Dominican Republic, Political map with Divisions boundaries, Provinces capitals and other major cities. The capital and largest city is Santo Domingo de Guzman, Dominican Republic has a land surface area of 48,730, sq km. Divided into 33 provinces and then into municipalities the national capital district is within Santo Domingo.

The Dominican Republic continues to prove to be an extremely popular holiday destination for visitors from many nations. This beautiful location offers spectacular scenery and beaches of powdery white sand, lapped by crystal clear blue waters. There are numerous places of interest and tourist attractions on offer, here are just a few that might whet your appetite:

When you think of the Dominican Republic the first thing that springs to mind most of the time are the beautiful beaches.  There are many stunning beaches for visitors to enjoy including Playa Grande near Cabrera; this beach has been voted amongst the top ten beaches in the World.  Also in the Cabrera area you will find Dudu Lagoon and Blue Lagoon, both are locations that dreams are just made of. Due to the clear waters enjoyed in this part of the Caribbean , scuba diving is also a favourite activity for tourists to explore shipwrecks and see brightly coloured fish in their natural environment.  There are many reputable companies that offer diving courses and if you are really keen, diving qualifications can also be taken.

For nature lovers the Dominican Republic offers plenty to fill your days.  Many nature reserves are located throughout the island giving visitors the opportunity to move away from their sun beds and explore the flora and fauna. If you are lucky enough to be visiting between January and March why not take the chance to join an excursion from Samana Harbour to marvel at the humpback whales around Samana Bay on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean . The whales return each year to these waters to mate and breed and your guide will be happy to share their knowledge of these majestic creatures.

A few more places that may prove of interest for travellers are Santo Domingo - the capital city of Dominican Republic, Santiago - where manufacture of textiles, rum and cigars are based and Juan Dolio - the home of the famous golf course designed by Charles Ankrom “Los Marlins”.  For souvenirs you will not be short of ideas as Dominican Republic offers a wide array ranging from beautiful amber jewellery, wood and soapstone carvings, cigars, rum and coffee, to paintings and even mahogany furniture.

To keep the children amused you will not be struggling for suggestions.  Apart from the obvious attraction of water activities such as swimming and snorkelling, why not consider a cruise on the Jungle River Tour. Alternatively a very popular option is to enjoy horse riding, whether just for the children or maybe this is something that the whole family can do together. In addition, Dominican Republic boasts Ocean World Marine and Water Park for a fun day out.

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