Itinerary for visiting the Dominican Republic in 7 days

In addition to its warm waters and white sand, the Dominican Republic offers wonderful plans to enjoy a great holiday with your entire family. Here is a fantastic itinerary to enjoy the Dominican Republic in 7 days.  

7 Days in the Dominican Republic

We are going to offer you a route that’ll enable you to take full advantage of your trip to the Dominican Republic in 7 days. The Dominican Republic is considered an inexpensive country, where you can do different activities without breaking the bank. This way you’ll be able to enjoy your itinerary with all the peace of mind that a holiday on the shores of the Caribbean Sea deserves. You can also check our guide on prices in the Dominican Republic. 

SANTO DOMINGO

One of the first options for tourism in Punta Canta is Santo Domingo, the capital of the country, the city with the largest number of inhabitants in the Caribbean. This town is where the first cathedral, the first hospital, the first university and the first customs office were built on the American continent. Within Santo Domingo, highlights include the Colonial Zone and the Malecón promenade, the two go-to stops for a one-day visit. 

The Colonial Zone is located in the historic centre of Santo Domingo, and here you can visit the Viceroy Palace, the City Council, the Real Audiencia court and the Cathedral of Santa María la Menor, which dates back to the 16th century and has managed to hold on to most of its original monumental structures. 

The architectural style of the Cathedral of Santa María la Menor is a mix of the Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance styles, and inside there are wonderful sacred paintings, statues, silver, jewels and handmade wood carvings tucked away. 

After visiting the Cathedral, you can head over to Parque Colón square, a site where you can enjoy a typical Dominican drink while listening to musicians singing local songs. Next to Parque Colón is Calle El Conde street, the longest pedestrian street in the entire Caribbean, where you can enjoy a delicious local coffee.

The Malecón promenade covers half of the city of Santo Domingo and runs parallel to the coast, and is perhaps best known for the Merengue Festival that’s celebrated in July. On the Malecón, you can enjoy the gentle breeze of the Caribbean Sea while going for a pleasant walk. 

In this article: Itinerary for Visiting the City of Santo Domingo, you can learn more about all the monuments and attractions in the Dominican capital.  

EL HIGÜERO AND LOS MORENOS

In the area surrounding Santo Domingo is El Higuero and Los Morenos, a rural area north of the capital, whose culture is a result of African, European and Taino influences. In this area, you can enjoy the local music that, just like the culture, owes its character to its African and European influences.

HISPANIOLA ISLAND

Another trip you can enjoy during your visit to Punta Cana is to visit Hispaniola Island, the second largest island in the Caribbean Sea after Cuba, occupied by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and located in the Greater Antilles archipelago. Here you can take in all of the abundant plants and wildlife, in addition to visiting the largest cigar factory in the world, where you can see first-hand how the master craftsmen make the different cigars by hand.  

SANTIAGO DE LOS CABALLEROS

To the north of Santo Domingo is the city of Santiago de los Caballeros, the second most populous in the Dominican Republic. It is located in the heart of the Cibao Valley, one of the most fertile areas in the country, which is best known for its tobacco and sugarcane plantations. In the centre of the city, there are wonderful buildings that are colourfully decorated, originally commissioned to add some colour to a city that, until then, was overly monotonous.  

The main monument in Santiago de los Caballeros is the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration of the Republic, which was originally built to celebrate the Dominican Republic’s independence from Haiti, located on one of the city’s hills, where you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of all of Santiago. 

CABARETE

Known as the Caribbean capital of water sports and adventure, it is located in the province of Puerto Plata, where you can practice activities such as surfing, windsurfing or kitesurfing, since its coast has the best waves and winds on the whole island. Cabarete Bay has diving and equestrian facilities, from where you can explore the stunning natural surroundings on horseback.  

The activities are spread out along the entire coast in Cabarete, on different beaches where you can practice different kinds of water sports. On Cabarete Beach, you can go windsurfing; Bozo Beach is known for kitesurfing and bodyboarding; Kite Beach is famous for its strong winds and huge waves, perfect for kitesurfing and surfing; and then finally there’s La Boca, located 7 kilometres from Cabarete, a beach suitable for practicing wakeboarding. 

In addition to these activities, the Bay also offers the possibility of visiting countless natural areas, among which is the El Choco National Park, a natural space where you can go hiking, mountain biking, swimming in freshwater lagoons or visit its caves.  

As for the lagoons, the Gri-Gri Lagoon stands out, an aquatic space that appeared after the earthquake in the 1960s, where you can enjoy going for a refreshing swim or boat trips. The Gri-Gri Lagoon is characterised by its small canal, where you can enjoy the mangroves that will take you to visit cliffs and sea caves. 

The Park has a total area of 78 square kilometres, and here you can follow different trails to visit tropical forests full of cocoa trees, coffee and medicinal plants. 

SAONA ISLAND

Saona Island is a nature reserve that is located in the National Park of the East, characterised by its crystalline waters and white sand that will leave you speechless. It is a good idea to take a whole day to visit the island, leaving from and returning to Punta Cana. The day trip is easily accessible from Playa Bávaro, where you can hire a tour to travel by catamaran, a fun activity for the little ones in the family, during which you’ll be able to enjoy wonderful views of both coasts. 

Saona Island is internationally known for its mangroves, the beaches that surround the entire island and its coral reefs. In total, it has an area of 110 square kilometres, which include the National Park of the East, a protected space that allows you to enjoy nature in a peaceful environment with all members of your family. On the island, another recommendation is to visit the Sea Turtle Sanctuary, located in Mano Juan, a small and quiet fishing village.  

SPORTS ACTIVITIES

In addition to the sports activities offered by the country, within Lopesan Costa Bávaro you can enjoy different sports programmes adapted to your needs, with numerous services that’ll allow you to enjoy spending a lot of time with your family within its facilities. 

The littlest ones at home can enjoy six pools, slides and various water activities every day. In addition, they’ll have their own “Panchi Kids Club” that offers specific activities for kids between the ages of 4-12. All of which are designed exclusively for them and under the supervision of specialised personnel. 

For teenagers between 12-16 years old, there is “Vibe”, a recreational and leisure space where they’ll want to spend hours upon hours while their parents are able to disconnect and relax in private spaces.

The youngest of the family will also find an infinite number of very stimulating recreational activities for children to do throughout the Dominican island, especially in the region of Punta Cana. 

Where to sleep in the Dominican Republic

Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino is the perfect place to stay in order to visit the other areas of the Dominican country, given its proximity to other touristy areas such as Higüey or Saona Island, in addition to all the activities offered both within the resort and on the white sandy beaches of Playa Bávaro.