What To See In Punta Cana

The first place that explorers from Europe settled when they arrived in the new world was on the island now known as La Hispaniola

. This is the island, for those not familiar with it, that is home to the countries of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In fact, the oldest surviving city in the Americas, Santo Domingo, which was first established in 1496.

The most famous area of the Dominican Republic is its eastern tip. This area in now the location of the province know as, La Altagracia. And at the most eastern end of La Altagracia, one will find the recently developed area known as, Punta Cana. Punta Cana has become one of the premier tourist destinations in the vast Caribbean ocean, thanks in part to it's stunning beaches that face both the Caribbean and Atlantic oceans. For those who would like to vacation on the island of La Hispaniola, this is a prime location, as there are over fifty resorts to meet the demand.

In any nation with a province housing an interesting history such as this one, it's important to visit some of the culturally significant sites. The location with the most famous name attached to it is the town of San Rafael del Yuma. It is home to the original fortress of Spanish explorer, Ponce de Leon. It is one of the most inaccessible areas in the region, so plan carefully before embarking on an excursion there.

Boca de Yuma, which is also nearby, is a 16th century fishing village that survives to this day. One can find it to the west of the opening of the Rio Yuma river (on the Caribbean side). The name, Yuma, finds its roots in the language one of the first peoples to inhabit this area of the Dominican Republic, the Taino. The weather in Boca de Yuma is very mild, which adds to the peaceful nature of this small town. If you enjoy fishing, then Boca de Yuma is a must-visit spot. Also nearby one can find the Del Este National Park. This park is over 310 square kilometers and is one of the largest in the Dominican Republic.

Salvaleon de Higuey (more commonly known as Higuey), is the 500 year old town that is the capital of the province of La Altagracia,. If one is wishing to drive there, it is 28 miles (45 kilometers) from Punta Cana, and takes about an hour. Higuey is a town on the move. The region has an incredibly fast-growing economy and the current population of 150,000 people continues to swell.

Veron is the largest town in the province; named after a French businessman who ran a large lumber mill there in the 1930s. It also provides the majority of the residences for those working nearby in the ever burgeoning tourist industry. Anyone thinking of embarking on a driving adventure, would do well to plan carefully their fuel expenditures, before exploring the area by car. There are only four gas stations in Punta Cana, one of which is Veron. The next closest one in located 48 kilometers (30 miles) away in Higuey.

The largest, busiest and best serviced airport in the area is the Punta Cana Airport. Flight volumes are so high that even the Las Americas International Airport, in Santo Domigo can't keep up. The Punta Cana Airport opened its runways to the world in 1984, and when it did it became the first privately owned airport in the world. This airport is now very accommodating to American travelers as it recently acquire a US customs pre-clearance station.

by: Robert Nickel

POST COMMENT

Techniques To Follow During Drug Rehabilitation Is Ppi Claims Process Really Time-consuming Hire Pune Car Rental, Taxi To Shirdi, Cab To Nashik From Mumbai. The First Templar What To Do About Ovdi 2012 Why Getting Back With Your Ex Is Not Complicated Review For A Pure Fun Mini Trampoline Know How To Reassemble Flat Pack Furniture 5 Benefits Of Being A Phlebotomist Snowboarding Motivated Amy Purdy To Continue Living Life Her Way! Is Using Tags In A Gig Description Important? Finding The Right Red Wine Aerator Things To Do When Confronted With The Matter Of Child Custody