Santo Domingo, despite its colonial charms, is still pretty much a metropolis by today's standards - meaning, it can get a little tedious after a few days and you may want to consider a few day trips to take a break from the hubbub of the city. You can visit several destinations that are perfect for rest and relaxation, nature adventures or historical surveys.
If you are looking for a jaunt at an idyllic beach location, Boca Chica is less than 30 minutes drive away from the city. It is a small seaside town that offers scenic white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. It's also the best place to take a bite of the mouthwatering seafood or just relax in one of the bars or cafes at the marina and enjoy the view. Nearby is a golf course where you can practice your drives or engage in a serious round.
If you've had enough of the Caribbean beaches and want to enjoy the fresh air and lovely scenery of the countryside, then you should not miss what the province of Monte Plata has to offer. First stop is the famous town of Yamasa where you can learn all about pottery making at the Ceramica Taina Heramaos Guillen or about cocoa production in one of the bloques or the cocoa farmer associations. It's also the best place to taste the rich chocolate brew and you might want to buy some of these products for a souvenir of your educational Yamasa experience.
Nature lovers with kids in tow would love Balneario Comate and its natural pool and lovely waterfall. For bigger waterfalls and deeper natural pools, Salto Alto and Salto Socoa are the perfect destinations for you. If you go for a dip in the cool natural pools of Salto Socoa, don't miss stopping by the 16th century church of Santa Maria de Boya on your way back to add more delight to your outing.
You can also go on a day trip to view ancient art. North of Santo Domingo is San Cristobal where you will find Reserva Antropologiga el Pomier and its 2,000 year old collection of ancient rock art. While in the area, you may also want to visit El Castillo del Cerro, once home to the infamous Trjillo.
If you are up for some adventure, proceed to the town of Bayahibe, which is only two hours drive from Santo Domingo. From Bayahibe, rent a boat that will take you to Isla Saona and its stunning white sand beaches. If you like to go for walks or want to see several species of birds in the island, spray on some mosquito repellent and follow the trails to the mangrove forest and its lagoons. But if you want to see some Flamingos, head out to Laguna de los Flamencos and give yourself a visual treat of their flamboyant colors.
From Isla Saona you may want to continue on to Parque Nacional del Este and its splendid coral reefs, more than 400 caves and 114 species of birds. It is also ideal for sea creature sightseeing such as manatees, bottle nosed dolphins and sea turtles. Arm yourself with plenty of sun screen though and brace yourself for really hot weather. But if these minor drawbacks are not an issue, you can be sure to have a wonderful excursion just a short distance from Santo Domingo.
Sunee is author of this article on Hotels in Thailand.
No comments:
Post a Comment