Dominican Republic

Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic, April 1977, Slim Aarons

The Dominican Republic is known for its beaches, resorts, and golf. Its terrain comprises rainforest, savannah, and highlands, including Pico Duarte, the Caribbean’s tallest mountain. Capital city Santo Domingo has Spanish landmarks like the Gothic Catedral Primada de America dating back 5 centuries in its Zona Colonial district. Here is our guide to the Dominican Republic.

STAY

CASA DE CAMPO Casa de Campo is more than a five-star resort, it’s an experience. From a marina and polo facilities to three championship golf courses (including the world-famous Teeth of the Dog), boutiques, an equestrian center, a skeet shooting range, and big-name entertainment venues (with regular concerts by the likes of Marc Anthony and J.Lo), this 7,000-acre island complex is a destination in itself. (Golf carts, provided for every room, help guests navigate it all.) Settle into one of the hotel rooms or villas (the latter look out onto the gardens or the ocean), then go exploring. A favorite onsite activity: a visit to Altos de Chavon, a replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean village with an amphitheater right on the property that’s lined with galleries, working artisan studios, a church, and restaurants.

AMENERA The Aman brand is renowned for its signature minimalist luxury, and for opening properties in untapped (or lesser-known) destinations, which explains why a 2,170-acre swath on DR’s quiet northern shore was chosen for its 29th outpost. 24 freestanding casitas and one two-bedroom villa sit on 60-foot cliffs with perfect views of the sea and the mile-long Playa Grande below. Play a round at Aman’s first 18-hole golf course, go kayaking or kiteboarding, explore nearby fishing villages, or just relax on the property—ideally with a spa treatment inspired by the healing traditions of local shamans.

TORTUGA BAY A luxury boutique hotel in the larger Puntacana Resort & Club, set within a 1,500-acre ecological reserve. Tucked away in a private enclave are 13 beachfront villas with interiors by famed Dominican designer Oscar de la Renta, who also designed Tortuga Bay’s restaurants and public spaces. (Look out for his expansive onsite boutique.) Guests also have access to Puntacana’s facilities— including the beach club, marina, and Six Senses spa.

PLAYA GRANDE BEACH CLUB On Dominican Republic’s slightly more wild north shore, interior designer Celerie Kemble and her financier husband wanted to create a low-key beach retreat that had the intimacy of a friend’s private home. Here, Kemble applies her playful aesthetic, a kind of Palm-Beach-meets-island-living-vibe to the immaculate grounds: there are high-back wicker chairs, ikat throw pillows, copper bathtubs, seagrass rugs, and cane furniture. Each white-washed bungalow has its own distinct feel and is lovingly curated with vintage pieces Kemble has hand-picked on her travels as well as those designed by local craftsmen. Cool lattice-framed cabanas dot the lap pool, should you tire of the views on the mile-long private beach. Come evening, much of the activity centers around the Beach Club, which serves up a Caribbean-inflected menu and, of course, strong cocktails and a lively atmosphere.

EDEN ROC AT CAP CANA The 30,000 acres that make up this secluded Relais & Châteaux in a gated community on the eastern tip of the country include both resort and residential areas as well as pristine beaches, a Jack Nicklaus golf course, a marina, and, at its center, an idyllic natural forest. Each of the 34 suites features a private pool and chic interiors by Milan-based designer Marina Nova. Though all four restaurants overlook the lagoon, some standouts are the BLUE Grill + Bar, which fuses Japanese and Peruvian flavors and techniques, and La Cava, where you can enjoy a private dinner surrounded by one of the best wine collections in the DR.

CASAS DEL XVI Set in Santo Domingo and brimming with historic sites, restaurants, and galleries, the city’s charming colonial district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and home to Casas del XVI, a collection of boutique hotels set within a restored, 16th-century Spanish Colonial-style house. Each features a different layout and design—one might have a pool, another a garden—and all come with their own butler, concierge, and chef. The most recent home, Casa del Diseno, features a beautiful Royal Suite that can sleep up to four guests.

