Attractions & Things to Do in the Dominican Republic

Authors Michael and Lana Law live part of each year in the Dominican Republic and have traveled the country extensively.

Postcard-perfect beaches, luxury resorts, and a solid tourism infrastructure are the main reasons people visit the Dominican Republic. This, combined with lush forests, mountains, and even semi-desert areas, creates unique opportunities for travelers who want more than a simple beach vacation. Things to do off the beach can include exploring waterfalls, hiking, visiting mountain villages, or wandering through historical city centers.

The beach resorts of Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, and La Romana offer what many packaged vacationers are looking for: a tropical escape designed for relaxation. This is where you'll find most of the Dominican Republic's all-inclusive resorts.

Independent travelers who want to escape from this scene can head to remote areas of the country, like the Samaná Peninsula, the mountainous interior, or the less tourist-focused towns and cities. Surfers and kiteboarders will find exactly what they're looking for in places like Cabarete.

No place in the Caribbean delivers on history quite like the colonial zone in Santo Domingo. This city is a must-see, and it is also a major hub with direct flights around the world. It's a great place to start or end a trip. The Dominican Republic's new airline, Arajet, offers discount fares on direct flights to cities throughout South America and eastern Canada.

Immerse yourself in nature, find secluded beaches, and learn about the culture with our list of the top attractions and things to do in the Dominican Republic.

Plan a Vacation to the Resort Destination of Punta Cana

Where an endless stretch of beautiful white-sand beach meets the emerald waters of the Caribbean is Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic's premier resort destination. If you are looking for luxury all-inclusive resorts, a couple's retreat, or family-friendly resorts combined with an unending list of water-based activities for entertainment, this is the best place to visit in the Dominican Republic.

Bavaro Beach is Punta Cana's most impressive stretch of beach, where you can wade into the water or walk for hours along the sand. Resorts line the beach and offer easy access to all the activities. This is not a place to come for a quiet getaway.

The ocean is a flurry of activity, with boats, parasailers, and sightseeing tour boats coming and going. Roped-off areas offer safe places to swim. Inland from the beach are a smattering of restaurants and retail, most of which are very modern, especially by Dominican Republic standards.

Visit Puerto Plata & Playa Dorada

Along the north coast, looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, the resort destination of Puerto Plata and the beautiful stretch of beach known as Playa Dorada is one of the Dominican Republic's biggest tourist draws. This golden-sand beach is lined with luxury resorts, although much less densely packed than what you'll find in Punta Cana.

This area is also much more subdued and has more of a tranquil feel. The beaches are not busy with boats and water sports, although it's a beautiful area for swimming or snorkeling. You can walk beyond the resorts to undeveloped beaches backed by palm trees and forest.

Take a day and head into Puerto Plata's city center to explore the colorful streets and historical attractions. Highlights in Puerto Plata include Pink Street, Umbrella Street, Central Park, and Fort San Felipe.

Walk through Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial

In this city, where Christopher Columbus first landed in the America's, you'll find the hustle and bustle of modern-day life being played out against the backdrop of centuries-old buildings. The colonial architecture, much of which today houses museums, restaurants, shops, and quaint hotels, lines the streets and squares, and takes you back to another era in mind-blowing fashion.

Much of the activity focuses around Calle El Conde, the main thoroughfare and a popular street for shopping or dining el fresco. Wandering around the various streets, you'll see crumbling ruins, like those of Monesterio de San Francisco; beautifully preserved buildings, such as the Catedral Primada de América (First Cathedral in the Americas), which is still in use today; and residential areas, offering a glimpse into local life.

Dining in Santo Domingo is a real treat, both for the food and the ambience. Some of the top places to enjoy a nice meal in beautiful surroundings are; Maraca, in a fabulous building with a variety of seating areas; El Mason De La Cave, with, as the name suggests, a cave setting; and Buche Perico, where you dine in a airy, tropical courtyard setting with a glass ceiling high above. All of these are located in the Zona Colonial.

Recently, Santo Domingo has embarked on major restoration projects of its most important historical buildings, meaning this city is only going to get better with time.

