Go World Travel is reader-supported and may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this piece.
I began traveling to the Dominican Republic 55 years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the 17 trips I made to various beach locations. Whether staying in large all-inclusive resorts or small hotels; I had a good time …. initially by myself and then with my husband.
The water was lovely, the people were friendly, and the accommodations were both comfortable and convenient. I particularly liked the international flavor of the country and meeting other travelers from not just the USA but from Italy, France and Spain as well as other European and South American locales.
I had changed directions on travel when I became a birder. However, a brochure on the internet I came across a few months back touted the fun of urban birding in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic’s capital and its oldest and largest city.
The brochure awakened my curiosity. I had never been anywhere in Santo Domingo. I flew directly to the areas where the beaches were beckoning with soft sand, turquoise waters and gentle breezes. Yet, the thought of finding birds in the oldest part of the oldest city in the Americas was equally alluring.
A Bit of History on Santo Domingo
After Christopher Columbus’s arrival on the island in 1492, the colonial city of Santo Domingo became the site of the first cathedral, hospital, customs house and university in the Americas. This colonial town, founded in 1498, was laid out on a grid pattern that became the model for almost all town planners in the New World.
Best Tips & Tools to Plan Your Trip
All of this is chronicled in a long document by UNESCO designating the Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo a World Heritage Site.
However, the document does not even mention the natural wonders of the Colonial Zone. The thought of wandering around this walled-in corner of the city enjoying the history, man-made beauty and most especially, the surprisingly good birding in those aged places was incredibly compelling.
Where to Stay in Santo Domingo
After researching and corresponding with several hotels in the Colonial Zone, I found the perfect place to stay for our April 2024 exploration: The Hotel Villa Colonial. With only 11 rooms and a central location in the Zone, I strongly suspected this would be an excellent choice, and it was. In large part, our satisfaction with the trip is due to the management of Hotel Villa Colonial.
Everything from the comfort of the room to the attentive service and the delightful details in décor exceeded what we have experienced in the past…often in significantly higher priced accommodations.
I knew from my many booking communications with the manager, Ramon Tejada, that he would be honest, reliable, helpful and kind. He was all that and much more. He has kept the old world feel of the building intact while modernizing the rooms to a high standard of convenience.
Hotel Villa Colonial was where we had our first glimpse into the culinary capabilities offered in Zona Colonial. Our breakfasts, included in the relatively modest nightly rate (under $200), were not only delicious but also beautifully prepared and presented.
When we praised his artistic touch in the kitchen, Ramon admitted that the visual is very important to him when it comes to food preparation. “I enjoy using seasonal local ingredients that will make our guests feel they are cared for. Attention to detail is paid to each dish that is served.”
Ramon, quite obviously a perfectionist, was in the kitchen daily making sure every hotel guest had exactly what they wanted, noting both preferences and food allergies.
The perfect host, it is apparent that direct interaction with his guests while making them feel welcome and at home was his first priority.
Where to Eat in Santo Domingo
But food, overall, is a highlight in Santo Domingo. The Maraca Restaurant, very close to the Hotel Villa Colonial, is a truly beautiful space. The design is unique and the architectural details merge perfectly with the decor. It is a romantic and charming work of art, though a hidden jewel with no signage.
And the food and service are also exceptional. The menu is extensive and there are far more exotic dishes than salmon and steak which is our usual. But even the basics were competently prepared and presented. Dinner for two with drinks and dessert was slightly under $100 USD including the tip.
Another beautiful space within walking distance is El Buho Eatery. Soaring ceilings, arches and columns distinguish this easily accessible restaurant. A more casual style all around, dinner for two with drinks and dessert was well under $100 USD including the tip.
Also nearby is the Moonlight Restaurant and Bar in the Hotel Bellini. It’s always nice to dine by moonlight with no obstructing or unpleasant views or sounds. Moonlight magic could be yours for as little as $50 USD for two, all-inclusive. A limited menu, but the pizza is outstanding, even better than pizza in Rome, Italy or New York City.
A very laid-back and pleasant environment with good service and inventive food is nearby Casa Barista & Company…. a great stop to refuel at any time of day. Basically an upscale coffee shop, the place is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The biggie for me was the menu offering so many vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. It appeared that everything on the menu was GF. That was a first for me anywhere in the world. Also much appreciated was the quietude. There was no loud music, and people were speaking softly, it was like being in a library. And they actually did have some shelving with books. The price of peace? $5 USD for two of the best cups of Cappuccino you will find anywhere.
Safe, Charming and Friendly
There are so many dining choices in the Colonial Zone one could spend the whole day eating. But then the dramatic history surrounding your strolls would be lost. The wonderful sightings of the birds and the charming walkways throughout the Zone would be as well.
Charming and safe, the colonial zone is under the watchful eye of its guardians with friendly and helpful tourist police seemingly on every street corner.
