City Tours

The Dominican Republic offers many unique and unusual sights and treasures for you to discover. Although many tourists come here only for the beaches, there are many who want to learn more about the Dominican people, their history, culture and civilization. If you are one of these people then you will want to learn more about the various tours, guided and otherwise, you can enjoy in this splendid Caribbean paradise.

Local Tour Guide

One of the most wonderful and informative ways to discover the Dominican Republic is with a bilingual local tour guide. Local guides have the experience to show you where the ‘hidden treasures’ are located in their area. Your villa concierge can help arrange one for you so you too can discover the magic and wonder of this unspoiled, pristine tropical paradise.

Santo Domingo Tours

Santo Domingo is the largest city in the Dominican Republic with a 2000 census of over 2.5 million people and the oldest city in the New World. Similar in many respects to Miami, Florida, Santo Domingo is a very metropolitan city and the capital of the country. There are so many things to see in this city it would be impossible to list them all.

So we have selected a few of our favorites for you to consider but your concierge will be able to provide you with even more to chose from while you are here. TripAdvisor cites 23 historic locations within Santo Domingo and many more tours or sightseeing locations.

• Colonial Zone – Anyone visiting Santo Domingo will want to first tour this small, quaint part of the city containing many museums and historic buildings documenting the earliest history in the Caribbean, Indian and European both. Located within the Colonial Zone is the original castle of Columbus, built by his son Diego. Located nearby is Cathedral Basilica Santa Maria la Menor, the oldest Christian cathedral in the New World.
• Alcázar de Colón – Erected by Diego Columbus and is wife, Maria de Toledo, who also happened to be the niece of King Ferdinand of Spain. This is the only remaining house of the Columbus family and was built between 1510-1514. Today this is the most visited museum in the Dominican Republic.
• Plaza de la Cultura – Sprinkled with many museums around the plaza, this location makes it easy to take in a lot of culture with very little travel involved. Everything from modern to Taino artifacts offer unique insights into the culture of the Dominican Republic.
• Columbus Lighthouse – Believed to contain the last remains of Christopher Columbus, this massive cross-shaped monument was erected to celebrate the 500th anniversary of his discovery of Hispaniola. At various times, often national celebrations, the lighthouse projects an amazing cross-shaped light towards the stars. The lighthouse contains Columbus’ tomb and many interesting artifacts.
• Tres Ojos / National Aquarium - A large 50-foot cave containing three lagoons offers a unique and unusual tour while on your way to the National Aquarium, nearby. Check out the manatee star of the park!
• National Palace – A neoclassical architecture erected for the dictator Rafael Trujillo in the 1940’s, this is still the seat of the government of the Dominican Republic.
  

Puerto Plata Tours

Puerto Plata is the largest city in the Dominican Republic located on the northern coast. The 2000 census put the population at 150,000 and Puerto Plata is easily the center of tourism for the north coast. Puerto Plata also has one of the country’s leading ports; exporting tobacco, sugar cane, coffee and more. There are many interesting, exciting and entertaining things to do in Puerto Plata so we have collected a few for you to consider for a tour to Puerto Plata.

• San Felipe Fortress - Imagine strolling the streets of Puerto Plata in the same footsteps, down the very same streets and alleys, as Christopher Columbus and his stalwart conquistadors! He and his brother Bartholomew founded San Felipe de Puerto Plata (silver port) in 1496 and started building the mighty fort. About six years later the mighty fortress of San Felipe was erected to defend the harbor against pirate attacks. The fortress was also very important in later years as the Dominican Republic fought for its independence.
• Ocean World Marine Park - An amazing water park in Cofresi, only a few miles from Puerto Plata, where you are able to interact with, touch and even swim with dolphins, sea lions and sharks.
• Central Park - Puerto Plata was a thriving community in the Victoria era so many buildings follow that architectural form. The best representations remaining today are around the Central Park area where over 150 of these beautiful, graceful buildings still stand.
• Brugal Rum Factory - The Brugal company is the largest producer of rum in the Dominican Republic and third largest in the world for sugar cane rum production. The factory offers a guided tour so you can see how rum is manufactured. At the end of the tour you can purchase some of the excellent rums--some as amazing as fine cognac.
• Puerto Plata Lighthouse - A relative 'johnny-come-lately,' this lighthouse was erected in 1879 and renovated as recently as 2002. Its rarity comes mostly from the fact it is over 24 meters high and is built from solid cast iron. One of the very few left in this hemisphere.
• Amber Museum - The north coast of the Dominican Republic is often referred to as the 'Amber Coast' due to its rich deposits of this golden fossilized tree sap. Built in 1919, the Amber Museum in Puerto Plata highlights some of the most beautiful selections of amber in its high quality collections. The mosquito-encased amber from Jurassic Park fame can be found here.
• Taino Art Museum - When Christopher Columbus 'discovered' the island of Hispaniola he was greeted by the Taino civilization. The Taino's were here long before Columbus and their history and culture can be seen through the eyes of their art.
• Isabel de Torres Botanical Gardens - A soaring 800 meter cable car ride brings you to the top of Isabela de Torres, the mountain peak overlooking Puerto Plata. At the summit is a magnificent 135,000 square meter (33 acres) Botanical Garden with gorgeous specimens of ginger, hibiscus, tropical flowers, enormous ferns and more.

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