Read More: Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Santo Domingo

Enjoy the Beaches and Beachside Restaurants in Cabarete

Cabarete is a laid-back beach town. It's known for its relaxed atmosphere and huge, crescent-shaped beach lined with casual restaurants where visitors can dine right on the sand.

Unlike the Dominican Republic's resort destinations like Punta Cana or Puerto Plata, this town is not full of all-inclusive resorts and packaged-vacation tourists. Instead, Cabarete attracts free spirits, backpackers, retirees, and kiteboarders and surfers who come here to spend a few weeks or months, particularly during the winter.

If you are staying in nearby Puerto Plata, you can day trip to Cabarete to spend a day on the beach, enjoy a meal, or do some shopping. In the early evenings, especially on weekends and Tuesdays, musicians often perform in the local beachfront restaurants and provide entertainment as the sun sets.

To the east and west of town are long stretches of beautiful beaches lined by palm trees. This natural setting is perfect for peaceful walks.

Lounge on the Beaches in Las Galeras

At the farthest tip of the Samaná Peninsula, where the road dead ends at the ocean, looking out over one of the area's many beautiful beaches, is the small town of Las Galeras. Its remote location will appeal to independent travelers looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience. Palm-lined, white-sand beaches and turquoise water create an idyllic scene.

Beaches like Playa Rincon, La Playita, Playa Fronton, and other unnamed stretches of undeveloped beaches in the area are some of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic and offer the polar opposite experience of the major resort destinations on the island. Here, you can hire a boat to take you to a remote beach for a morning or afternoon, or walk from town to several beautiful sandy coves in the surrounding area.

The town itself has only one main street, but restaurants along here, many operated by French expats, offer outstanding cuisine at backpacker prices. Restaurants in the surrounding mountains or along the oceanfront cliffs, which require a drive from town, provide more great options.

Las Galeras is the perfect place to get away from busy streets and the tourist scene, while still offering enough infrastructure to make you comfortable.

Kiteboard on Cabarete's Kite Beach

Cabarete is known around the world as a kiteboarding destination. The center of the action is on Kite Beach, just around a headland from Cabarete's main beach. It's about a 20-minute walk along the beach from the center of town to Kite Beach.

This small area of Cabarete has its own unique vibe. In the mornings, the beach is quiet, with the exception of walkers and runners or people swimming and stand up paddleboarding. In the afternoon, when the winds pick up, kiteboarders descend on the beach, and the sky fills with kites.

The sand is a riot of colors with kites waiting for the best winds to materialize. A few restaurants along here offer casual food right along the water's edge.

Cabarete and nearby Encuentro Beach host the annual Master of the Ocean competition in February, where the best in the world come to compete in kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing, and stand up paddleboarding. This is a great time to see some incredible kiting on Kite Beach.

If you are interested in taking up this sport yourself, numerous schools offer lessons, and hotels cater to kiters. See our article on learning to kiteboard: lessons, schools, and where to stay on Kite Beach.

Surfing is another popular activity in Cabarete. Most of the surfing is centered at Encuentro, another beautiful stretch of beach just outside town. Many people head out to Encuentro for surfing in the morning, then move down to Kite Beach for kiteboarding in the afternoon, and eventually end up on Cabarete's main beach for a little nightlife.

Go Whale Watching in Samaná Bay

Each winter, from December through March, thousands of humpback whales enter Samaná Bay to mate and give birth, making this one of the best places to see these beautiful giants in the wild. The city of Samaná, on the Samaná Peninsula, is the main departure point for Whale Watching trips.

The city itself holds little else for travelers, but the whales are such a popular tourist attraction, many companies offer day trips here from various destinations around the island. If you are passing through on your way to Las Galeras, of if you are based in nearby Las Terrenas, less than an hour away, you can stop in Samaná and sign up for a tour. If you are staying in Punta Cana, full-day whale watching tours are also available.

