INTERACTIVE MAPNear the Sans Souci Port Terminal, the National Aquarium has a long shark tunnel and manatee petting area. Located beside the sea, there are benches to sit and enjoy the view. Av. España.
Museums
Museum buffs will find a bevy of opportunities around the Dominican Republic. Santo Domingo’s Colonial City—the first urban settlement in the New World—houses excellent museums providing insight into the Spanish colonial days—from the Alcázar de Colón palace to the Museo de las Casas Reales, where the royal court was housed. The city also boasts a museum complex at Plaza de la Cultura, showcasing history and modern art, while the latest offering in the city is all about Dominican chocolate. In Puerto Plata, you can learn about national heroes and precious stones, while Samaná offers an insightful small museum on its humpback whales, and Sosúa has a fascinating Jewish Museum. La Romana’s Altos de Chavón is home to the most comprehensive display on the Taino at the Regional Museum of Archeology.
Whether covering history, geography, precious stones, chocolate, baseball, rum, family life in the DR, or architecture, among other topics, there’s a museum to fit all ages and interests.
MUSEUMS IN
Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
See large domesticated fish in their natural habitat as they swarm around the coral gardens in this aquarium off the Grand Paradise Resort in Las Galeras.
One of the most popular museums in the Colonial City. Completed around 1512, this Gothic and Renaissance style palace was the home of Diego Columbus, son of Christopher Columbus, and his wife María de Toledo, niece of King Ferdinand of Spain.
A replica of a 16th century Mediterranean village, this La Romana landmark is sculpted in stone. Its Stanislaus Church overlooks Chavón River and is in demand for weddings. Construction of Altos de Chavón began in 1976. It would open in 1982 with a memorable Frank Sinatra concert at its 5,000-seat amphitheater. World performers on tour continue to perform there, especially on long weekends in the Dominican Republic. Today, the village is the setting for restaurants, precious jewelry, art, crafts and cigars. The Altos de Chavón Archaeological Museum displays the indigenous culture of the area. The views over the river and the Dye Fore golf course that extends onto the horizon make for fabulous photography. Visitors who are not guests at the Casa de Campo resort may book a tour or pay the entrance fee. You can even enjoy dinner, bars, and shopping while overlooking the Chavón River. www.altosdechavon.com
Designed like a Grecian amphitheater, this breathtaking 5,000-seat open-air facility hosts concerts and performances from major Dominican and international artists year-round. Seeing a concert here, under the stars, is a bucket list item.
A modern basketball facility hosts the tournaments (usually in the spring) that pit different sections of the city against each other in an all-out battle for the city championship. Regional and national championship games are played here during the summer. The local basketball team is called the “Metros”.
The scenic Samaná Bay wins over every photographer’s eye. This seaside promenade is the heart and pulse of the town of Santa Bárbara de Samaná. Residents and visitors relax on shaded benches facing the bay waters to take in views of anchored boats, ready to whisk visitors and fishers.
The city of Barahona is ideally located near beaches, cold rivers for swims, and is less than an hour away from an array of biodiverse parks, lakes, and mountains.
Barahona Enriquillo Coastal Highway
The drive down the Barahona Enriquillo Coastal Highway shows off a sparkling turquoise Caribbean Sea on your left, while the mountains of Barahona tower on the not-so-distant right.
Visit the historical center of one of the top rum brands in the country. Know the history of rum making in DR, its role in the culture, Barceló’s manufacturing process, tour the rum barrel storage areas, get to taste the various Barceló varieties of rum.
