Santo Domingo isn't the tropical paradise most travellers come to the Caribbean in search of, but at the core of the rather bewildering sprawl the old Spanish colonial capital - the very first European city of the New World - lies magically intact along the western bank of the Río Ozama. This was the domain of Christopher Columbus : founded by his brother Bartolomé, ruled by him for a time and claimed a decade later by his son Diego. After five centuries, the Columbus palace can still be found alongside the cobblestone streets and monumental architecture of the walled, limestone city the family built.

 

Far more than just history makes Santo Domingo an integral part of any trip to the Dominican Republic; it is, after all, the modern face of the country, and as such has a non-stop liveliness not seen in many other places. The vitality extends, though in a slightly more disappointing manner, to the very reachable beaches east of the city, at Boca Chica and Juan Dolio , both fairly built-up resorts.