One of the most popular Caribbean destinations, the Dominican Republic occupies most of the island of Hispaniola while Haiti occupies the west side. Hispaniola was the first permanent Spanish settlement in the New World, and today everyone in the Dominican Republic speaks Spanish and is predominatly Roman Catholic. The capital and largest city of Santo Domingo is on the southern coast facing the Caribbean Sea.

The island is on the path of hurricanes which pass by along either coast from mid summer to November. The northern coast facing the Atlantic enjoys milder winters than the interior or the south.

On the northern coast is the popular resort city of Puerto Plata, home of the Ocean World adventure park, marina and casino. Also worth a visit is the Plaza Turisol shopping complex and Playa Dorada golf course. For a taste of the real countryside take an Outback Safari tour and visit a local family, or catch the cable car to Isabel de Torres scientific reserve on a mountaintop overlooking the city. Founded in 1564, El Morro de San Felipe is the oldest fort in the new world.

In recent years the resort of Punta Cana at the east end has become the most popular tourist attraction in the Dominican Republic, replacing the capital as the busiest airport. Many resort hotels offer all inclusive packages. On land enjoy monster truck and dune buggy tours. Sail on a coastal cruise to the Marinarium, where supervised snorkel tours along the coral reef give you a close up experience with the tropical fish, plus stingrays and nurse sharks. Punta Cana faces the Mona passage, which separates Hispaniola from Puerto Rico.