Visit Las Terrenas

On the north coast, Las Terrenas is a busy Dominican city with a peaceful and laid-back beachfront area, where winding, single-lane dirt roads meander past small French cafés and look out over palms, beaches, and the aquamarine ocean. Just a short stroll inland takes you to the motorbike-filled streets, where Dominicans are going about work and everyday life.

This is one of the best places to visit if you want a taste of Dominican culture and all the conveniences of a city, combined with a great beach destination. Like Las Galeras, many French people have made Las Terrenas their home and have set up restaurants and inns.

Hike and Swim at 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua (27 Charcos)

If you're seeking adventure, one of the most exciting activities in the Dominican Republic is to hike up to a narrow gorge filled with waterfalls and then leap off each one into the pools below. This attraction is not for the faint of heart; it's a serious challenge, but it is incredibly fun.

The waterfalls are in a national park, so things are well organized. You'll be outfitted with a lifejacket and a helmet and led by two qualified guides who will escort you across a bridge and up a long pathway to the top of the falls, about a 45-minute walk. It's a sweaty excursion in the heat and humidity of the Dominican jungle, but don't worry, lots of rest stops with benches are part of the trip.

You'll then descend multiple stairs to the gorge where the river rushes through, and it's at this point that the real fun begins. Hold your nose, close your eyes, and jump from the platform into the pool at the waterfall's base. Be prepared to sink deep but then pop right back up again. You'll do this repeatedly as you descend over each waterfall. Some waterfalls even have natural waterslides, so no jumping is required, although you should be prepared for a free-fall experience at the end of the slide. If a waterfall is too scary, ladders are available to climb down.

Eventually, you'll find your way to the end of the gorge, where you'll swim across a small pond and walk back to the starting point. The river does have 27 waterfalls, but tourists only jump off seven, or five if the water is low.

The falls are near Puerto Plata, and most people go on an organized tour from resorts around Puerto Plata, Sosua, and Cabarete.

If you have your own transport, you can also do this on your own (be sure to check if any cruise ships are in town to avoid the crowds), but guides are mandatory and can be arranged at the falls. You need to be able to swim and not be afraid of heights.

Bahia de Las Aguilas

Well off the major tourist route, the remote Bahia de Las Aguillas in Jaragua National Park is a glorious eight-kilometer stretch of beach, which you may have all to yourself on any given day. The shallow, clear, calm water and white-sand bottom, combined with a distinct lack of tourism and development, make this one of the most pristine beaches in the Dominican Republic.

Located on the southwestern coast of the country, close to the border with Haiti, this area is isolated, to say the least. From Santo Domingo, the drive time is at least six hours. The nearest town to the beach is Pedernales, almost an hour away by car, and the tourism infrastructure in this part of the Dominican is some of the least developed in the country.

You won't find luxury resorts, but you will find tranquility, solitude, and unique experiences if you come out this way. The climate here is semi-arid, and the landscape, which consists largely of cactus and scrub, is much different than other areas of the country.

Isla Saona and Parque Nacional de Este

While Parque Nacional del Este, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a serene place of natural beauty and habitat for countless plants, animals, and birds, most people know the park for the beaches of Isla Saona. This island is a tourist magnet, with all kinds of day trippers from the nearby resort destinations of Punta Cana and La Romana.

The soft-sand beach and turquoise water are what most people would imagine if they were to picture a tropical island paradise. But, despite the fact that there are no resorts on the island, it is a lively destination during the day as catamarans and speedboats drop tourists on the beaches to relax in lounge chairs and soak up the sun.

If you are tired of the scene in Punta Cana and looking for an outing, you can hop on a Saona Island Day Trip from Punta Cana. A small speedboat will whisk you over to the island for a day of relaxing on the beach and playing in the shallow waters.

Jarabacoa

While many Dominican vacationers consider Jarabacoa a summer retreat destination, foreign travelers tend to see it as an outdoor adventure playground in the mountains of the Dominican Republic's interior. In the vicinity are opportunities for rafting, hiking, biking, and other types of exploration.

At an elevation of over 500 meters, the climate here is much milder than the coast and nights are often cool. If you are spending more than just a week or two in the country, it's worth venturing up to Jarabacoa. This town also makes a convenient stop for a couple of nights if you are traveling between Santo Domingo and either Puerto Plata or Cabarete.

