Description

Starting just beyond the hustle and bustle of Santo Domingo, and continuing east almost all the way to the southeastern tip of the island, lies what most visitors come to the island for - a taste of the idyllic Caribbean. Referred to locally as the Costa Caribe (Caribbean Coast), the southeast coast of Hispaniola, with its sparkling white sand and translucent, tranquil waters, boasts a number of the Dominican Republic's top-rated beaches. Two of the best are the world-renowned Boca Chica and the less celebrated - though no less beautiful - Bayahibe. Also on the south side are several prime dive spots, including a spectacular coral reef off a small island and a number of underwater caves that have become increasingly popular with extreme divers in recent years. Baseball fans often like to make pilgrimages to the city of San Pedro de Macoris, which has produced a remarkable number of Major League stars. But perhaps the crowning glory of the Caribbean Coast is the Parque Nacional del Este, a 172-square-mile habitat for bird and plant life. The park is also the site of fascinating cave complexes housing Taino drawings that depict historical events between the indigenous population and the early conquistadors. This is drawn from our larger guide to the entire Dominican Republic; it zeros in on the Caribbean Coast -- Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, San Pedro de Macoris, La Romana & Bayahibe. An extensive introduction to the Dominican Republic as a whole gives you all the practical informa

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