Friendly and helpful seem to be the cornerstones of Dominican society. We saw it in hotels, restaurants, and even on policed street corners. But it is more intrinsic than that. People we did not have any communication with all stepped up to help.
An example is when we were challenged to exit the Zone and cross the Malecon for a water-front lunch. There was no legitimate crossing and no traffic lights. Cars were traveling by at a good clip. My husband was urging me to just cross with him, but I was frozen in place until several young men walking along together literally became the crossing guards.
They stood in the middle of the street and stopped the cars from approaching. This chicken would not have crossed the road to get to the other side without that kind intervention.
That was my one fearful experience on the trip. We walked everywhere in the Zone at all hours and had other nice encounters with the locals. This included the friendly man who came to his gate to explain sweetly and gently that his home was not the little cultural center, Quinta Dominica, I was looking for. He and his lovely dog could not have been more polite to a virtual trespasser.
Taking a Break at the Cultural Center
The cultural center’s courtyard turned out to be a great place to stop for a drink, replete with several species of birds singing in the trees and bathing in the fountains. Particularly endearing in bird sightings on the walk in the Colonial Zone are the Hispaniola Parakeets nesting in the ruins of the Nicholas de Bari Hospital.
There were also Palm Chats that visited the many squares in the zone, the American Kestrels at Ozama Fort, the Antillean Mango Hummingbirds at the Spanish Plaza, the Prairie Warblers at the San Francisco Church and Monastery Ruins and the Hispaniola Woodpeckers at San Miguel Church. Plus the Bananaquits were virtually everywhere.
Outside the Zone
Many treasures can also be found outside the Zone. They are easy to reach by taxi or Uber with the prices on the Uber so inexpensive our tip usually exceeded the fare. Touted as the best restaurant in the Dominican Republic, the lavish La Cassina Restaurant is an icon of fine dining with abundant service.
Good birding is at hand in the old and stately Botanical Garden where our bird guide Manny Jimenez of Explora Ecotour immediately pointed out a tiny and colorful Broad-billed Tody. The Zoo is also well worth a visit. Well maintained and very expansive, some beautiful species of animals peacefully reside there as well as many pretty species of wild birds, including West Indian Whistling Ducks.
Manny, like most of the Dominicanos we spoke with, takes great pride in his city and was a fountain of knowledge on the city’s history as well as where to go and where to eat. He pointed out the differences in dining in Santo Domingo as compared to other locations.
“These days Santo Domingo has so many good international restaurants, much more than in the past and the variety of types of food the city offers is vast. In other parts of the country, the restaurants usually specialize more in traditional type Dominican food.”
Nearby Beaches
But, if you really can’t do without a beach on vacation, several beautiful beaches are within an hour’s drive of the Colonial Zone.
You won’t be alone at the beach, however, not by a long shot. According to new data from the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism, the Dominican Republic is reporting 4.178 million visitors through the first four months of 2024. This is a new record for the destination.
Travel Weekly calls the DR the Caribbean’s most popular destination. Many of these visitors head to one of the dozens of beautiful beaches. And I am not far behind. We already have our next trip planned and booked, 5 days in the Colonial Zone and 5 days on the beach in Samana. Heaven.
If You Go
Travel should be easy from everywhere in the USA, as well as much of South America and Europe with a good selection of non-stop flights. The Dominican Republic has eight international airports including Punta Cana, Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, La Romana, Samaná, Barahona, Constanza and Cabo Rojo.
As of this writing, Dominican-based low-cost carrier Arajet has unveiled an ambitious expansion plan to amplify its global presence. This includes establishing 19 new international routes from Punta Cana International.
Read More:
Author Bio: Sylvia Guarino is a retired marketing executive who loves travel, birding and photography and most of all sharing the joy of it all with her husband, Joe.
- Celebrating Day of the Dead in Oaxaca, Mexico - September 20, 2024
- Top 10 Things to Do in Guatemala: Central America’s Hidden Gem - September 19, 2024
- Eating Vegan in Tulsa, Oklahoma - September 18, 2024
This was a very interesting review of Santo Domingo.
Sylvia painted a beautiful picture of the surrounding area. She seems to be a woman that has extensive travel experience and she knows exactly what a novice traveler would need to know about a place before booking a future vacation there. This place sounds so romantic and beautiful and exciting, yet peaceful and affordable.
Her photos are always top notch. Combining both photos and her lovely description makes this place a top pick for any traveler no matter their experience level of travel. Between the birds, the beaches and the food and friendly people and safety of the area, combined with the reasonable prices, this should certainly be at the top of ones travel list. I know it has moved to the top of mine.
Thank you for your kind comments, Laurie. I appreciate them all. I can almost guarantee that if you visit the Dominican Republic seeking seaside beauty or old world history you will not be disappointed.