Romantic getaways mean different things to different couples, from memorable dinners on the town to a relaxing day at the beach to an adventurous hike to a hidden waterfall. The Dominican Republic’s diverse geography and culture provides wonderful opportunities for romantic travel, no matter what you’re searching for. Here are some of the options:
Find Relaxation in Samaná Bay
Jutting out of the country’s northeastern shore, the Samaná Peninsula is as coveted today as it was in the 16th Century, when pirates hid in its lush, palm-filled forests, isolated beaches, and hidden caves. Today, the Samaná area is well connected by land and air, yet it remains a secluded paradisiacal escape of wild beaches, coconut plantations, and rainforests. Its rolling mountains and valleys form crystalline rivers that feed into the Atlantic. Some 2,500 humpback whales visit Samaná Bay every year to mate and give birth. Along with seasonal whale watching boat excursions, more ecotourism adventures are a stone’s throw away: bodyboarding and kitesurfing in Las Terrenas; trekking, birding, and caving in Los Haitises National Park; canyoning or horseback riding; and boat-hopping to magnificent white sand beaches at the base of 300-feet cliffs.
Couple at Salto el Limon, Samana (Photo Credit: Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism)
Take in One of the Country’s Stunning Waterfalls
Reaching El Limón waterfall is an adventure that takes couples on a 1.5-mile journey through thick forest, on horseback or on foot. Travel down lush hilly terrain, while spotting flora and fauna along the way. Native plants grow abundantly here in the wild, like the royal palm tree, and pineapples. Birds are ubiquitous, like the palmchat, the Hispaniolan woodpecker, and the Broad-billed tody. Once at the falls, marvel at the beauty of El Limón’s tumbling cascade–dropping 130 feet from the top of Sierra de Samaná. Cool off from the journey in the freshwater emerald pool beneath the falls, and take in the surrounding wild, jungle landscape and gushing sounds of El Limón.
Beautiful Caribbean beach on Saona Island, Dominican Republic. (photo via czekma13 / iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Visit Idyllic Saona Island
Located 12 miles south of the mainland, Saona Island’s picture-perfect beaches attract more visitors than all of the country’s national parks combined. A protected site spanning 42 square miles, Saona features long stretches of brilliant white sand, with giant coconut trees that seem to melt into iridescent turquoise waters. Visitors can take day trips to enjoy the beaches, through a myriad of options ranging from speedboat to catamaran. Riding along Saona’s stunning coastline scenery alone is worthwhile; stops may include a swim at Palmilla, a white stretch with a wide natural pool; and at Mano Juan, the only inhabited portion of the island. This is also the country’s most important turtle-nesting site.
Explore the Stunning Parque Nacional del Este
This is one of the most cave riddled and adventure-packed national parks in the country—and one of its most visited. Here, you’ll find more than 500 flora species, 300 types of birds, and long stretches of diamond white beaches. Visitors can hike from Bayahíbe village to explore some of the park’s caves and freshwater springs and go birdwatching. On the coastline, snorkeling and diving sites are numerous along colorful coral reefs, and steep walls teeming with sea life.
Enjoy a Romantic Night Out in Santo Domingo
The cosmopolitan city of Santo Domingo is constantly reinventing itself. New restaurants open every month in this city that lives to socialize until the early hours of the morning. Most restaurants are located in the Polígono Central, including the busy Gustavo Mejía Ricart and Winston Churchill avenues, the Malecón, Chinatown, and Colonial City areas of the city. In fact, Santo Domingo has more restaurants than any other city in the Caribbean or Central America. You’ll experience Dominican, Caribbean, Latin, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Scandinavian, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Japanese specialties, many with a Dominican twist—and always with fresh local ingredients. Popular restaurants for Dominican fare include the Adrian Tropical on the Malecón, Mesón de la Cava and El Higüero in the Mirador del Sur Park, Cafetería El Conde and Mesón de Bari in the Colonial City, and Cane in modern Santo Domingo.
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