Dominican Republic Is Becoming The “Chic” Caribbean
Have you visited this undiscovered Caribbean “jewel” yet?

The first words that came out of my mouth when I stepped onto the beach at Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic was - WOW! My past impressions of the Dominican Republic – DR to the people in the know, was an island with two countries, one of which seems to be generally in turmoil most of the time – Haiti. The only other information I had about the island is that most of my cigars are made here by the Arturo Fuente’s family – my personal opinion is they are some of the best cigars in the world.

Again, this Old Dog was wrong – my wife reminding me daily of my confusion and misconceptions regarding many topics. The best way I can describe the DR I am discovering is, AMAZING! As you know, I love to discover unspoiled beaches, new sailing grounds, diving and snorkeling sites, and, of course, an unforgettable bar or two. It is all here to be discovered in the DR!!! There are five or six distinct regions in the DR. The one I am exploring is the Northeast coast – the region of the best windsurfing and kite sailing in the Caribbean.

The first DR beach I dug my toes into was Las Terrenas, right on the Samana peninsula. As I mentioned, it was a WOW! moment for me. As I explored the area I stumbled onto an construction site right on the water and started asking questions. Even though the DR is highly influenced by it’s history with France, there was no problem finding someone to speak English. What I had stumbled upon was Jardins de Coson – a luxury fractional ownership resort right on the beach! Check out the link.

I had no idea that the some of the best beaches in the world are on the DR! Conde Nast Traveler has rated Playa Rincon as one of the top ten in the world! It was only a short goat ride from Las Galeras to this unforgettable, unspoiled paradise of a beach. The DR is known for it’s mash potato white sand that is always a pleasure to walk on because it is never hot because of being made from coral. This three mile long beach is surrounded by coconut palms and almond trees, not to mention the 2,000 foot mountain on one end of it.

The Dominican Republic is a country and an unforgettable Caribbean experience all wrapped into one package. It will take me months to discover it all, so I will just hang out in the Las Terrenas area and find a new rum drink to add to my 30+ year journal. ( I snuck into the bar at the Viva Wyndham Samana all inclusive resort and had my old favorite – a Navy grog.)

Let me know what you have discovered in the DR. I am looking for my next unspoiled paradise. Until next time….