The resorts and hotels are appointed with all the amenities the visitor to
this area could require, while the nearby beaches are the perfect place to relax
and unwind. Activities are organised through many of the hotels, while the seaside
towns offer many shops and restaurants where local produce can be bought and
sampled. The Barceló Bávaro Casino opens at 4pm, where gambling
is accompanied by the nightly show of traditional Dominican music and dance.
Nightclubs in the resort areas offer a great night out, and the Latin beats
get the whole crowd moving.
Outside of the resorts, the natural beauty of the Dominican Republic takes
over, as coconut palms give way to the white sand of the beaches. Some of the
original fishing villages remain fairly undeveloped. One of the most picturesque
is El Macao, a fishing village that looks out to the Playa Bonita with its adjacent
rocky hill. From atop this hill, one can look out across the sea and catch glimpses
of an old shipwreck, one of the attractions for divers in the area.
The cit of Higüey was founded in 1494, and today it serves as a living
example of the traditional Dominican way of life, with small streets 5 centuries
old. On the road from Higüey to La Romana, you will find the two towns
of San Rafael de Yuma and Boca de Yuma. In San Rafael de Yuma, stop and take
a look at the Ponce de Leon House, where, in the early 1500s, the commander
of this eastern part of the country lived with his family. In Boca de Yuma,
opportunities abound to sample the fresh local fish and the traditional dances
of bachata and salsa.
Punta Cana also boasts a nature reserve, the Manati Park Bavaro, where colourful
birds, reptiles, and fish share their home with dolphins that are more than
willing to put on a performance. Just off the southeast coast of the mainland,
Sanoa Island is a popular spot for daytrips. The island’s small fishing
village is the only settlement, and visitors here can enjoy the delicious local
catches under the shade of the coconut palms.
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