58 ZiNG July - September 2009 chrysanthemums, gladioli and birds of paradise) are grown there for export. In an effort to develop the country's temperate fruit crop in the 1950s, Japanese immigrants settled farms around here, and their infl uence and presence is still noticeable in the architecture and gardens surrounding their homes, and of course in the restaurants that are scattered throughout the town. If you're seeking an adventure holiday in the DR Iguana Mama offer an array of short and longer duration bike trips throughout the country. I've been on their guide- led coast-to- coast van- supported bike trips where we saw amazing landscapes, stayed at a variety of remarkable small inns, and skipped the single-track trails through El Choco National Park. They also lead trips into Cordillera Central mountain range, where there are 33 peaks above 6500- feet, but the accolade has to go to the 10,414- foot Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Caribbean. Santiago is a mountainous city north of Jarabacoa on the way to Puerto Plata, known for its furniture and ceramic tile factories. Puerto Plata, the ' Silver Port', is an interesting city that has lost a lot of its lustre due to tourism development. But look deeper: underneath there are still some notable Colonial and Victorian buildings with gingerbread trim and broad porches. For most travellers Puerto Plata is the gateway to the Amber Coast and the hotel complexes of Playa Dorado, with close to 4000 rooms in the dozen or more hotels. The local Amber Museum features many different types of fossil trapped in the amber, from small bugs and leaves to assorted objects collected in the resin of the pine trees millions of years ago. It is this ' gem' - found along the north coast of the DR - that was the fallacious basis for the dinosaur re- birth story in Jurassic Park, parts of which were fi lmed in the DR. Heading east, there are endless golf courses lining the shore, and some interesting small hotels dotting the hillsides around Rio San Juan. Along the way is Cabarete, once a tiny fi shing village, now a haven for windsurfers, kite boarders and surfers. This sleepy town, with the perfect combo of wind and waves, has quickly grown from a backpacker refuge into a booming adrenalin-fuelled sports mecca. Driving down the east coast one reaches Samana, the largest town on the remarkable Samana Bay. In the late winter/ early spring, hundreds of humpback whales rendezvous here in the protected waters before heading north for the summer, allowing you to view these 100- foot, 60- ton marvels up close and personal. Samana also has an interesting footnote in American and Caribbean history. The DR has been under US military rule several times over the past 150 years, all under the guise of the protectionistic Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny. The US Senate came within a few votes of annexing the eastern part of the country around Samana Bay in the late 1800s, with the plan of making it a state coaling station and military base. A decade later Cuba's Guantanamo Bay, and Puerto Rico's San Juan harbour, became the home of the US Caribbean fl eet - and the protector of the Panama Canal - after the Spanish- American War. One can't help wondering if America would have needed to purchase the US Virgin Islands if the seizure of the Samana Peninsula had been completed. The east coast beaches, from Bavaro to Punta Cana, are some of the prettiest in the Caribbean, with miles of gently sloping shoreline lined by coconut palms, and now accented by large waterfront resorts. New marinas, golf courses, and villas designed for the top end of the tourism market abound. It's impressive, not only for its man- made beauty, but also for the scale and breadth of the projects coming out of the ground each year. No trip to the DR, on paper or in person, can leave without a stop at Casa de Campo. This ' house in the country' is arguably the most distinctive and alluring resort in the Caribbean. This place is billed as the country's premier destination, and it's easy to see why, as there are few holiday activities that are Factbox ? PASSPORTS & VISAS All visitors must have a valid passport as well as a tourist card, which can be purchased at the airport on arrival. Visitors must also be in possession of an outward ticket. A departure tax of US$ 10 is payable on leaving the country. ? CURRENCY The DR currency is the peso ( RD$), divided into 100 centavos. US dollars are widely accepted, except in more remote rural locations, as are credit cards. ? SEASONS The country's main tourist season runs from December through April, when fares and accommodation are most expensive. This period is rather drier and less warm than the rest of the year, but temperatures still average 77° F ( 25° C). The hurricane season lasts from June to November, with most storms occurring from August onwards, but the weather can still be fair. ? LANGUAGE The offi cial language is Spanish, but English is spoken in the major tourist areas. ? CUSTOMS REGULATIONS Visitors can bring in 200 duty- free cigarettes and two litres of spirits. Customs searches tend to be relaxed, but the DR authorities take an extremely hard line on anything connected with fi rearms or illegal drugs. Food products, especially meat or dairy produce, are confi scated. ? INSURANCE Medical insurance is a must, as any illness or accident will involve paying for treatment and medication, and the best private facilities can be expensive. It is also worth having insurance cover against loss or theft of valuables. Humpback whales have used the island's Samana Bay and Silver Bank coral reef as a nursery and breeding ground for untold millennia, with Taino cave paintings depicting whales. DID YOU KNOW? ISLAND PROFILE Humpback whalell DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MINISTRY OF TOURISM X 4

ll July - September 2009 ZiNG 59 Top to bottom: Baseball is the Republic's national sport; Alcazar de Colon, Santo Domingo; Altos de Chavon, Casa de Campo ? PACKING Don't forget the essentials for a beach holiday, as swimwear can be expensive if bought locally. Visitors should also take a few formal jackets for dining out, and it's a good idea to have long trousers and long-sleeved shirts for mosquito- infested areas. Those intending to visit the ' Alps' should remember that it can be chilly at night. ? HEALTH PRECAUTIONS There are no particular innoculation requirements for those entering the country, but travellers are advised to ensure that they are protected against tetanus, polio, and hepatitis A and B. ? INSECT REPELLENT This is one of the most vital things to bring with you. It should be applied liberally on exposed skin, especially ankles, and particularly at nightfall. Avoiding mosquito bites is an essential part of staying healthy. ? ELECTRICITY The country's erratic electricity supply works on a 110- volt system, as in the US and Canada. Plugs are the two- pin North American type. While most Dominicans endure lengthy daily power cuts, due to a creaking power network, nearly all tourist facilities enjoy the benefi ts of private generators or inverters. LIAT fl ies from Antigua to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic four times per week non stop. SANTO DOMINGO Bonao La Vega San Francisco de Macoris San Pedro de Macoris Santiago Puerto Plata Ellis Piña Pedernales Barahona San CristóbalLa Romana ATLANTIC OCEAN CARIBBEAN SEA La Samana Oviedo Jimani Restauración Monte CristiEl Castillo Cabrera Cabarete Nisibón Monte Plata CORDILLERA CENTRAL Galvan Sabaneta Pico Duarte El Choco National Park GETTY IMAGES