Discover Las Terrenas and the Dominican Republic:


The Hispaniola Island (Dominican Republic and Haiti) was the first island developed in America and it is naturally here that were built the first cathedral, the first hospital, the first university... The Dominican Republic is becoming a major tourist destination of the Caribbean. The island fits in the archipelago of the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica); it is the most mountainous of the 4 islands, with Pico Duarte which culminates with 3' 175m (map). The Hispaniola Island is not volcanic, no eruption or flow of lava is not to be announced in the island.

The Dominican Republic (map) is famous for its natural and human treasures. Its 600 kilometers of white sand beach bordered of coconut trees, a wild and luxuriant nature, an immense floral diversity, animals in their natural environment and the imposing landscapes, cordial people, unsophisticated and close to nature. Some islands of small size, nearly uninhabited, of which the largest one is Saona, scatter in Dominican waters, they generally shelter animal reserves or protected fishing zones. The 16 national parks cover approximately 20 % of the territory.

"A land which could compete with the garden of the paradise."
(Christopher Colombus)

You will be charmed by the smiles and good mood, the intense and friendly glances, the multicoloured landscapes, the kindness and the small local music which trots in the head and in the streets. Second country of the Caribbean for its surface of 48' 734 km², the Dominican Republic has approximately 1' 600 km of coasts with the Atlantic Ocean in north and the Caribbean Sea in the south, including more than 600 km of white or fair sand beaches.

The vegetation varies from one part to another of the country, with altitude and the exposure to the trade winds, the greatest part of the country receives rains in may/june and october/november, apart from some south-west arid regions. This favors the existence of the majority of the tropical plants and of many plants of the moderate areas (in altitude). In the countryside there are small fishing ports and almost inaccessible villages. You will find humanity, simplicity and good mood. The interior mountains also offer adventure sports and outings to make you discover natural wonders....

Las Terrenas (map) is located at the north of the Peninsula of Samaná (map). This peninsula is about sixty kilometers long and twenty kilometers large and it is located at the North-East of the Dominican Republic. The landscapes are varied and of rare beauty, splendid hills, an exuberant tropical flora and the most beautiful beaches of the country (even of the Caribbean). The mountain chain of maximum 600 m. altitude (the Sierra of Samaná) is made up of reliefs with peaks falling in the sea and of soft and waving hills, this gives to the landscape a strong intensity and imposing and unforgettable panoramas.

Quisqueya is the ancient name of the island where the Dominican Republic is, several Indian civilizations have succeeded there, like the Taïnos Indians. The country will be colonized and will undergo the interventions of several nations (Spain, france, Haiti, the United States of America) once their island is discovered by the European missions.

The name of Dominican Republic becomes official on February 27, 1844, independence day, thanks to Juan Pablo Duarte, francisco del Rosario Sanchez and Ramon Matias Mella, the fathers of the fatherland. Political instability and chaos will generate the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo who will seize the power in 1930. Assassinated in 1961, his tyrannical and repressive government ends. Since 1961, a "democratic" system will be set up and then reinforced since 1996 by authorizing free, broad and open elections.

The political régime in Dominican Republic is presidential; the Head of the State and of the government is Leonel Fernandez (www.presidencia.gov.do). The next presidential electoral expiries are in May 2008 and the next legislative electoral expiries are in May 2006. The mode is of extremely presidential type with a President elected by the direct vote every four years and re-eligible since 2002 for a second consecutive mandate. The Congress is composed of 32 senators and 150 deputies, also elected every four years by the elections held with semi-course of the presidential mandate. The several presidential elections since 1996 enabled to consolidate the democracy and to open the country at an international level.

Merengue is considered by most people the national dance; it is also the most widespread dance in the country. It is a rythmed dance which put people of good mood and the dancing partners in fright. Other typical dances: Bachata (more melancholic), Dance of the sticks, Carabine...




The carnivals of Santo Domingo and Santiago celebrated last Sunday of February are most famous. Other carnivals are celebrated at various times throughout the year in the Dominican provinces. There is also the Saints' one, each village celebrates its saint, that can last up to nine days (in Las Terrenas for example) and the ambience is very Dominican and festive. There are Saints’ feasts all year long in several places of the country. During the Holy Week (Easter) people of all the nations meet in the bars and the restaurants or near the beach to take part in several competitions; a very great festival. The midnight supper and New Year's Day are celebrated in the whole country; there are organized live concerts as well as balls and evenings of electronic music, while waiting for the first sunrise of the New Year.