After the arrival of Columbus and prior to 1944, the Dominican Republic was known as Hispaniola. Following two failed attempts to colonize the island in other locations, the city of Santo Domingo was founding in 1498. In 1502, the city was wiped out by a hurricane and rebuilt again and in 1503, it became the official station of Spanish exploration and expansion in the New World. The Spanish established political offices and remote royal courts in the city. Thousands of Spanish colonials passed through the city on their way to other parts of the royal territories. Most of the early colonial conquests in Central and South American went through their planning phases in Santo Domingo.

By the later part of the 16th century, many of the Spanish colonials traveling to the Western Hemisphere settled in parts of Mexico and Central and South America rather than in the Caribbean. The emergence of Spanish colonies in the Americas brought the population of Santo Domingo down sharply. With the decreased population, Santo Domingo was easy prey for pirates, and in 1586, Sir Francis Drake seized control of the city with the help of a few hundred men. They held the city for a period of just over a month and ransomed it back to the Spanish. When they departed, they left the city in ruins, burning it down and taking everything they could with them, including the bells to the city’s churches.

Still recovering from the devastation wrought on the island by pirates, Hispaniola was invaded by the French in the mid-1600s. The western half of the island was taken over and renamed Haiti. The French transported thousands of African slaves to Haiti. The Spanish, unable to stop the French incursion, retreated to the eastern half of the island and maintained control of Santo Domingo. Taking advantage of the French invasion of the island, the British attacked Santo Domingo in 1655 but were forced out by the Spanish. Spain remained in control of Santo Domingo until 1795, when the city and the rest of the island were ceded to France following conflicts between the two nations.

Between 1795 and 1822, Santo Domingo changed hands several times. In 1801, it was captured by Haitian slaves who rebelled against the French. In 1802, it was recaptured by the French only to be briefly returned to Spanish control in 1809 and passed back to the French within four years. During the early 1800s, Haitian slave revolts continued and the French were unable to retain control of Santo Domingo. By 1821, the French were expelled from the entire island and independent Haitians attacked the eastern part of the island, taking control of Santo Domingo which became the capital of the new independent nation of Haiti Espanol.

Santo Domingo remained in Haitian control until the mid-1840s when the people of the eastern section of the island drove the Haitians back and declared themselves to be a free and independent Dominican Republic, taking their name from the capital city of Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo remained the capital of the new republic even through several civil conflicts with Haiti, a brief reoccupation by the Spanish, and a period of American occupation in the early 1900s.

Struck by a hurricane in 1930, the city was once again rebuilt. For 30 years, the city of Santo Domingo was officially known as Ciudad Trujillo, renamed by Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, but resumed the former name when Trujillo was assassinated in 1961. Occupied briefly again in 1965 by the United States, Santo Domingo is a city that has been marked by conflict and natural disaster.

In spite of the difficulties the city has seen over the more than 500 years of its existence, Santo Domingo remains a historic site in which many of the original buildings and a large section of the city’s defense wall can be seen by visitors. The Colonial Zone, a section of the historic city, contains palatial estates, churches, and other 16th-century buildings, all of which were declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization in 1990.

Contemporary Santo Domingo is a city that has experienced a boom in tourist activity. The historic sites still present in the city make it a prime destination for people the world over. Many of the Colonial Zone’s historic sites have undergone recent restorations. Santo Domingo hotels and restaurants have also expanded in number to better accommodate visitors.

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From beginners to the experienced golfer, everyone who gets the chance to tee off here in Punta Cana be pleased with their options. There is a variety of courses to choose from as well as resorts that offer a chance to stay and play. Even if you do decide not to stay at one of Punta Cana’s hotels or resorts you will always be able to find a great golf course at which to spend the day. All of the courses are first-rate, with all the golf carts and all of the gear and accessories that you could possibly need. You can either purchase or rent any or all of the gear that you will need for a great day of golfing.

A day is an adventure

You can start your golfing adventure at the La Cana Golf Course located at the Punta Cana Resort. This resort has a beautifully wide, spreading golf course that has 14 championship holes, making it 7,000 yards of golfing paradise when you add in the picturesque ocean views. This course offers lessons for beginners and a chance for pros to brush up on their skills. You can work on your strokes and your aim with some of the best golf pros around, and they are there specifically to help you achieve your golfing goals.

