In reality, the colmado is a phenomenon that offers much more than just groceries - it's a central gathering place for the community - often acting as a canteen, social space, and even a bar or karaoke club at night. Punta Cana is my home-base here in the country and Id love to tell you more about how to experience Punta Cana off-the-beaten-track and give you all the advice you want to know for your vacation in Punta Cana. You drive for about two hours to Los Cacaos in the province of San Cristobal. The Dominican Republic (and in particular Santo Domingo) is (still) a poor country. If you prefer the entertaining way of learning about a topic, you shall visit La Casa del Ron The Rum Experience right at Parque Coln. The Botanical Garden is located on Avenida Repblica de Colombia. It is not a tourist attraction, as it was mainly built to connect the poor neighborhoods around Los Tres Brazos and Sabana Perdida with the metro network, but of course, the cable car can also be used to get a nice view of Santo Domingo from above. 42 places sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 1. Salto de Socoa (Day Trip from Santo Domingo). Exactly thats Los Tres Ojos National Park, one of the most unique things-to-do in Santo Domingo. It is a very unique thing-to-do in Santo Domingo to watch a baseball game, as baseball is the national sport of the Dominican Republic. This building was once the palace of the governor of Santo Domingo (one step below the Queen of Spain). You see in most of the descriptions above that everything is walkable in the Colonial Zone, especially when you have an accommodation in the Colonial Zone. Make sure to book the tour online* to save your spot!Cost:Depending on the tour you book between 35 and 45 USD per person.Why it is one of the best things-to-do in Santo Domingo:It is the most entertaining way to explore the Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo. It your first time in Santo Domingo as first time traveler and you are looking for things to do in Dominican Republic but there one problem. Were patiently waiting for it to reopen fully! Another Santo Domingo museum that I initially felt kind of meh about, but in hindsight, I think it is one of the better ones. Here youll also get to meet German exchange students. One of the lagoons can be accessed with a kind of a wooden barge fixed on a rope. Head over to their beautiful space to check out a calendar of upcoming events. For centuries, Dominican Republics Black history has been neglected due to the European colonial and American imperial invasions that still plague all of the Americas. I prefer more unique art and souvenirs such as unique mugs from this local artist or uniquely made larimar/amber jewelry like this one. It was later used as a tobacco warehouse, a theatre thereafter, until the building was restored in 1956 by dictator Rafael Trujillo for its current usage as a national mausoleum. You can either hire a driver or book this tour which includes another waterfall, Sierra de Agua. If you have never paid bowling before then its time you stop imagining it and visit Sebelen Bowling Center and try knocking down some pins. Punta Cana Currency Hands down. The market was dominated by native rhythms such as merengue and bachata or others such as salsa and bolero and the rising wave of reggaeton, violent mambo, dembow, perreo and a few more variants, all located within the genre of urban music. However, if you're having trouble finding a colmado, just listen for the sound of blasting salsa, merengue, or bachata music. The Botanical Garden also hosts a butterfly garden and a scenic Japanese Garden with stunning photo opportunities, so it is worth visiting this Santo Domingo attraction. Come here to get an idea of the Dominican Republics most famous figures, including Gregorio Luperon and Salome Urena. You get to expand your knowledge of the citys history, culture and values through world-class technology. As the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, the Santo Domingo Botanical Garden has over 60,000 botanically classified species, representing eight different ecosystems from across the country. The three lagoons can be explored walking (with or without a guide), but you cant swim in them. This is an interactive tour through the world of rum including a tasting at the end. Copyright 2023 Visit Dominican Republic. The emerald green swimming area also extends to several other beautiful pools. I will design your tailor-made itinerary, tell you how to save money on your trip and send you the best insider tips and recommendations. The park provides a tranquil respite from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. See the highlights of 500-year-old Colonial Zone (from USD 499.0), 5. Youll learn about the islands history, from the Tainos to the Spanish invasion to our African heritage. They also have a rooftop terrace with a fantastic view over the basilica, the oldest church in the Americas. It showcases thePea Defill familys private collection of Dominican art. The reason: it is located in a few streets on the edge of the Colonial Zone where most people dont walk to (but dont worry, it is perfectly safe). Inside, you can find remnants of extinct plants and species. If possible, take your tour outside of the rush hours. As a rule of thumb, you always can be open and talk with the locals, but if someone gets to the point too quickly or want you to come to a place you are unfamiliar with, better decline or go with another trusted person to avoid any inconveniences. travels throughout the Dominican Republic, 2. Ride a Trikke, which is a three-wheeled electric scooter. For further impressions of baseball, you can see baseball fields all around the country, even in the smallest villages you see the locals playing. La F, Av. The last time the blues won a championship was in 2009. Book the tour here! Dominican Abroad LLC is an Amazon, Booking, and Airbnb affiliate and thus we earn from qualifying purchases you make at no extra cost to you. You may likely have the entire place to yourself like I have several times. It was privately founded in 1999 by Juan Jose Bellapart. There is also a beautiful outdoor colonial courtyard located between exhibits. The 3 Eyes National Park 2,512 National Parks Geologic Formations By dmihovilovic For sure take the boat ride