The Dominican Republic forms two thirds of the Hispaniola Island (shared with Haiti, see separate web page). Inland green and forested mountain ranges and rivers are a natural attraction, as are the 300 miles of beaches along the coast. The capital is the colonial city of Santa Domingo (a World Heritage site) where visitors can view the Columbus Palace, Columbus Lighthouse and the Royal Houses Museum. Other interesting attractions include the Amber Museum, Monastery of San Francisco and Pico Duarte Mountain.

Visitors can participate in land and water sports, in particular polo, tennis and fishing. Yes, the independent republic is one of the few places in the world where visitors can hire polo ponies. Baseball is the national sport and casinos provide tourists with an exciting evening's entertainment.

The Dominican Republic is home to the largest all-inclusive holiday resort in the world, and as such, is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic also offers an array of alternative accommodation options.

Temperatures in the republic remain similar throughout the year - with the warmest month (July) averaging 82F(28C), falling to an average of 73F (23C) in January. The warm water attracts up to 3,000 humpback whales a year who play with their young not far offshore.

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