Dominican Republic

Places in Dominican Republic

• Bavaro

  Bavaro is a coastal town on the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, part of the greater Punta Cana resort area. Known for its white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, it offers beach activities including parasailing, snorkeling, and water sports.

  Atlas entry

• Cabarete

  Cabarete is a city in the Dominican Republic renowned as one of the best places in the Caribbean for kitesurfing and windsurfing. It also boasts a gorgeous beach and a lively bar and restaurant scene.

  Atlas entry

• Constanza

  Constanza is the agricultural heart of the Dominican Republic, where endless rows of cabbages, carrots, and onions stretch across the valley floor. The town sees little international tourism, which means visitors are met with genuine warmth and hospitality from locals.

  Atlas entry

• Jarabacoa

  Jarabacoa is a small mountain town in the Dominican Republic's Western Cibao region that serves as the primary gateway to Pico Duarte, the tallest peak in the Caribbean at 3,087 meters. The town sits at a higher elevation than most of the country, offering cooler temperatures and access to rivers, waterfalls, and cloud forest.

  Atlas entry

• La Romana

  La Romana sits at the southeast tip of the Dominican Republic, offering a mix of all-inclusive resort luxury and authentic local culture. The area is dominated by massive properties like Casa de Campo Resort and Villas, but the nearby replica village of Altos de Chavón provides a charming cultural counterpoint with its 15th-century colonial architecture, Taino museum, and amphitheatre that has hosted performers from Sinatra to Cocoband.

  Atlas entry

• Las Galeras

  Las Galeras is a small, low-key village at the far end of the Samaná Peninsula in the Dominican Republic. Unlike its more developed neighbor Las Terrenas, it offers world-class isolated beaches like Playa Frontón and Playa Rincón without the crowds.

  Atlas entry

• Las Terrenas

  Las Terrenas mixes public beaches with hotels and cottages close to the sand. Local food and town life complement beach time on the Samaná Peninsula.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$62

  Best months

  Jun–Jul, Dec–Apr

• Monte Cristi

  Monte Cristi is a sleepy Dominican port town on the northwest coast where history and beaches meet without the tourist crowds found elsewhere in the country. The city was founded in 1606 and flourished as a trading port in the 17th and 18th centuries before being sacked for its pirate dealings.

  Atlas entry

• Pedernales

  Pedernales is a small, sleepy town on the very southwestern extreme of the Dominican Republic, nearly bordering Haiti. It serves as the primary base for visitors intending to explore the magnificent Bahia de las Aguila, an 8 km pristine beach.

  Atlas entry

• Polo

  Polo is a quiet mountain municipality of 7,100 people in the southwestern Dominican Republic. The town is best known for its strong, locally grown coffee and the mysterious El Polo Magnético (the magnetic pole), a gravity hill where vehicles appear to roll uphill when placed in neutral.

  Atlas entry

• Puerto Plata

  Puerto Plata is a resort city on the north coast of the Dominican Republic with about 130,000 residents. It offers pretty sandy beaches, historical sites like Fortaleza San Felipe, and access to natural attractions including Isabel de Torres National Park and the 27 waterfalls of Damajagua.

  Atlas entry

• Punta Cana

  Punta Cana is a resort region on the Dominican Republic's eastern Atlantic coast. White sand and turquoise shallows make beach time the focus of a stay.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$79

  Best months

  Nov–May

• San Pedro de Macoris

  San Pedro de Macoris is a working Dominican city surrounded by sugarcane fields, known for producing world-class baseball players like Jorge Bell and Sammy Sosa. The University UCE (Central University of the East) draws international students, particularly from the USA, for medical studies.

  Atlas entry

• Santa Barbara de Samana

  Samaná is the quieter alternative to Las Terrenas on the Samaná Peninsula. It lacks golden-sand beaches within town limits, but makes up for it with humpback whale watching from January-March, access to island resorts like Cayo Levantado, and a charming harborfront with a distinctive bridge leading to small islands.

  Atlas entry

• Santiago de los Caballeros

  Santiago de los Caballeros is the Dominican Republic's second-largest city, serving as the commercial and cultural hub of the Cibao region. The city features classic Caribbean Spanish colonial architecture concentrated around the Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauración, which anchors the nightlife district.

  Atlas entry

• Santo Domingo

  Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial brings together historic churches, fortifications and former colonial residences. The UNESCO-listed district is a focus for exploring the city's architecture.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$80

  Best months

  Nov–Apr

• Sosúa

  Sosúa is a small beach town in Puerto Plata province. Nightlife and a sociable atmosphere are part of its appeal.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$66

  Best months

  Jan–Aug