Caribbean and Central America Travel

The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti in eastern Caribbean. Blessed with spectacular whites and beaches, mountain ranges, different bodies of water including salt water lakes, bevy of exotic wildlife, and colorful culture, Dominican Republic have something for every tourist.

Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 for Spain, Hispaniola became the first permanent European settlement in the Americas. When the gold in Hispaniola ran out, it lost its prominence. When pirates ransacked the settlements in the western part of the island, the Spaniards relinquished control of what is now known as Haiti to the French.

In 1801, the French invaded the eastern part of the island, Santo Domingo. They gained control, but after only six years, they were driven out by a local group led by Juan Sanchez Ramírez, and control of the eastern part of the island went back to Spain. The Haitians invaded Santo Domingo in 1822. After 22 years, Dominican patriots proclaimed the independent State of Dominican Republic.

The eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola has several mountain ranges, river and waterways that the Dominicans utilize to generate electricity. Like the other Caribbean islands, the Dominican Republic is abundant in unspoilt natural resources. There are 16 national parks, nine natural monuments and six scientific reserves in the Dominican Republic, and around 67 protected areas. The Dominican Republic is also quickly becoming a popular destination for bird lovers. The green and yellow national bird, the cotica parrot, is one of the main attraction for bird watchers.

You can expect pleasant tropical temperatures in the Dominican Republic, averaging at 81 - 97F (28C - 31C), though if you are in the mountains, temperatures can drop significantly. The months to avoid is June to September, when it’s hurricane season. February and November may be the best time to visit the country, having perfect weather for all activities, less crowds and possibly joining in the Carnival.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 8th, 2007 at 5:23 pm and is filed under Caribbean, Dominican Republic. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.