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With just over three million people, Santo Domingo is one of the Caribbean’s most populated cities and arguably its most vibrant. A lesson in colorful contradictions, Santo Domingo blends modern Latin flair and colonial charm in cheeky, playful ways.
Modern hotels sit on ancient cobblestone streets, luxury cars park beside well-worn scooters and hip restaurants sit next to street vendors serving traditional Dominican fare.
Colonial City
Located in the capital city Santo Domingo, The area is gorgeous and romantic at night with well-lit restaurants, museums and ancient stone structures. Nearby, couples can take in the view of the Gothic style architecture of the Cathedral of Santo Domingo, the first cathedral of the New World. The building is highlighted with Renaissance details dating from 1514 to 1546, thus setting itself apart from today’s modern architecture and romantically emphasizing its cultural and historical content.
Cultural Plaza
Cultural Plaza is an oasis for the city with its huge gardens, majestic fountains and ancient trees, just as its name suggest, is a cultural center located right in the heart of Santo Domingo. Housing the Biblioteca Nacional (National Library), the Cinemateca Nacional (National Film Library), the Galería de Arte Moderno (Gallery of Modern Art), the Museo de Historia Natural (Museum of Natural History), Museo de Historia y Geografía (Museum of History and Geography), Museo del Hombre Dominicano (Museum of Dominican History), and the Teatro Nacional (National Theater). A visit to the Cultural Plaza is more than just a pleasant stroll; it is a walk through Dominican culture and history.
Los Tres Ojos
Los Tres Ojos, or The Three Eyes, is the name of a 50-foot (15 meter) open-air limestone cave in Mirador del Este Park near Santo Domingo eginning life as prehistoric sinkholes the lakes were once underground caves that collapsed in on themselves and filled with water. The lakes are continually fed by an underground river that keeps the waters fresh and full. The constant flow into and out of the lakes brings a diversity of minerals, bacteria, and animal life into the site. This constant shifting causes the waters of the lakes to turn vibrant shades of greens and blues. In addition to the arresting colors the lakes are host to an abundance of turtles, bats, and fish. Surrounding each of the lakes is dense tropical foliage giving them the air of hidden jungle oases.
Jardín Botánico Nacional
Located within central Santo Domingo, Jardín Botánico Nacional is one of two botanical gardens. Both a countryside estate set up and a Japanese Garden, there is also an ecological museum that touches on the major ecosystems found in the Dominican Republic. An open air trolley is available to take guests on a 30 minute drive around the garden.
Chu Chu Colonial
The Colonial City of Santo Domingo World Heritage Site, is a city built where the Rio Ozama river meets the Carribean Sea. . Explore romantic cobblestone streets amongst the 16th Century buildings and absorb 500 years of history in only 45 minutes via while riding a tram along the roads of the oldest European city of the Americas.
Travel Document
For non-residents, passports and tourist cards are required upon entry into the Dominican Republic. If you are a citizen of the US, visit travel.state.gov for more information on travel documents needed. For Canadian travelers, visit travel.gc.ca for relevant travel information.
Marriage Requirements
For marriage, couples must present an original passport, copy and translation of original birth certificates, and sworn declaration before a notary public prior to all weddings in the Dominican Republic. Divorce and death decrees are also required if applicable. Check with our Certified Wedding Planner for more details.
Language
Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic, though English is widely spoken and understood.
Currency
The Dominican peso is the currency of the Dominican Republic, but US dollars are often widely accepted in most areas.
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