Multi-Day Escorted Tours of the Dominican Republic

Your tour price includes a private transfer from your chosen airport, cruise port or hotel in Punta Cana, La Romana or Santo Domingo to your first night's hotel.

Founded in 1496, Santo Domingo is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas and makes a perfect introduction to the rich colonial heritage of the Caribbean. The evening begins with a welcome dinner.

• Private arrival transfer included
• Welcome dinner with set menu

After breakfast, embark on a fascinating morning walking tour of the Colonial Zone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover cobbled streets lined with 16th-century Spanish colonial architecture, including the first cathedral in the Americas (Catedral Primada de América), the Museum of the Royal Houses, and charming squares full of local life.

Enjoy free time to stroll along El Conde, the capital's main pedestrian thoroughfare, ideal for lunch at one of its many restaurants.

In the afternoon, head inland towards the mountains (approximately 2.5 hours). En route, visit Santo Cerro, the hilltop site where Christopher Columbus fought a battle with the Taíno people and, according to legend, witnessed a miracle. Arrive in Jarabacoa and enjoy its fresh mountain air.

• Walking tour of the Colonial Zone — all entrance fees included
• Visit to Santo Cerro

After breakfast, continue north through the fertile Cibao Valley to Santiago de los Caballeros, the Dominican Republic's second city and the heart of the country's tobacco industry.

• Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration — the iconic 67-metre monument with sweeping panoramic views (entrance included)
• Aurora Cigar Factory tour — watch master craftsmen hand-rolling premium cigars (entrance included). Note: The Aurora factory is closed on Saturdays and Sundays; should your group pass through Santiago at the weekend, a visit to an alternative cigar factory will be arranged.

Continue north through sugar cane fields and rural villages until you reach the spectacular Atlantic coast, where golden sands meet turquoise waters.

This morning, enjoy a half-day guided tour of Puerto Plata, the historic regional capital founded in 1502.

• Mount Isabel de Torres — spectacular panoramic views, a replica of the Christ the Redeemer statue and botanical gardens (all entrance fees included). Until such time as the cable car is back in service, we take our groups to the summit by bus or truck.

The afternoon is free to explore the town, relax on the beach, or browse the local amber and larimar jewellery shops.

A free day to relax or explore. Optional excursions available:

• The Damajagua Waterfalls — hike through tropical forest, conquer up to 7 natural waterfalls, with jumps, slides and swims through crystal-clear pools
• Buggy Adventure — drive your own buggy through varied countryside terrain, forests and villages
• Beach relaxation on the North Coast

A scenic journey east to the Samaná Peninsula along the spectacular Atlantic coast.

• Playa Grande — a golden-sand paradise
• Laguna Dudú — a crystal-clear lagoon with platform jumps for the adventurous
• Lunch: Fresh seafood buffet at Playa Grande (included)

Los Haitises National Park — boat excursion through mysterious caves with pre-Columbian paintings, lush mangrove forests and rare wildlife.

Cayo Levantado (Bacardi Island) — pristine white-sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and a delicious lunch with stunning views (included).

Altos de Chavón — a meticulously crafted replica of a 16th-century Mediterranean village with cobbled streets, a stunning amphitheatre, and artisan workshops and galleries.

Basílica de Higüey — the most important religious site in the Dominican Republic, with a striking 80-metre-high arch, beautiful stained-glass windows and the revered image of the Virgin of Altagracia.