Tourist Attractions

Trips

Saona Island

Saona Island, which is located in the south-east of the Dominican Republic, is the largest of the islands next to La Española: It is part of the Parque Nacional del Este (National Park of the East) and is a sanctuary for several species of migratory birds. It has miles of solitary, extremely fine white sandy beaches with crystal clear waters that are surrounded by millions of coconut palms. It also has caves that bear witness to the presence of the native Tainos, a coralline sea bed, which is an ideal place for diving, and breeding grounds for fish and shellfish. This is known as the “Natural Swimming Pool”, a small lagoon of crystal clear water, home to innumerable species such as starfish and birds such as flamingos. 112 species of birds, half the country’s species, have been recorded within the limits of the park. Of these, 8 species are endemic to the island and 11 species are native to the Caribbean area. The manatee is a marine mammal in danger of extinction. There are also dolphins.

Humpback whales

One of the most beautiful trips that can be made in the Dominican Republic is a visit to the Humpback Whale Sanctuary in Bahía de Samaná and El Banco de Plata , in the Northwest of the country. Each year, from December to April, some 3,000 humpback whales come to mate in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean coast. Until recently it was thought that only 85% of the Atlantic’s humpback whales were born in Dominican Republic waters and that the whales returned each year to mate and breed. However, a recent study has shown that all the North Atlantic schools come to mate in our waters.

Altos de Chavon

Building on the town of Altos de Chavón started in 1976. Charles Bludhorn, president of the Golf & Western Corporation, came up with the idea to build this sixteenth-country Mediterranean village on the upper stretches of the river Chavón as a birthday gift for his daughter. An Italian, Roberto Copa was contracted to turn Bludhorn’s idea into reality. Here, visitors are transported to Mediterranean Europe and have extremely spectacular views of the River Chavón and the Caribbean sea.
Altos de Chavón has a church, restaurants, art galleries, a Taino museum, shops, discotheque, artists’ studios, a school of design and an amphitheatre.
The Altos de Chavón school of design is linked to the New York Parsons School of Design.
The Church of San Estanislao in the centre of the village was named to honour Pope Juan Pablo II. Saint Stanislaw is the patron saint of Poland, the Pope’s country of origin.
The Altos de Chavón amphitheatre has 5,000 seats. It was opened in 1982 by Frank Sinatra and Carlos Santana. Many more artists and rock groups including Heart, English Beat, America, Tania Maria, Scandal, Sergio Mendes, Juan Luis Guerra, Michel Camilo, Spiro Gyra, and Duran Duran have played upon this extremely beautiful stage. National and international artists continue to perform here throughout the year.
This Mediterranean town is a source of inspiration for the artists who live, study or work there.

Cascada El Limón

The Cascada el Limón waterfall is immersed in a tropical forest on the Samaná peninsula. Colonial Tour and Travel offers you a relaxing, pleasant and unforgettable trip; a one- to two-hour donkey ride through tropical forest leads to this striking 55-metre waterfall.
After bathing in the refreshing, crystal-clear water, you can enjoy a typical meal in the zone’s restaurant. Accompanied by an expert guide authorised by the Dominican Secretary for Tourism.

Cayo Levantado

Cayo Levantado is a small area of land on the Dominican Republic’s north-east coast, in Bahía de Samaná on the Samaná Peninsula. It has rainforest vegetation, paradisiacal white sandy beaches with crystal clear waters and extremely beautiful landscape. Cayo Levantado is the site of Hotel Gran Bahía Príncipe Cayo Levantado, the only hotel in this small area. Here, humpback whales can be sighted throughout the season from January to March. Cayo Levantado is a place where holidaymakers and the lush vegetation vie with each other for supremacy.