CASA BONITA A private summer house turned hotel with 12 cabanas featuring sweeping views of the mountains or sea. Surf at nearby Bahoruco Beach or bike through Jaragua National Park.

ACTIVITIES

ALTOS DE CHAVON A replica of a medieval 16th-century Mediterranean village within Casa de Campo. The cobblestone streets lead to an amphitheater, Saint Stanislaus Church, boutiques, and restaurants.

EL MORRO El Morro rises 242 meters (794 feet) above sea level, gracing Montecristi’s coastal scenery with one of the most striking, unique views in the country— making it an excellent hike and spot at sunrise or sunset. The dry, subtropical forest landscape around El Morro is surrounded by extensive stands of mangroves that can be seen up close on foot, or by boat through a network of inland waterways and lagoons where you can enjoy a swim. Iguanas, as well as numerous bird species, reside amid the mangroves and forest of El Morro, such as frigatebirds, herons, egrets, the American oystercatcher, and waterfowls, including migratory species.

ALCAZAR DE COLON The first fortified Spanish palace built in the Americas, and part of the Ciudad Colonial UNESCO's World Heritage Site. It was built between 1511 and 1514 mostly in a Gothic and Renaissance style.

LAS TERRENAS Located on the north of the island, this little fishing village has some of the most beautiful beaches in the country (they are remote, too: most of them are mainly accessible by motorbike or ATV). Head over to Playa Coson or Playa Bonita for the perfect day out with miles of idyllic, white sand beach and almost no one there to crash your beach towel. Make time to stop at one of the many beach houses for fresh seafood straight out the sea. Following a 45-minute drive from Puerto Plata, you’ll be transported to one of the most famous water sport destinations in Latin America.

CABARETE Cabarete’s beaches are famous for windsurfing, kiteboarding, and surfing. Head over to La Boca, Bozo beach or Kite beach for huge waves and winds. This famous Caribbean surf town is also renowned for its lively nightlife where you can spend the night dancing away to the beats of reggaeton songs.

ISLA SAONA To reach this picture-perfect island, most people rent a catamaran. With crystal-clear and turquoise blue water, the island is picture-postcard perfect – the vision of the Caribbean you will have always dreamt of. The area is particularly renowned for the biggest starfishes you’ll ever see. Head over to Mano Juan, the nearby fishing town, for lunch before a nap under the palm trees.

SANTO DOMINGO OLD TOWN This colorful UNESCO world heritage city has a rich history and 16th-century monuments that are in mint condition. Go for a wander around the old town – watching Dominicans roll tobacco into big cigars in just a couple of minutes is particularly impressive – and visit the cathedral, palaces and art galleries.

BAHIA DE LA AGUILAS On the wild, west coast of the Dominican Republic, this eight kilometre-long beach is one of the most isolated and dreamy destinations on the island. Considered by many Dominicans as the most beautiful beach in the country, it has been preserved and kept completely as nature intended, with no restaurants, hotels or shops. Part of the Jaragua National Park, this UNESCO-protected destination even sees turtles coming to lay eggs. Accessible with a 4x4 or by boat, its remote location makes it an adventure just to reach – but the trip is worth it.

PUNTA CANA A popular destination in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean more broadly, Punta Cana is located at the crossroads of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean, on the east coast. With a coastline packed with luxurious hotels, it’s an ideal destination for a week of sea, sun and snorkelling.

SAMANA BAY Every year, from January all the way through to March, hundreds of humpback whales migrate from all over the north Atlantic and come to Samaná Bay to mate and birth calves. The Dominican government is naturally very protective of the whales, but you can still book a boat trip in the Bay, provided it’s with a licensed crew who will keep their distance, so as not to disturb these magnificent creatures.

JARAGUA NATIONAL PARK Located in the south west of the island, Jaragua National Park is renowned for its ecotourism, wildlife and indigenous history, with many caves full of Taíno pictograms, an original indigenous tribe that populated the region before colonisation. To explore thousand-year-old petroglyphs across the walls, head north, to Las Caritas, a cave facing the Enriquillo lake. The Park is also home to hundreds of endangered species of bird.

Text: Veronica H. Speck