Islands, capital or countryside?

La Romana is a small, easy port on the south-east coast, and it is the best starting point in the Dominican Republic for a day on the water. Saona, inside the Cotubanamá national park, is the classic: a catamaran or speedboat crossing, a stop at the natural pool where starfish sit in waist-deep water, and a long stretch of palm-backed sand for lunch. Catalina Island is closer and quieter, with a reef straight off the beach that is ideal for snorkelling.

If you would rather stay on land, Santo Domingo is about ninety minutes west. The Colonial Zone is the oldest European-built city in the Americas, and a guided walk takes in the cathedral, the Alcázar de Colón and the cobbled Calle las Damas. Closer to La Romana, Altos de Chávón is a reconstructed Mediterranean village above the Chávón river gorge, usually combined with another stop.

All La Romana tours run privately with an English-speaking guide, in air-conditioned vehicles or on a boat chartered for your group, with pick-up at the pier and a guaranteed return before sailing. Choose your excursion below, or tell us your hours ashore and we will suggest the best fit.