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 Situated
in the Caribbean just east of Cuba, the Dominican
Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti,
taking up two thirds of the island. The official
language on the island is Spanish and some English and
French are spoken.
Its capital, Santo Domingo features the very first
monuments of the American continent as well as the first
cathedral, hospital and university. The capital’s
architecture was strongly influenced by the colonial
period, while the music finds its roots in the African
slavery period.
The islands landscape is mountainous and thick of forest
land with plains and plateaus offering fertile land and
high mountain ranges, with pristine beaches to the north
and east. The Cordillera Central is the highest of the
mountain ranges, boasting the highest mountain of the
Caribbean over 3,098 m above sea level.
The norther side of the island is where the major
tourist attractions are situated as well as the beaches
from Puerto Plata to Cabarete. From Mount Isabel de
Torres one may catch a cable car that climbs up 760 m
offering a spectacular view over the Atlantic and Puerto
Plata as well as the botanical gardens nearby.
The climate is hot with tropical temperatures all year,
the coastal areas being warmer than central regions.
There are two rainy seasons; the heaviest is from May to
August and the other is from November to December.
Hurricanes may sometimes occur during these periods.
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