The Dominican Republic shares the Island of Hispaniola with the Republic of Haiti. Covering an area of 48,400 km2, it is the second largest country in the Caribbean. Thanks to its climate and seemingly endless miles of beach, the Dominican Republic has become a top quality tourist destination connected with the world's leading cities.
It has an estimated population of 7,600,000 inhabitants, a mixture of different, mainly urban influences, with around 2,000,000 inhabitants living in the capital, Santo Domingo. The landscape is varied and includes Lake Enriquillo, which, at 144 metres below sea level, is the lowest point in the Caribbean, and Pico Duarte, the highest in the Caribbean, with an altitude of 3,175 metres. The Cibao Valley is the main agricultural area.
Samaná
This peninsula in the north-east of the island is 245 km from Santo Domingo and in an area rich in marble. It has the largest number of coconut palms per square metre in the world. There are innumerable majestic landscapes to enjoyed beside its roads, and marvellous views of mountains that run down to white sandy beaches. Bahía de Samaná is well-known internationally because it is here that over 3,000 humpback whales gather to perform a beautiful mating ritual. Visitors can approach to within just a few metres and photograph them. Its main centre is Santa Bárbara, an old fishing village with a magnificent port and international airport. The most famous site is "Las Terrenas", a beautiful spot with miles of beach and unspoilt landscapes.
A cornice-like route fringed by palm trees leads from Puerto Plata to the Samaná peninsula, one of the most beautiful places in the Dominican Republic. The virtually unspoilt beaches provide total isolation and a vegetation of wild flowers that are completely unfamiliar to foreigners, who can let themselves be carried away by the song of blackbird-like birds that are known locally as chinchulines. The tiny fishing village of Santa Bárbara de Samaná, which was established in 1756, now only operates as a tourist resort but has not lost its original character. There are good hotels and pleasant restaurants.
CLIMATE: The climate in the coastal area is mainly warm, as it is typical in the tropics. The temperatures are cooler in the middle of the country. The average temperature all year long is 25ºC, or 77ºF.
CURRENCY: The unit of currency in the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso.
SHOPPING: Haggling is accepted in markets and small shops, but not in department stores, where prices are fixed. The most interesting items are handicrafts, pottery, typical naive paintings, coffee, tobacco and rum. International credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) are accepted in most of the country's shopping centres and restaurants.
Hotels 