Head over to the Barcelo Bavaro Beach Golf and Casino Resort if you want some different scenery and a chance to take a break a do a bit of gambling before continuing with the golf. Being one of the originals in the area, this course contributed to growing Punta Cana’s high volume of tourism. The golf course here is 6,106 yards long, which spells G-R-E-A-T for anyone that is in love with the sport of golfing. The course is in close proximity to one of the most popular beaches in the area, too. There are challenges for the best of duffers as well as lessons for those that want a little work on their game. Just like the La Cana Golf course, the Bavaro Golf Course also features all the putting greens, club rentals and pro shop gear that you need, with top brands of accessories, clothing, shoes and much more.

Still more golf!

Another great course to visit is the White Sands Golf Course that you can find in the Bavaro area. This course has recently added nine new holes in order to make it an 18-hole course. When you decide to stay at the White Sands Resort you can expect to receive special privileges such as great discounts and other perks. The course is over 7,000 yards of green heaven. The 18 holes can be a challenge to some, and this course has been deemed one of the best in Punta Cana.

Yet another great course in Punta Cana, which was designed by Nick Faldo, is the Roco Ki Golf Club. This course quickly has become known as the fantasy course for the avid golfer. The views are fabulous and it makes not only a great place to play golf but to relax as well. The Dominican Republic is well known for all of its great golf courses and you will discover that the area is fully loaded with courses that seem to have their own personalities. Everyone that comes to Punta Cana to golf always leaves with a favorite course (or two) to come back to, again and again, over the years.

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Most of the tourists who come to visit are initially attracted to its magnificent golden sandy beaches. They extend over one-third of its 870-mile coastal regions that define three-quarters of its borders. This is particularly true of the northern Atlantic side of the country. The majestic coral reef breaks the waves offshore, keeping the Punta Cana beaches pristine and the surf gentle. Stunning Bavaro beach and most of its beachfront hotels are less than 30 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport.

In the far north-west corner of the Dominican Republic, is the province of Monte Cristi. This is home to Monte Cristi Beach, or Playa Monte Cristi. Since Monte Cristi Beach sits on the Atlantic it is faced with some rough waters at times.

Playa Grande, in the Rio San Juan/Cabrera area is probably known best for serious golfers. Many golfers consider the course here at Playa Grande to be the best in the Dominican Republic. A few have even compared it to Pebble Beach. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Ten of its holes border the Atlantic Ocean. These are atop dramatic cliffs overlooking our featured beach. Playa Grande has some serious beach front as well.

The beaches of Puerto Plata located near this colonial, coastal town are perfect for those who want to explore the coral reefs offshore. Many people at this Dominican Republic beach enjoy either diving or snorkeling around the spectacular reefs that are full of life. The living accommodations in this area range from high-end all-inclusive Dominican Republic resorts to more affordable villas.

For a less-crowded beach experience, the beaches of Sosua are ideal. There are no major resorts nearby so this area is ideal for those who want to experience the beauty of a beach and enjoy a little privacy as well. Most of the people who choose to visit this secluded Dominican Republic beach enjoy windsurfing, snorkeling or surfing in addition to kicking back, chilling out and soaking up the sun.

Cabrete is located in the northern Dominican Republic. This area tends to have stronger winds and is where most avid windsurfer’s flock to take advantage. There are also some amazing coral reefs that are located about two miles offshore. Exploring these reefs is riskier than in the south where the seas are calmer, so precautions should be made prior to diving. The beach itself, however, stretches for two miles and is absolutely striking.

Located near the city of Santo Domingo, Boca Chilca is one of the most popular and populous beaches in the Dominican Republic. Many families come here from the nearby resorts to relax and have fun. The beach is surrounded by a coral reef, which has created waters that are calmer and shallower than normal. This makes it a favorite of parents who prefer their children to swim there rather than in the deeper more turbulent waters elsewhere. The only downside to this beach is that many people come here. But if you don’t mind the crowds and enjoy people watching, then Boca Chilca may very well be the beach for you!

