Mountainous, historic, graced with seemingly endless tropical beaches — the Dominican Republic is all of these and more. Christopher Columbus happened upon this island, now called Hispaniola, in 1492, and visitors have been flocking here in growing numbers in recent years, drawn by the republic's spectacular scenery, Latin flair and warm hospitality.
Resort areas include the capital city of Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, La Romana, and Puerto Plata, all with fine, white-sand beaches just right for lounging and swimming. Active travelers can learn kite-boarding — akin to parasailing on a snowboard, it’s the hottest new water sport in the Caribbean — at several instruction schools in the country.
