The Dominican Republic now simply Dominicana, covers 48,442 km of the island of Hispaniola with such remarkable diversity, its no wonder Columbus proclaimed it "a miracle". Ours is a country of achievements, including the America’s oldest city: Santo Domingo; the Caribbean’s highest peak: Pico Duarte and the largest saltwater lake inhabited by crocodiles: Lake Enriquillo. It’s also a country blessed with resources from sugarcane to shortstops, coffee to rum, and cocoa to tobacco.

Right on the sea front at the wonderful beaches of Bávaro, immersed in the green of tropical palm trees, close to the White Sands golf course, the Ocean Blue and Ocean Sand hotels dispose of complete suites, all-inclusive services, and an extensive activity program to make your stay an unforgettable experience.

But of all the resources, there is none greater than the Dominicans themselves, a claim believable only once you have a chance to meet these charming, hospitable people. When you do, chances are they’ll be discussing baseball, their love of ball playing predating even Columbus’s arrival. Dominicana is a sports enthusiast’s dream, claiming championship-caliber golf, tennis, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, water sports, polo, horseback riding, hiking and just about anything else you could work up a sweat over. And that includes dancing to the contagious merengue that floats in the air in nearly every Town Square and nightclub. If it’s city life you want, you’ll find even the oldest town brimming with modern museums, restaurants, art galleries, discotheques, casinos, boutiques and resorts. Or, if you prefer quaintness and quiet, there are seaside villages where both are plentiful.