The sun, sand and mountains of the Caribbean are calling – soak it all up on a holiday to the Dominican Republic.
Puerto Plata
This northern city is a firm holiday favourite – and for good reason. Beyond the sandy beaches, it lines up rainforest-covered mountains, lively towns and locals with a laidback approach that’s textbook Caribbean. The north coast is packed full of culture, with a pretty old quarter and seafront fortress. For beaches backed by rolling hillsides, there’s Playa Dorada or Costa Dorada. Or, a little further up the coast, you’ve got the palm-lined beaches of Bahia Maimon.
Puerto Cana
Punta Cana is on the eastern tip of the island, and skirt a 50-kilometre ribbon of white-sand beaches. Golfers can tee off at the Punta Cana Golf Club, where the greens and fairways come with sea views. Bavaro is the liveliest resort in this part of the Dominican Republic, while sleepy Uvero Alto sits at the opposite end of the spectrum and is ideal for family-friendly holidays. Wherever you end up, though, cooling off in the Caribbean Sea is a piece of cake.