Understand the Geography

• The Dominican Republic, sharing the largest island in the Caribbean, offers 870 miles of Caribbean coastline. For plenty of nightlife and historical site seeing, head to the southern coast to Santo Domingo, the capital and home to 2.25 million people. The Amber Coast on the northern Atlantic side offers the ideal tropical getaway, with plenty of tourist excursions and resorts along the beaches in Puerto Plata, Sosua and Cabarete. The center of the island is mountainous terrain, and boasts the highest mountain in the Caribbean, "Pico Duarte," which is over 10,000 feet.
  
  

Beach Relaxation: Puerto Plata

• Puerto Plata is the sun-soaked scenic region of the Dominican Republic's northern coastline, and the primary target for tourists, especially beach-lovers. Long Beach is Puerto Plata's main, public beach. Confresi and Costambar beaches are populated with luxury resorts, which offer spa services to supplement the relaxation in this tropical getaway. Playa Dorada is a stretch of 15 miles of white sand. All beaches of Puerto Plata are bordered with coral reef-waters, so snorkeling is a low-key activity. Golf and horseback riding are also popular.
  
  

Sports Adventures: Caberete

• Cabarete, a crowded enclave of tourists from all over the world, is referred to as the adventure capital of the Caribbean. More significantly to the coastal town's tourism, Cabarete is the windsurfing capital of the world, as its main beach, Playa Cabarete, offers ideal water and wind conditions for the sport. Just 20 minuntes from the Puerto Plata International Airport, Cabarete is the tourist hot-spot for surfing, kiteboarding, wakeboarding, scuba diving and, of course, windsurfing. Just south of Cabarete is beginning of the mountainous terrain, and the home "canyoning" tours, which is a wet-suit-wearing mixture of hiking, climbing, swimming in lagoons and jumping into water pools.
  
  

Mountain Adventures

• The Dominican Republic's mountain ranges make zip line canopy tours, cable car tours, mountain climbing, and hiking through luscious tropical vegetation, a nature-lovers dream. Zip line canopy tours, which can be arranged from anywhere on the North Coast, and from the Punta Cana and Bavaro area, are an exciting way to view the countries flora and fauna species from above. Strap in to the harness equipment and glide over the tropical scenery on cable lines, some of which are over 200 meters long. Cable car tours also offer a bird's eye view, one of which begins on top of Mount Isabel, and offers a view of all of Puerto Plata, and the mountain ranges. Hiking trails are abundant from the north and east of the mountain ranges. Mountain and rock climbers can set out on their own, but guided tours assure that tourists will not miss out on any key attractions. Serious hikers can take a three-day trek up Pico Duarte.
  
  

Culture and History: Santo Domingo

• Tourists seeking urban action, and a keyhole through which to view the culture and history of the Dominican Republic, head to the capital on the southern coastline, Santo Domingo. Not only is this city buzzing with shopping, nightlife, plenty of bars and restaurants, museums, and street entertainment, it is also home to the first chapel, hospital, and university of the nation. The colonial architecture exhibits Western influence, which came long after the Spanish influence -- Columbus discovered this island, and named it "La Espaniola" in 1492 -- and later the French colonization of Haiti. Music is an important aspect of culture in Santo Domingo, and resonates with African heritage. Merengue, a blend of both Spanish and African rhythms, is highly popular in Santo Domingo, and merengue dance performances -- to observe as well as to participate in -- are on the to-do list of international tourists.