From mid-January to mid-March, Samana Bay in the North East of the country sees over 1,500 hump back whales migrate from the North Atlantic to gather for mating season. The area is widely considered to one of the best places in the world to spot whales, with the males at their most animated as they try to impress the females, whilst in the sheltered inner bay, newborn calves can be seen swimming alongside their mothers.
This is a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity to see these beautiful animals in their natural habitat. Make sure you research reputable tour providers before you leave.
Merengue is the Dominican Republic’s national dance. It allegedly dates back to the 1850s but remains an integral, exhilarating part of the country’s modern day culture.
Originally the dance was performed individually, but today, it is danced in pairs, with each partner holding the other close and moving in a variety of fluid two step movements that are mesmerizing to watch. Beginners can learn and are encouraged to take part, in fact there are some great dance schools for those who wish to truly embrace the art-form. You can experience the atmosphere of an authentic merengue performance all over the country; at national festivals such as the Festival del Merengueis, in gritty urban nightclubs, at lively tourist resorts, or booming from street corners in remote villages. You’ll be intoxicated both by the rhythms of the music as well as the passion of the party loving, live-for-today locals.