The Dominican Republic is one of the most amazing countries in the world, with its year-round tropical temperatures, pure-white sand and hundreds of miles of beaches it is a destination that is sure to relax the body and soothe the soul. Make sure you pack plenty of food and water before you head to the beach and always remember to wear your sunscreen!

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The island was home to the Arawak people of the Taino tribe, an aboriginal population that is recorded in the logs of Columbus on his first voyage to The New World. The island’s unique placement in the Caribbean right along the trade winds route made it a prime location for sea travelers and opened the island up for centuries of European interest after Columbus’ initial discover of its location.

Hispaniola was a Spanish possession until 1795 when it was ceded to France following French incursion on the western end of the island. Throughout the Spanish period of control, Hispaniola was major port in the African slave trade, so the population of black African slaves present on the island at all times was high. Some were owned by Spanish slaveholders, and many were in route to other locations throughout the Western Hemisphere.

The Dominican Republic shares Hispaniola with Haiti. While in French originally occupied the Western end (which is now Haiti), they eventually gained control of the entire island. In 1804, the slave population of Haiti rebelled against the French colonial government and took over rule of whole area for some time.

While the French eventually regained control, they would not hold that control for long. Dominican revolutionaries formed a secret society in 1838 called La Trinitaria with the goal of eliminating Haitian rule on the Dominican side of the island. The Haitians were overthrown, and the Dominican Republic became a nation in 1844. Pedro Santana, one of the revolution’s leaders, became the first president of the fledgling nation.

The complex cultural heritage of the Dominican people was born of mixed traditions. Arawak, African, Spanish and French culture, history, and language all informed the Dominican ethnic make up. The establishment of independence in the Dominican Republic prior to the abolition of slavery made the island unique in the Caribbean. Slavery remained an active institution in for the rest of the Caribbean for many years following Dominican independence, and it was nearly a century later before other islands of the region were released from European colonial hold. Additional cultural influences of the Dominican people include Haiti, being its nearest neighbor, and the United States, which occupied the island in the early 20th Century.

The Dominican Republic maintains close relations with the United States, but the Dominican people associate themselves with a Latin American identity more than a Caribbean one. The mixed heritage of the Dominican population has led to some stratification of the classes. The elite of the Dominican are still primarily lighter skinned of strong European descent. The darker skinned Dominicans with clear African heritage make up the lower economic and social strata, while the growing middle class is of various mixed descent.

Its early independence and relatively peaceful existence has made the Dominican Republic one of the more traveled Caribbean islands for some time. The weather conditions and beautiful terrain has made the island popular among tourists for decades.

The island has a population of nearly nine million. Dominicans are primarily mixed in ethnicity and race, with the majority of the population being mullattos descended from Spanish, West African and Aboriginal population. Less than 20% of the population is Caucasian and little more than 10% is black, including the Haitian minority group among the Dominican nationals.

Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic, and holds fast to the Castilian tradition. There are strong African and Taino influences in the language, with popular expressions and place names commonly emerging from West African and Arawak traditions. English is common due to the tourist industry, and Creole also has a foothold among the Dominican populations near the Haitian border and in some of the outlying villages in the Sugarcane region, where many Haitians live and work.

Family holds a strong place in Dominican culture, with particular influence placed on the importance of familial relationships and the placement of families in the strong class system still present in the modern Dominican Republic. The Dominican people are friendly, warm, and outgoing. The children of the island are seldom shy, being taught the open and welcoming ways of the Dominican culture.

Dominicans are relaxed, often spending time socializing rather than working, and value relationships between people with a higher regard than they do formalities associated with more rigid Western traditions. The Dominican’s mixed cultural, ethnic and racial heritage heavily influence popular culture, music, art, and cuisine, making it a fantastic place not just to visit but to stay.

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The city of Santiago was based in 1844 and also has a total area of over 2,800 sq. kilometer. It has a complete population of just about 1,seven-hundred,000 million people. This metropolis is very industrial and boost a whole lot of tobacco, livestock industries. The place livestock is anxious, there may be more give attention to the elevating of cattle, poultry and pigs.

You will get to Santiago, either by automotive or by plane. Cibao Worldwide Airport which is situated inside Santiago is the closest airport. Another air route you can take is the Las Americas Worldwide Airport which is positioned in Santo Domingo. For those getting to Santiago by road, you can go through the Durarte Freeway, which is able to take you nearly two hour from Santo Domingo.

