Exploring the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a cheap trip and any travel junkies’ dream. You can find beachside or mountain-view properties for less than $50 a night, and have a day’s worth of food only cost about $5.

Santo Domingo is the country’s capital and offers some of the oldest historical monuments in the world. Every block seems to have some sort of art or sculpture honoring the crusaders of the Dominican culture and most buildings date back to the 13th century.

The food is always fresh and amazing. The Dominican pastries in the cities are the best and usually around 10 cents a hand pie.

Going from the south of the island to the north is less than 100 miles, but seems like a day-long journey. Crossing to the north involves treacherous mountain roads and some of the most remote villages in the country. It offers 360-degree views of the entire island in some places and is considered “suicide” during a hurricane or large tropical storm. Be careful and take in the scene at your own risk!

Once in the north, you’ll feel as if you have traveled to a different country. Most cities are beachfront, and offer kite surfing, wind surfing and some of the best reef breaks in the world. All the food is mostly caught right in front of you as you order it, and the fish is so fresh it melts in your mouth. The north is covered in national reserves, waterfalls, dive caves and many remote beaches. If you are a water person, you may never leave. Some of the most famous and beautiful destinations are the caves just off the coast.