Diving and snorkeling is fantastic here, with coral reefs, shipwrecks and warm, clear waters. Kiteboarding and sailboarding are also popular sports, and there is The Robert Trent Jones Golf Course. Deep sea fishing is also available.
The Dominican Republic has a long and rich cultural past, with Arawak Indians first living on the island a thousand years ago. In 1492, Christopher Columbus "discovered" the island, and Puerto Plata became a Spanish post for trade. By the early 1800s, Saint-Domingue, the name of the entire island, was divided into Haiti and the Dominican Republic after a slave revolt. This area has a rich legacy and a mix of people and cultures.
Spanish is the official language spoken in the Dominican Republic. Many people here also speak English and French.
The temperature averages 79 degrees year-round in this tropical country. The coldest month is January and the hottest is August.
The peso is the official currency, and as of September 2010 one U.S. dollar equals 36.50 pesos.
