Guides
Guides to Santo Domingo and the Dominican Republic for guests of Penthouse Pallazzo: the Zona Colonial, food, beaches, day trips and getting here.
Day Trips
Altos de Chavón and La Romana
A day trip from Santo Domingo to Altos de Chavón: who built the stone village and when, the amphitheater and museum, Isla Catalina, and drive times.
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Los Haitises National Park
A long day trip from Santo Domingo to Los Haitises: mangrove channels, limestone islands, pelicans and cave rock art, with drive times and park rules.
Read →Beaches & Coast
Bahía de las Águilas Beach
Bahía de las Águilas is the DR's most pristine beach. Here's how the trip really works, the boat from Las Cuevas, and why to base yourself in Barahona.
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The Best Beaches in the Dominican Republic
A ranked guide to the best beaches in the Dominican Republic, from wild Playa Rincón to Bahía de las Águilas, and how to reach each without a car.
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Boca Chica Beach and Juan Dolio
Boca Chica beach and Juan Dolio are Santo Domingo's closest coast escapes. How to get there without a car, what to eat, and what to expect.
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Las Galeras Travel Guide
Las Galeras is the anti-Punta Cana: the sleepy Samaná village with Playa Rincón, boat-only beaches, and real Dominican life. How to visit without a car.
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Las Terrenas Beaches, Food and the Expat Coast
Las Terrenas is Samaná's French-Italian beach town: Playa Cosón, Playa Bonita, the Pueblo de los Pescadores, and El Limón waterfall. Who it suits and how to go.
Read →Playa Rincón Beach Guide
Playa Rincón is one of the Caribbean's best beaches: 3 km of empty palm-backed sand near Las Galeras. How to get there by boat or 4x4, and when to go.
Read →Punta Cana Beaches
A guide to Punta Cana beaches, Bávaro to Juanillo, what is good, the sargassum question, and who this coast is really for.
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The Samaná Peninsula Guide
The Samaná Peninsula, from whale season to Playa Rincón and El Limón. How to base yourself, get there without a rental car, and plan 3 to 5 days.
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Sosúa Beach and Town
A guide to Sosúa beach on the DR's north coast: the calm snorkeling bay, the 1940 Jewish refugee history, nearby Cabarete, and how to base here.
Read →Guides
Beaches and day trips from the Colonial Zone
A planner for seven day trips from Santo Domingo, from Boca Chica to Samaná, with drive times, how to go, what each trip is like and how to choose.
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Eating and Drinking in the Zona Colonial
What Dominicans eat and drink in the Zona Colonial, from mangú at breakfast to la bandera at lunch, plus coffee, rum, and how the 10% service charge works.
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Getting to Santo Domingo and Getting Around
How to arrive in Santo Domingo: the free eTicket, Las Américas airport, taxis and ride apps, driving in, the Cibao airport option, and cruise arrivals.
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The Zona Colonial Day to Day
How the Zona Colonial works day to day: groceries and colmados, pharmacies, ATMs, SIM cards, laundry, tourist police, noise, and the streets by the sea front.
Read →The Colonial City
Los Tres Ojos Cave Lakes
How to visit Los Tres Ojos, Santo Domingo's limestone cave lakes: the four lagoons, the hand-pulled raft, costs, timing, and getting there without a car.
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Photo Spots in the Zona Colonial
Where to shoot in the Zona Colonial and on the Malecón, with light, crowds, drone and permit rules, safety tips, and walking times from the house.
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Santo Domingo Three-Day Itinerary
An hour-by-hour Santo Domingo itinerary from a Zona Colonial base: three days on foot and by Uber, rain-day swaps, and how to stretch it to a week.
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Santo Domingo Landmarks
The great Santo Domingo landmarks in one walk: the first cathedral, Alcázar de Colón, Fortaleza Ozama, the Panteón and the ruins, with times and a route.
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The Best Things to Do in Santo Domingo
The best things to do in Santo Domingo, ranked and grouped by half-day, with clear picks, real drive times, and what to skip in the Colonial City.
Read →Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo
The complete guide to Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo: the streets, plazas, cafes and safety, plus why the walled old town is the smartest base in the DR.
Read →Destinations & Day Trips
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Photo credits on this page
- Photo: Santo Domingo - Calle El Conde.JPG by Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Altos de Chavón.jpg by Dr. Eugen Lehle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Photo: Dominican republic Los Haitises mangroves.jpeg by Anton Bielousov, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Photo: Dusk - Bahia de las Aguilas, Pedernales - Dominican Republic.jpg by Remedylane (Wikivoyage), Public domain
- Photo: Playa Rincón December 2020 2.jpg by Danu Widjajanto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: 2023 - Playa Bavaro Punta Cana - 08.jpg by Oleg Yunakov, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Las Galeras Samana Dominican Republic Caribbean.jpg by Einfach-Eve, CC0
- Photo: El Limon.JPG by AMartiniouk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Photo: View of Samaná Bay from the Top 1.jpg by Danu Widjajanto, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Sosúa - Playa Alicia 0413.JPG by Phyrexian, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Santo Domingo Este - Los Tres Ojos 0949.JPG by Phyrexian, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: CCSD Plaza España 07 2017 4671.jpg by Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Catedral Primada CC night 02 2018 7040.jpg by Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz), CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Santo Domingo - Parque Colón 0641.JPG by Phyrexian, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: 2023 - Saona Island - 21.jpg by Oleg Yunakov, CC BY-SA 4.0