to get to the main lake and attraction of the tour. This is a hiking experience you can't miss. Without further ado, lets take a look at. It is free and sits above a Larimar store, so feel free to stroll through and go upstairs to enter the museum. Both are offering a tour around their premises and a create your own chocolate bar workshop*. These are the amazing and most thrilling things to do in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Take a moment and admire the neoclassical-Renaissance style architecture at National Pantheon of the Dominican Republic. Feast on homemade dumplings and sample an array of spices at the market stalls. And for something truly unique, try your hand at making your own soap using cocoa butter with your choice of aromatic oils. You cant rent them on your own, but there are affordable tours available that combine the history of the Colonial Zone with some other fun things-to-do, such as visiting the chocolate museum (depending on the booked tour) or watching a short 4D movie about the history of Santo Domingo. SHARING IS CARING! See our privacy policy for more information on how we use your data. If you are lucky and the doors are open, you can also explore the wonderful patios and courtyards most colonial houses have, which feels like traveling in time back to the 17th and 18th centuries. If you want to head out and see where the cacao gets harvested before being dried and processed to chocolate, you can do a day-trip from Santo Domingo. Costs start at $50 per person. Check out one of the following fully organized day-trips from Santo Domingo, which will show you the full beauty of the Dominican Republic. It was the first and oldest headquarters of Spains colonization of the Americas. The movie is translated into nine languages for guests to enjoy. Some tourists find it interesting to see how the poorest of the poor people are living, but this is definitively a thing not to do in Santo Domingo. Spend some time at Columbus Lighthouse (from USD 70.0), 28. There are so many stories to the views from above with every swing. These listeners depended on travel to please his ears. Bird-watchers take note, this is one of the best places in Santo Domingo to see rare avian species. Its so prettyyyy. The monument is constructed in a lighthouse style. Briefly listed below are some cool places. Punta Cana Airport Transfers: Info | Book It*Santo Domingo Airport Transfers: Info | Book It*All-Inclusive Resorts: Info | Book It*Guesthouses & AirBnBs: Info | Book It*Excursions: Info | Book It*Rental Car: Info | Book It*Road-Trips & Self-Drive Tours: Info | Plan ItTravel Insurance (incl. Thats why it is recommendable to leave your valuables at home. Address: Av. Both tourist attractions can be best reached by taxi or Uber.Cost:The entrance fee to Faro a Coln is approx. The tour is hosted by two Dominican locals and lasts just an hour and a half for $20. Click here to check availability and reserve tickets! Therefore, you shall have a look at the following attractions when walking around in La Zona Colonial: All of these sights are within walking distance from each other, most of them within a radius of 15 minutes.If you prefer a certified and professional guide, you can also check out one of the following tours, where you get a lot of historical explanations and background information about the local life. If you like to go clubbing, there are several spots in Santo Domingo for that, which Im not at all familiar with. Before heading out for lunch to one of the traditional Dominican restaurants, make sure you shop for souvenirs at a local market. Do you need help planning a customized vacation in Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic? Learn to cook speciality dishes at a Dominican home, and dine with a charming local localite. Not too far away from the Botanical Garden, you can find the Estadio Quisqueya which is home to two baseball teams in Santo Domingo, the Leones del Escogido and the Tigres del Licey. Thinking about this large group of people, eager to have a bar where they can go and enjoy true rock music, Caciba Bar was born. Here you can spend days exploring Santo Domingos greatest things to do and see. You will notice before that something is changing and your instinct will make you turn around immediately. Punta Cana Day-TripsPunta Cana ExcursionsPunta Cana Family ActivitiesPunta Cana Family ResortsPunta Cana Free ActivitiesPunta Cana HikingPunta Cana ItineraryPunta Cana MapsPunta Cana NightlifePunta Cana Public TransportPunta Cana SnorkelingPunta Cana Things-to-DoPunta Cana WaterfallsPunta Cana Weather As a museum, store, and factory all in one, KahKow offers a range of interactive activities for visitors to enjoy. Come to this museum to find out why. But many people (including local Dominicans) love shopping here! In just two hours, you'll feel like a local, knowing all the best spots to eat, drink, dance, and shop. The ear of the true rock enthusiast, who was not satisfied with what played at the countrys radio stations. Located centrally on Av. In addition to the uniquely charming views of the port, this boulevard features the famous obelisk of Santo Domingo as well as casinos, restaurants and leisure spots of all types. See Gothic Ruins and Birds at Hospital San Nicols. Please go ahead and add Punta Cana Travel Blog to your feed. With all those offerings, you can easily spend days in the historic city center of Santo Domingo, which is why I even would rate it the top thing-to-do in the entire Dominican Republic when it comes to culture. How to get there:Take the Metro until the station Eduard Brito, where you can connect directly with the cable car (Telefrico).Cost:A ride with the cable car costs 20 DOP (approx. Roam the Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo Source: flickr You might even be lucky enough to catch a game of dominoes or join in a karaoke session. This is an absolutely off-the-beaten-track thing-to-do in Santo Domingo, but hiking is an exciting option when you are craving some activity and adventure. Ok, cacao and chocolate are not yours? Centro Cultural Espaol: Cultural space funded by the Spanish embassy with art exhibits, films, concerts, and more. Los Tres Ojos might be the coolest (tourist) attraction in Santo Domingo. 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