Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo shore excursions with Bakadi Dreams explore the capital of the Dominican Republic. Indeed, the city was founded in 1498 and is the oldest in the New World. Moreover, it combines a colonial heritage listed by UNESCO with the energy of a Caribbean metropolis of three million people.

The Colonial Quarter

The Zona Colonial is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and walking its lanes is like stepping back five centuries. Pastel facades line narrow streets that were laid out before any other European settlement in the Americas. At its heart stands the first cathedral of the New World, begun in 1512 and still in use today. Above all, the Alcazar de Colon, built for the son of Christopher Columbus, remains the finest surviving example of the period.

Beyond the City

The countryside inland could hardly be more different from the capital. Farming villages, sugar and cocoa plantations and forested hills fill the provinces to the north. Waterfalls tumble from the Sierra de Agua, and several of them are deep enough to swim in. Therefore, our two tours cover both worlds, the historic city and the rural interior.

Your Day Ashore in Santo Domingo

Ships dock close to the colonial quarter, so the historic centre is quickly reached. We collect you at the port exit in an air-conditioned minibus. Finally, comfortable shoes are essential, as the old streets are cobbled and uneven.