo Domingo into a port of call for luxury cruise ships and including a privately-owned marina. The project is being completed by Sans Soucí Ports S.A.One of the most ambitious projects of its type, it is expected to turn the Colonial District and the rest of Santo Domingo into an area attractive to tourists, something never achieved before.
Landmarks
The majority of the landmarks and cultural venues of the Zona Colonial were erected during the colonial period of Spanish rule, and as such some are in desperate need of repairs and maintenance. (Their names are in Spanish.)
- Catedral de Santa María la Menor
- Puerta del Conde (Parque de la Independencia)
- Alcázar de Colón
- Fortaleza Ozama
- Panteón Nacional
- Museo de las Casas Reales
- Royal Sundial
- Ruinas de San Francisco, Monasterio San Francisco
- La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia
- Ruinas del Hospital San Nicolás de Bari
- La Casa de Bastidas
- Hostal Nicolás de Ovando
Gallery
Columbus Lighthouse-faro a colon
| The Columbus Lighthouse | |
|---|---|
 The Columbus Lighthouse | |
| Established | 1992 |
| Location | Santo Domingo Este Dominican Republic |
Columbus Lighthouse (Spanish: Faro a Colón) is a monument located in Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic, in tribute to Christopher Columbus.
Construction began in 1986 using plans drawn by Scottish architect J.L. Gleave in 1931, in time for the 500th anniversary of the Discovery of America, the monument was inaugurated in 1992. It was funded by the Latin American states and the total cost of construction was approximately $70 million.
The monument's lighthouse-style features projecting beams of light, forming a cross shape, which are so powerful they can be seen from neighboring Puerto Rico.
Containing what are purported to be the remains of Columbus, the monument is both amausoleum and a museum showcasing objects including a boat from Cuba and Columbian jewelry. Constructed of concrete, the monument is half a mile long, its architecture is cross-shaped and represents the Christianization of America.
Architecture
The Columbus Lighthouse, is a cross-shaped monument made of reinforced concrete. It's dimensions are 680 feet (210 m) by 195 feet (59 m). There are 157 beams of light which emanate towards the sky from the structure and a rotating beam, which can be seen for miles.
History
The Dominican historian Antonio Delmonte y Tejada, in his book History of Santo Domingo, published in 1852, expressed the idea of erecting a monument in honor of Columbus in Santo Domingo. By in 1914, the American Pulliam William Ellis began selling the idea of build a monumental beacon in the first city of the New World to the American press. The idea becomes universally accepted during the 1923 celebration of the Fifth International Conference in Chile, when it is decreed that this monument should be built in cooperation by all governments and peoples of America.
Scottish architect Joseph Lea Gleave won the competition among 455 participants from 48 countries. The ceremony was held in Brazil in 1931, and the judges included distinguished architects such as Horacio Acosta y Lara (Uruguay), Eliel Saarinen (Finland), and Frank Lloyd Wright (USA). But, by 1950 only eight countries had made contributions totaling less than $15,000USD, yet the Dominican government forged ahead with the project and in 1948 the foundations of the monument were inaugurated. After 1948 there was growing instability in the country and the political situation made it impossible to resume construction until 1986. During the government of Joaquín Balaguer, construction resumed under the supervision of the Dominican architect Teófilo Carbonell, and culminating in the construction of the monument in 1992, in time for the celebration of the quincentennial discovery of the Americas.
The monument though originally conceived by Gleave as a mausoleum, was adapted to house a permanent collection of exhibitions from each American country as well as other European and Asian countries, as requested by former President Balaguer.
Los Tres Ojos
Los Tres Ojos (The Three Eyes in English) is the name given to a 50-foot open-air limestonecave located in the Mirador del Este park, in the Santo Domingo Este municipality of theDominican Republic. A series of three lakes, or ojos, the site is currently one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country. The caves are open from 9 am to 5 pm, and are illuminated at night by a myriad of colored lights.
History
The site was created centuries ago as a result of tectonic fractures when underground caves collapsed, forming a bowl-shaped depression which subsequently filled with water. Initially, the cave was inhabited by the indigenous Taíno Indians who were the first inhabitants of the Hispaniola island. The three lakes are called "Aguas Azufradas" (discovered in 1916), "The Nevera" and "El Lago de las Mujeres". Some of the lakes also have openings on the outside. A staircase cut into the rock gives access to the first cave. A boat pulls visitors across the second lake.
Description
The caves are fed by water from an underground river and surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites.The composition of the water varies. The two ponds are respectively made of sulphurous water and salt water, while the large lake is composed of freshwater. Their temperature varies between 20°C to 29°C, depending the upon the site, and their various depths give rise to different coloured reflections, blue, green, and sometimes yellow. The fauna is also very varied and includes fish, bats and turtles. Surrounding vegetation is lush and abundant. The depth of the lake remains unknown. The lakes formed a backdrop to some scenes from the movie Jurassic Park.
Jardin Botanico Nacional Dr. Rafael M. Moscoso
A tranquil, green oasis in a frenetic city, this is also one of the best botanical gardens in the Caribbean. A petite train will take you around for RD$45 (every half hour until 4:30), or you can just stroll. If you have limited time, then just hit the high points that interest you. There's an arboretum, a small forest reserve, a Japanese garden, an orchid garden, and more. This is also the best place for bird-watchers in Santo Domingo; you can see the common endemic birds and the palm chat, the only member of its taxonomic family and the national bird of the Dominican Republic. The Hispaniolan Ornithological Society offers a free walk the first Sunday of every month at 7 am.
Aquarium
Aquarium
The open, airy National Aquarium is located just a short drive out of the city and offers visitors a glimpse of the Caribbean's
diverse, colorful sea life. A particular area of interest is the aquarium's Plexiglas tunnel, which lets visitors walk directly through
the aquarium. The complex boasts more than 3,000 marine inhabitants. Guided tours available.
diverse, colorful sea life. A particular area of interest is the aquarium's Plexiglas tunnel, which lets visitors walk directly through
the aquarium. The complex boasts more than 3,000 marine inhabitants. Guided tours available.
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