Q: I know you are the co-author of a guide book on the
Dominican Republic, how many times have you actually been
there?
A: Let’s just say the Dominican Republic immigration
officers and I are getting to know each other on a first-name
basis. I try to do a separate section of the country on each trip,
and I always hit Santo Domingo on every trip, so I’ve been there
about seven separate times. And it’s a huge help that my co-author,
Fe Liza Bencosme, lives in Santo Domingo. If something opens or
closes, she’s there on the spot.
Q: What made you decide to do a guide book on the
Dominican Republic?
A: I heard that our publisher, Hunter Travel Guides, was
looking for new writers for their Dominican Republic guide, and I
knew that my friend Fe Liza, who was living in Egypt at the time,
had lived in the Dominican Republic and still had family there. I
asked if she was interested in co-authoring, and she was. She ended
up staying there and I get to travel to the Caribbean, so it’s
worked out well for both of us.
Q: What would you say is the best way for visitors to
see the Dominican Republic?
A: I love driving around the island, and the main
highways are really quite good. But it’s not for everyone. It can
get pretty hectic on the roadways, especially in Santo Domingo, and
many of the smaller roads require four-wheel drive if you want to
do any out-of-the-way exploring. Public transportation is quite
varied you can take everything from air conditioned inter-city
buses to rides on the back of motoconchos, which are motorbikes
that take passengers around the countryside. You really need to
experience guaguas, too, which are privately owned minibuses and
vans that go just about everywhere in the country. They’re very
cheap and mostly used by working class people. The passengers tend
to talk a lot and sing along to music, so it’s a loud but
entertaining ride.
Q: Tell me about Santo Domingo. Is it a must-see for
travelers? What are some things to do there?
A: I’m a huge fan of Santo Domingo, which is
really the most historic city in the Americas. Christopher Columbus
first landed on Hispaniola (the island the Dominican Republic
shares with Haiti) in 1492 and Santo Domingo was founded in 1498 by
Columbus’ brother, Bartholomew. It was the first European city in
the Western Hemisphere, and you can still visit the first fortress,
first hospital, first church, first stone house, first paved road,
and first university in the Americas. They’re all in the Zona
Colonial, a World Heritage Site that’s being beautifully restored.
Some of the hotels and restaurants there are incredible, and the
merengue, bachata, and son music scene is hopping. Everyone should
see Santo Domingo at least once.
Can you recommend some other must see places in the
country?
A: I love Samana, which is a lush peninsula in the
northeastern part of the country. It’s known for its waterfalls and
its humpback whale-watching in winter, a tremendous experience. The
North Coast is really green and gorgeous, and towns like Cabarete,
Sosua, and Rio San Juan are surrounded by wonderful beaches. The
far northwest around Montecristi is a real find; it’s remote but
has great beaches and interesting architecture. And the far
southwest is a fascinating desert landscape with birds, crocodiles,
iguanas, and pristine beaches, though they may not be undeveloped
for long.
Q: The Dominican Republic has such a diverse landscape.
What sorts of adventure activities are available for travelers?
A: As great as many of the beaches are in the Dominican
Republic, it’s the other outdoor activities that really make the
country stand out. The Dominican Republic has the four highest
mountains in the Caribbean, and the highest, Pico Duarte, draws
trekkers from around the world. You can also go whitewater rafting
in the mountains the area is known as the Dominican Alps as well as
horseback riding there or along the north coast. Windsurfing is a
huge activity in Cabarete, and Scuba diving is immensely popular
along the north and southeast coasts; you can even dive through
underwater caves if you have the nerve. And there are some
wonderful national parks such as Los Haitises south of Samana,
which you can explore by boat, and Parque Nacional del Este in the
far southeast, where you can hike to see Taino (native American)
cave rock art that dates from the days before Columbus.
Q: All-inclusive resorts are all over the Dominican
Republic, how important do you think they are for visitors to
experience? Any recommendations?
A: If you’re looking for a beach vacation where
everything is taken care of and you can either relax or play hard
all day long, then it’s hard to top the all-inclusive resorts. They
can be an exceptional value -- one price gets you your room, all
your meals and drinks, most all your entertainment and activities,
and often your airfare as well if you go through a tour operator.
The two main areas for all-inclusives in the Dominican Republic are
Punta Cana on the east coast and Playa Dorada on the north coast,
though you’ll find them scattered on other beaches as well. I love
Sunscape: The Beach in Punta Cana, which only recently opened on an
isolated stretch of beach, and I also like some of the Riu resorts
and the Breezes resort in Punta Cana. In Playa Dorada, I like the
Gran Ventana and the Paradise Beach Club. Keep in mind, though,
that if you stay at an all-inclusive, you may not get out to see
much of the rest of the island.