The local weather in Santiago is generally tropical yr spherical and temperatures are very favorable. There are numerous things to see and do in Santiago. Right here are a few things you may see and do in your journey to Santiago.

Eduardo Leon Jimenez Cultural Middle: This museum is a vital center in the province of Santiago and throughout Latin America. This museum host works of Eduardo leon Jimenez who is a vital determine in Dominican Republic.

Cibao Great Theater: The theatre was designed by Luis Carbonell. The theater is used for exhibition of works from numerous artist both national and international. This theater can be an actual replica of the theatre in Santo Domingo

Cathedral of Apostle James: It is a must see sight in Santiago. It contains the stays of former president Ulises Heureaus and Normal Maria Imbert. It also accommodates a copy of the Peta by Michelangelo.

Santiago is a ravishing place to visit 12 months round. Remember to take your digicam for stunning photos and a hat and sunscreen to get pleasure from this lovely province of Santiago.

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One of the fundamental attraction to Puerto Plata is its effective beaches. It has a complete of 1,856 sq. kilometers. It has lots of beautiful inexperienced valleys and mountains. Puerto Plata is on essentially the most visited province in the whole of Dominican Republic. Like I mentioned earlier, Puerto Plata is dominated with plenty of lovely beaches and even has the Amber who’s a uncommon and unique stones present in only few corners of the world. It has beautiful sunny climate all 12 months round.

To get to Puerto Plata, you may either get there by air, street and by cable car. In case you intend to get there by air, the Gregorio Luperon International Airport is the closest airport which is positioned within the province. Other airports shut by are the Las Americas International Airport and the Cibio Worldwide Airport which are not positioned in Puerto Plata.

In case you intend driving, the Duarte Highway will take you approximately 2.5 from San Domingo to get to Puerto Plata. For those taking the cable car, your journey will start from Isabel de Torres which is high above a hill and you’ll get to see the gorgeous city of Puerto Plata. Hours of operations is between 8am to 5pm all week.

Listed here are few places you’ll be able to see and visit while you’re at Puerto Plata.

National Park Isabel de Torres Hill: This is one of the most lovely parks in Dominican republic. It’s situated on a hill that reaches about 799 meters. Within the park, one can find a botanical backyard, a statue of Christ and cable car.

Amber Museum: Numerous vacationer who come to Puerto Plata always pay a go to to the museum. It present circumstances all kinds of Amber which may be very uncommon around the world. There are many variations of Ambers in numerous colors.

Beach: Puerto Plata beaches is listed as among the finest across the world. There are number of things you’ll be able to enjoy. You can indulge your self in scuba diving, deep sea fishing and different types of water sport.

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First of all, Americans love to travel. And what better way to enjoy a new exotic location than with 50 family members and close friends celebrating your big day. Incorporating travel into a wedding is really a great way to make that special day the memorable experience that you have long dreamed about. And besides, there may be no better way to encourage close family and friends to actually show up for wedding than to hold in on an exotic island in the Caribbean.

Aruba. The weather is perfect. It is a place that has no hurricanes, it almost never rains and temperature is around 82. You can practice almost any water sport and nightlife is great. Belize. If you want a smaller place, with more private places, Belize would be the choice. It may also be cheaper than other options.

Jamaica. For some people, Jamaica is the perfect location for a destination wedding. If you like places away from the crowded tourist spots, Jamaica can be a great selection. Places like Rio Grande River,Blue Mountain or Y.S. Falls should be visited, making the trip to Jamaica a wonderful one. Take a cruise to the Caribbean. There are packages that allow you to get married on them, visiting more than one location in the Caribbean.

And of course, considerations for yourself: are you willing to accept that fewer guests will attend your wedding because of location, is the location somewhere that you’d be interested in spending your honeymoon at, can you afford the added costs?

These are our top five locations to celebrate a destination wedding in the Caribbean. Of course there are many other locations, and any of them can be an excellent place for your wedding. But the important thing is to plan the wedding, and a wedding planner with experience in Caribbean Destination weddings is almost compulsory if you want to have an unforgettable one.

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