5 things not to be missed in the Dominican Republic!

1. National Botanical Garden – “Have a picnic on the lawns of the beautiful National Botanical Garden in Santo Domingo. Or, stroll down the Malecón at sunset for sea views, roadside snacks and people-watching.” 2. Cotubanamá National Park (Parque Nacional Cotubanamá) – “Located on the southeast coast in La Romana, about a two-hour drive from Santo Domingo, Cotubanamá National Park is one of the Dominican Republic’s most popular tourist areas. The park is home to 112 different bird species, marine manatees, dolphins and turtles, as well as Taino (Indian warriors) cave art.”

3. El Limón waterfall – “Reach the beautiful secluded waterfall in Samaná by hiking, canoeing or horseback riding.

4. Altos de Chavon – “For more relaxed cultural activities, visit Altos de Chavon, in the La Romana area. The medieval village has the most spectacular views of the Chavon River and the Caribbean Sea. It is also an artistic village, with an array of shops with handcrafted jewellery, ceramics and galleries featuring Dominican and international artists.”

5. Island excursions – “Book an excursion to Saona Island, an authentic Caribbean island with lovely long white beaches, or Catalina Islands, which is more popular for divers and snorkelers. Catalina is around 30 minutes from the port in La Romana, whereas getting to Saona can be over an hour.”