Hispaniola |
| Wednesday, 27 February 2008 00:00 |
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Hispaniola is the second biggest island in the West Indies, shared by the independent countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the latter taking up about two thirds of the island. Haiti used to be the name for the whole island until Christopher Columbus
renamed it La Isla Espanola, which the English later translated into Hispaniola, Little Spain. Together with Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, Hispaniola forms the Great Antilles. The island’s climate is humid and tropical, giving it perfect conditions for all those tropical rainforests as well as dry forests that cover the valleys and mountains. The Dominican capital of Santo Domingo is located on a rocky coast characterized by magnificent chalk cliffs. The Old Town has been admitted to the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage sites: narrow alleys, lanterns, and old Spanish palaces create a fascinating atmosphere. At night locals gather on the Plaza Espana and watch flamenco dancers. More unadulterated Dominican lifestyle can be found on the Calle El Conde street, where locals mingle with tourists, enjoying the warm summer breeze and sharing a drink. During the day the same activities can be found on the Malecon promenade along the Caribbean shore. A different kind of local life, the marine kind, can be admired in the Acuario Nacional, an aquarium granting insight into marine life in the Caribbean seas and rivers (to watch humpback whales in real life go to the bay of Samana in the northern part of the island during the spring). Just as educational is a visit to one of the many museums on the Plaza de la Cultura, explaining anything from art to culture, and natural history. The Dominican Republic is famous for its biodiversity which can easiest be discovered by simply renting a car and hitting the road. Almost 1000 miles of beaches line the island, most of them covered in brilliantly white corral sand like the one in Punta Cana in the eastern part of the republic. The beaches along Rio San Juan, an old fishing village in the north-east, with their lagoons and wild cliffs are particularly romantic, whereas a little further to the north anyone with some skills with the board will enjoy the terrific surf. On another water sports note: Cabarete offers the best conditions for kite and wind surfing making it one of the most popular towns in the country. As a result, Cabarete has a number of excellent restaurants, clubs, and bars. If you spend some time on Hispaniola you should not miss out on the great national parks the island is so proud of. The Parque Nacional del Este, located in the south-east, is a natural paradise. Extensive mangrove forests are home to rare water birds, Caribbean sea cows and turtles. The Parque Nacional Isla Cabritos in the north-east is the driest area of the island and one of the quietest and most splendid parks preserving genuine wildlife. The town of Puerto Plata in the north has more to offer than just the Victorian wooden houses and hotel complexes. But do not leave out the south of the island. Close to the Parque Nacional del Este you can get on a ferry to Isla Saona, a tranquil paradise under palms with sandy white beaches and no tourist infrastructure. Here you can swim, snorkel, and scuba dive. |
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