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Museo Jamas El Olvido Será tu Recuerdo
Interesting and slightly strange is the informal Museo Jamas El Olvido Será tu Recuerdo in the home of local resident José Miguel Ventura Medina, known to some as ‘El Hippi.’ The museum’s name translates literally to ‘Forgetfulness will never be your remembrance,’ or simply ‘You wi
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Museo Alcázar de Colón
Designed in the Gothic-Mudéjar transitional style, this was once the residence of Columbus’ son, Diego, and his wife, Doña María de Toledo, during the early 16th century. The magnificent building we see today is the result of three historically authentic restorations: one in 1957,
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Fuerte de San Felipe
Located right on the bay, at the western end of the Malecón, the fort is the only remnant of Puerto Plata’s early colonial days. Built in the mid-16th century to prevent pirates from seizing one of the only protected bays on the entire north coast, San Felipe never saw any action.
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Casa de Francia
This was originally the residence of Hernán Cortés, conqueror of the Aztecs in present-day central Mexico. It was in this building that Cortés is believed to have organized his triumphant – and brutal – expedition. Although the Casa de Francia served as a residence for nearly three
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Faro a Colón
Resembling a cross between a Soviet-era apartment block and a Las Vegas version of an ancient Mayan ruin, this massive monument is worth visiting for its controversial and complicated history. Located on the east side of the Río Ozama, the Faro’s massive cement flanks stand some 10
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Santo Cerro
Legend has it that Columbus placed a cross he received as a bon-voyage gift from Queen Isabella atop this hill, which commands fantastic sweeping views of the Valle del Cibao. During a battle between Spaniards and Taínos, the latter tried to burn the cross but it wouldn’t catch fir
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Cueva del Puente
Parque Nacional del Este also has more than 400 caves, many of which contain Taíno pictographs (cave paintings) and petroglyphs (rock carvings). Archaeologists have found several structures and artifacts in and around the caves, including what appears to be the remains of a large T
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Parque Nacional del Este
More than simply Isla Saona, which is all that most people see on a group tour, the Parque Nacional del Este includes eight emerged reef terraces, 400 or so caverns, some with pictographs and ceramic remains, and Islas Catalinita and Catalina, in addition to Saona. Designated a nat
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Reserva Antropológica Cuevas del Pomier
Visiting the Reserva Antropológica El Pomier is like reading a history book written in stone. There are 57 limestone caves in the area just 10km north of central San Cristobal, five of which (containing almost 600 paintings) are open to the public. The caves contain thousands of dr
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Altos de Chavón
While a trip to a faux 15th-century southern Italian–Spanish village created by a Paramount movie set designer won’t exactly give you a window into Dominican culture, Altos de Chavón has some redeeming qualities, especially the excellent views of the Río Chavón (a scene from the fi
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Teleférico
A cable car takes visitors to the top of the enormous flat-topped Pico Isabel de Torres. On clear days there are spectacular views of the city and coastline – go early, before the mountain clouds up. The botanical gardens at the top are good for an hour’s stroll. Youll also find a
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Basilica de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia
From the outside, this is a strange mixture of the sacred and profane. A utilitarian concrete facade, not far removed from a military bunker, is topped by an elongated arch reaching high into the sky. But it’s one of the most famous cathedrals in the country because of the glass-en
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Fortaleza Ozama
This is the oldest colonial military edifice in the New World. The site of the fort – at the meeting of the Río Ozama and the Caribbean – was selected by Fray Nicolás de Ovando. Construction of the fortification began in 1502 under the direction of master builder Gómez García Varel
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Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park & Reserve
Though development may eventually cover every inch of the Dominican coastline, for now there are still large areas of pristine coastal plains and mangrove forests. About 500m south of (and part of) the Puntacana Resort and Club, this ecological park covers over 6 sq km of protected
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Isla Saona
There’s a reason why boatloads of tourists descend upon this island daily. The powdery, white-sand beach doesn’t seem real from afar, and a dip in the aquamarine surf is a gentle restorative, like the waters of the most luxurious spa; palm trees provide a natural awning from the in
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Cascada El Limón
Tucked away in surprisingly rough landscape, surrounded by peaks covered in lush greenery, is the 52m-high El Limón waterfall. A beautiful swimming hole at the bottom can be a perfect spot to wash off the sweat and mud from the trip here, though it’s often too deep and cold for a d
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Playa Sosúa
Playa Sosúa is the main beach, and practically a city within a city. Located on a crescent-shaped bay with calm, turquoise waters, this narrowing (due to erosion) stretch of sand is backed by palm trees and a seemingly endless row of souvenir vendors, restaurants, bars and even man
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Centro León
This large, modern museum built by the tobacco wealth of the León Jimenez family is a world-class institution with an impressive collection of paintings that trace the evolution of Dominican art in the 20th century. There are three exhibition rooms in the main building: one focuses
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Catedral Primada de América
The first stone of this cathedral, the oldest in operation in the western hemisphere, was set in 1514 by Diego Columbus, son of the great explorer (the ashes of both father and son are said to have once resided in the chapels crypt). Construction however didn’t begin in earnest unt
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Discover the Dominican Republic
The Sosúa Bay Club in Sosúa, Puerto Plata. Photo by eaulive licensed Creative Commons Attribution.
My memories of yearly visits to the Dominican Republic are dominated by my senses: the smell of the ocean while running through the waters of Boca Chica; the feel of the rough terrain of La Península
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