Situated in the Caribbean just east of Cuba, the Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, taking up two thirds of the island. The official language on the island is Spanish and some English and French are spoken.

Its capital, Santo Domingo features the very first monuments of the American continent as well as the first cathedral, hospital and university. The capital’s architecture was strongly influenced by the colonial period, while the music finds its roots in the African slavery period.

The islands landscape is mountainous and thick of forest land with plains and plateaus offering fertile land and high mountain ranges, with pristine beaches to the north and east. The Cordillera Central is the highest of the mountain ranges, boasting the highest mountain of the Caribbean over 3,098 m above sea level.

The norther side of the island is where the major tourist attractions are situated as well as the beaches from Puerto Plata to Cabarete. From Mount Isabel de Torres one may catch a cable car that climbs up 760 m offering a spectacular view over the Atlantic and Puerto Plata as well as the botanical gardens nearby.

The climate is hot with tropical temperatures all year, the coastal areas being warmer than central regions. There are two rainy seasons; the heaviest is from May to August and the other is from November to December. Hurricanes may sometimes occur during these periods.