Dominican Republic Holidays 2013

Kite boarding is a popular water sport in the Dominican Republic, with the world championships being held annually on Bozo Beach, which can be found between Kite Beach, the country’s designated kite surfing beach, and Cabarete. Head there for kite boarding, wind surfing and surfing. Meanwhile, if you’d like to hire a Jet Ski then Bayahibe or Playa Dorada on the Amber coast are good places to start. Other popular sports include fishing in the marinas and diving off the north coast.

Up in the far northwest corner of the Dominican Republic, not too far from the borders of Haiti, you’ll find the province of Monte Cristi home to the Playa Monte Cristi. The beach here is surrounded by a dramatic landscape of mountains and golden sands, there is an island just off the shore which sets the scene for beautiful sunsets - and you’ll more than likely have the beach to yourself. In the north east head to Las Galaras and take a boat to Playa Rincon and the close by Playa Madama - both of which are secluded and easy to find a spot to yourself.

The north coast is home to the best diving and snorkelling in the country and the beaches there have a great selection of dive sites suitable for all classes. There are also several places to start learning if you’re a new diver. The numerous dive spots have a great selection of shipwrecks, rock and coral formations and ocean walls to explore. While mainly for the advanced diver, Cabrera has a series of underwater tunnels and fresh water caves that are spectacular. Sosua is fine for both beginners and advanced divers with tropical fish, dolphins and even whales spotted here in season.

Holidays to the Dominican Republic offer a whole range of activities and breath-taking scenery. If you want to indulge in a little water sports then Cabarete is perfect with its sporty beaches and rougher waters. For the more luxurious side of the island, try out Puerto Plata, home to a wonderful selection of luxury villas. For all inclusive hotels Playa Dorada is perfect for families while Punta Cana and its picture perfect setting is great for couples. To get off the beaten path, try out Boca Chica or Las Galeras - with hidden beaches and boutique hotels these are another great spot for couples.

If you want to indulge yourself in the finest spa treatments, surrounded by perfect unspoiled white sand beaches and beautiful sunset vistas, then a luxury hotel in Punta Cana or the Bavaro beach is for you. The Sirenis Cocotal Beach Resort and Spa in Punta Cana offers wonderful five star luxury on the beach in Uvero Alto while the Paradisus Palma Real Resort on the Bavaro beach provides a calming setting with an impressive range of facilities. The luxurious, Dreams Punta Cana Hotel offers a beautiful beach front setting with a lagoon style swimming pool and a wonderful selection of amenities.

The Dominican Republic has a great range of budget hotels, beachside aparthotels and great value resorts fit for any taste. In the north, on the outskirts of the water sports paradise of Cabarete is the Casa Pheonix hotel - perfect for those wanting something away from the more tourist areas but still close enough to enjoy a good range of night spots and beaches. The BelleVue Dominican Bay is just a couple of moments away from the serenity of Boca Chica beach and it provides a good list of amenities including a pool and access to the close by nightlife and shops.

An absolute must see in the Dominican Republic is the Ocean world Adventure Park. The park offers the opportunity to swim with, feed and touch dolphins in the largest man-made dolphin habitat in the world. You can also scuba dive and snorkel in the coral reef aquarium with the dolphins! There are also sharks, stingrays and exotic fish to discover. The adventure park is also home to a tropical rainforest which has rocky lagoons, waterfalls and sandy beaches. There is a tiger grotto and a free flight aviary which is home to hundreds of colourful birds.