La Romana

Not far from Punta Cana, La Romana is one of the Dominican's resort destinations. This area has a number of large resorts, some of which are geared towards more independent travelers looking to self-cater. However, the number of resorts here is not nearly on the same scale as Punta Cana. Beautiful beaches in the area are the main draw.

One of the most popular things to do here is visit the Altos de Chavón, where you can shop for crafts and souvenirs in a replica of a 16th-century artisan's village. The village is set off on its own, but you can join an organized shopping trip if you don't have your own transportation.

Not far from La Romana is Bayahibe, a fishing town with a public beach and the departure point for trips to Isla Saona. You can also day trip from La Romana to Santo Domingo, about 1.5 hours away. Golfing is another popular activity in the area.

The Three Eyes National Park

Should you find yourself in Santo Domingo with a free day, it would be best spent making the short trip to the Three Eyes National Park. This fascinating park has been the site of several jungle adventure movies, and once you visit, you'll see why.

Descend below the surface of the earth along a series of staircases into a limestone cave and emerge beneath a tangle of vines at the first of three crystal-clear pools. It's these small lakes that give the park its name. Pathways lead from pool to pool, and if you want a bit of added adventure, pay a bit extra for a short boat ride to the farthest one.

Trails also lead around the top of the caves, providing glimpses down into the caverns. The Three Eyes National Park is easy to reach — it's only about a 15-minute drive from the old town of Santo Domingo.

Los Haitises National Park

Somewhat reminiscent of the limestone pinnacles in places like Thailand, Los Haitises National Park is a green and verdant paradise. Limestone islands with 100-foot-high peaks covered in dense greenery rise directly from the surface of the water

The area, best explored in kayaks or small boats, is a wonderful place to see wildlife, especially birds. Species spotted include woodpeckers, hawks, pelicans, and herons, among many others.

The limestone geology is rife with caves, some of which were used by the ancient Taino tribes, who left their marks with pictographs. Some caves even have small beaches in them, ideal for taking a cooling swim, as this is a hot and humid area of the country.

Another fascinating area to explore is the mangrove tunnels, places that can be calm, quiet, and sometimes a bit eerie. Los Haitises National Park is usually reached via boat from the city of Samana.

Buen Hombre

This tiny town is known only to locals and kiteboarders. You won't find much here except for beach shacks selling fresh-caught seafood, an extensive beach, goats and friendly dogs roaming the beaches and streets, and a few hotels. It's quiet, beautiful, and offers some of the best flatwater riding in the Dominican Republic if you are into kiteboarding.

For kiteboarders, strong side-on shore winds blow here most days, and with a protective outer reef, the water is calm and perfect for riding, perfecting tricks, or jumping. For those non-kiters, the beach is a lovely place for lounging in the ocean with little to no wave action and super warm water. The area has a lot of coral, but you can find sandy pockets to hang out in and soak up the sun. If you need some entertainment, enterprising boatmen will tow you around on a multi-person inflatable banana.

The streets roll up at dark, and Buen Hombre sinks into silence. This isn't the place for nightlife, but it is a wonderful place for relaxation.

Cable Car in Puerto Plata (TEMPORARILY CLOSED)

This attraction is closed for renovation and rehabilitation, estimated to open at some point in 2027, however, the Tourism Ministry of the Dominican Republic has provided no firm reopening date.

An ideal way to get a bird's-eye view of the northern coast of the Dominican Republic is to take a ride up the cable car in Puerto Plata. Ascending nearly 800 meters from the steamy heat of sea level, the cable car whisks you up to the top of Pico Isabel de Torres, where you'll find the air pleasantly cool.

Take a little while to wander around the top and see the statue of Christ the Redeemer. The views out over the surrounding countryside are spectacular. Places to look for include Sousa, Cabarete, and the windmills on the hills beyond Puerto Plata.

It's best to go early in the day, as it tends to get cloudy as the day progresses.

The Dominican Republic - Climate Chart