20 Unmissable Attractions in the Dominican Republic
![As well as an amazing selection of beaches, the Dominican Republic offers a host of must-see attractions](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/20x11/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/r5btcd.webp)
The Dominican Republic has one of the most varied landscapes of any Caribbean nation. Aside from the warm beaches, you’ll find mountainous terrain, large lakes and sand dunes that allow for a rich variety of attractions to all be found within one small country.
1. Ocean World Adventure Park, Marina and Casino
Amusement Park, Park
![meeting dolphins up close](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/-may-manzur-unsplash.webp)
2. Sirenis Aquagames Punta Cana
Amusement Park
![© Iker Urteaga : Unsplash](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/-iker-urteaga-unsplash.webp)
3. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana
Hotel
![Hard Rock Hotel](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/hard-rock-hotel.webp)
4. Zona Colonial
Architectural Landmark
![Colonial Zone (Ciudad Colonial), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Colonial architectures of the Palacio Consistorial.](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/jpbpg8.webp)
5. Humpback whales
Architectural Landmark
![Thomas Kelly Humpback Whale](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/thomas-kelly-humpback-whale.webp)
Samana is home to the “Sanctuary of the Humpback Whales” and is where every year between December and March, about 2,000 humpback whales come to reproduce in the warm waters near the shore. Humpback whales can grow up to 40 tons and perform many acrobatic acts while mating, such as jumping out of the water, and some males will sing songs to attract females to mate with.
6. The 3 Eyes National Park (Los Tres Ojos)
Natural Feature, Park
![Los Tres Ojos - series of three lakes located in limestone cave in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/w5jb51.webp)
7. Gri Gri Lagoon
Natural Feature
![Dominican Republic, Rio San Juan, Boats at Laguna Gri Gri](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/r5btcd.webp)
8. Cabarete
Natural Feature, Architectural Landmark
![surfing](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/austin-neill-unsplash.webp)
9. Bavaro Beach
Natural Feature
![White sand of Dominican Republic](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/courtney-hall-fxqfor4983k-unsplash.webp)
10. Damajaqua Cascades (27 Waterfalls)
Natural Feature
![Mathis Jrdl Waterfall](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/mathis-jrdl-waterfall.webp)
11. Catedral Primada de America
Cathedral, Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark
![Portal of the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor, Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/p9jkw2.webp)
This is the first cathedral to be built in the Americas, dating back to 1514 with the intention of being a center for religious proselytizing in the New World. This is a great attraction for people interested in architecture, as it has elements of the Gothic style that was predominant in Europe at the time.
12. Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park & Reserve
Zoo
![alexis-antonio-awKTWHx2wHE-unsplash iguana](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/alexis-antonio-awktwhx2whe-unsplash-iguana.webp)
This is a massive, 1,500-acre private reserve owned and maintained by the Ecological Foundation. This reserve is filled with many endangered and rare species of animals such as the Ridgway Hawk. Here you can also find 12 freshwater lagoons and an abundance of birds, reptiles, insects, and several local species of plants.
13. Parque Nacional Los Haitises
Natural Feature, Park
![Hiking at Los Haitises National Park, Los Haitises National Park, Dominican Republic](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/c40f7p.webp)
Haitises means “mountainous land” and this park is one of the few remaining tropical forests in the Dominican Republic. This park has an enormous amount of mangroves that covers an area of 1,600sqkm. Los Haitises is home to many keys and caves; the jungle was used in the making of the movie Jurassic Park.
14. Dunas de Bani
Natural Feature
![balazs-busznyak-8GueQmJBuWM-unsplash Sand Dune](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/balazs-busznyak-8gueqmjbuwm-unsplash.webp)
This place is a sand dune facing the Caribbean Sea. It has sand made of volcanic rock and gray sand and offers you the chance to see something very rare to find in the Caribbean, and take some excellent sunset pictures. There are also some high peaks that you can use to go sand surfing. Lastly, you can see special species living here, like lizards and dessert goats.
15. Teleferico Puerto Plata Cable Car (Pico Isabel de Torres)
Natural Feature, Architectural Landmark
![coast of puerto plata from pico de isabel del torres](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/k1bdf7.webp)
16. Outback Safari Adventure Tour From Punta Cana
Natural Feature
![a variety of animals can be seen on the safari](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/lukas-marek-mvfbutmutvy-unsplash-safari.webp)
17. Punta Cana Small-Group Sailing and Snorkeling Catamaran Tour
Natural Feature
![maja-novak-bAQ5mKCgIZo-unsplash](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/maja-novak-baq5mkcgizo-unsplash.webp)
This sailing experience will give your group of up to 16 people a chance to sail the waters surrounding Punta Cana for up to three hours. You will also get the chance to go snorkeling with hundreds of tropical fish.
18. ChocoMuseo Punta Cana
Museum
![erwan-hesry-OlQ-NaEyVmQ-unsplash](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/erwan-hesry-olq-naeyvmq-unsplash.webp)
ChocoMuseo is a chocolate museum located in Punta Cana; here you can taste a wide assortment of ice creams and chocolates to your hearts content. In addition to enjoying all of the free samples, this museum is only steps away from the Don Lucas cigar factory. There, you can learn about the history of the Dominican Republic’s cigar trade.
19. Monkey Land Explorer and Zip Line Adventure From Punta Cana
Natural Feature
![Zipline in Dominican Republic](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/k2nk7d.webp)
This tour takes you into the Mountains of Anamuya, where you can meet squirrel monkeys that have been trained to interact with humans. The second part of the tour is the Zip Lining Adventure. Here you will get to experience the sensation of flying through the air as you zipline between 16 platforms for over two miles of mountain ranges and forestry.