Tourists from Russia, dreaming of seeing a real exotic earthly paradise, are increasingly paying attention to countries in the Caribbean, and one of them is the Dominican Republic. Saona is an island belonging to this state. It embodies everything that a tourist can dream of: turquoise water, white sand, palm trees, hospitable local people. But you can’t live on the island, and this also reminds you of an unattainable paradise. We will tell you about what is remarkable about the island of Saona (Dominican Republic). Reviews, prices and impressions about this place are of interest to all tourists, and we will tell you how to come here and what you must see.
Geography of the Dominican Republic
This state is located in the West Indies and occupies several islands of the Greater Antilles archipelago and most of the island of Haiti. The area of the country is 48 thousand square meters. km, its land borders with the state of Haiti stretch for 350 km. And by water, the country borders on Puerto Rico. The shores of the Dominican Republic are washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Bythe size of the country is second only to Cuba in the region. The relief is mountainous, the highest point is Duarte Peak (3000 m). From the northwest to the southeast, mountain ranges stretch across the entire territory of the state, which form three comfortable and fertile valleys. The most populous of them is Cibao, it is home to more than half of the total population of the Dominican Republic.
History of the Dominican Republic
The words "Haiti", "Caribbean", "Dominican Republic", "Saona" give rise in the imagination of a resident of cold Russia to fantasies about an incredible land with an ever-shining sun, serenity and pleasure. However, the Dominican Republic had to see different times. These lands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492. Prior to that, the indigenous Indian population lived happily here. After Columbus, the Spaniards arrived in the country and occupied this territory, but soon the British and French appeared, who also claimed this piece of paradise. For several centuries, there was a fierce struggle between the European colonialists for the islands, one or another force periodically won.
From the beginning of the 19th century, the liberation movement for the independence of Haiti from the invaders began. The island was divided into two states: the Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. But that wasn't the end of the story yet. In 1865, the Spaniards were finally expelled from the island. The Dominican Republic was formed from the part that had previously belonged to them. But from that moment begins a long series of internal coups and power struggles.
Early 20century, due to the difficult economic situation, the republic became dependent on the United States. For almost the entire 20th century, the island was shaken by military coups, the power of dictators, and the intervention of American troops. Only in 1965 the republic was able to defend its rights to independence. Elections were held, but the difficulties did not end. The country was going through times of political strife and great economic difficulties.
By the beginning of the 20th century, a democratic regime was established in the Dominican Republic, times of peace came, business began to develop, including tourism. Since 1945, the country has established diplomatic relations with Russia, since 2006 the flow of our tourists to the Dominican Republic has been steadily growing.
Climate of the Dominican Republic
The country is located in a zone of humid subtropical climate, in this regard, the year is divided into two seasons: dry and wet. The first one lasts from October to April, at which time the weather is comfortable, with almost no precipitation. During the wet period, there are often short but heavy rains, there is a possibility of storms and floods. Although there is little rainfall in July-August, the weather is quite hot. Light rain is also possible in October-November. Therefore, the high tourist season falls on the period from December to April. Although the rest of the time there are tourists who are not afraid of rain. The peculiarity of the local climate is that there is almost no temperature difference between the seasons. In August, the temperature stays around +30-33, and in winter - around +25-27 degrees.
Features of holidays in the Dominican Republic
Of course, tourists come to this country to lie on the beach and bask in the sun, and ideal conditions have been created here for this. Travelers are offered a holiday on the coast of the Atlantic or the Caribbean. There is excellent service everywhere, staff, and locals are very friendly, without religious fanaticism and any restrictions. The country has a high level of security and a well-developed entertainment industry. The only negative for the Russians is the 12-hour flight and the big time difference.
Things to do in the Dominican Republic
The country has many opportunities for leisure activities. In addition to the beaches and the usual entertainment on the coast (water rides, rental of various equipment for games), other types of outdoor activities are also offered here. No tourist can miss the natural amusement park "Manati", where you can see various exotic animals and even play with dolphins. The country is famous for its sea fishing. Tourists are transported on a comfortable yacht to places where there are a lot of fish. Travelers are guaranteed not only a catch, but also a lot of vivid impressions.
For lovers of spearfishing and diving to the seabed, excursion programs are organized to the most interesting places of the underwater kingdom. The Dominican Republic is also known for its surfing, yachting, and snorkeling. Also, travelers are offered a varied cultural program, in which they canget acquainted with the unique culture, customs and cuisine of an amazing country called the Dominican Republic. Saona is one of the most popular places for excursions in the republic.
Attractions
In addition to natural beauties, there are many historical and cultural monuments in the country. The ancient city of Santo Domingo was built by the first colonizers, and the atmosphere and buildings of those times have been almost completely preserved here. Also of interest is the fortress of Osama, the palaces of Columbus and Casa del Duarte, the unusual city of artists Altos de Chavon. Also in the region you can see the villages of the local population, participate in various festivals and holidays. Museums are also at the service of tourists. Including an unusual amber museum, the house-museum of Ponce de Leon. A separate page in the organization of tourist recreation is an excursion to Saona in the Dominican Republic, which allows you to combine several types of recreation.
Saona Island
Dominican Republic, Saona is the embodiment of the best ideas about a beach holiday. The largest island in the country other than Haiti is Saona. It is part of the national reserve, and only local residents have the right to live here, and even then in small numbers. The island is famous for its pristine and extremely beautiful nature. It is not in vain that many commercials with snow-white beaches were filmed here. The beach of the island is famous all over the world. Here you can see more than 500 species of exotic plants and rare animals: iguanas, manatees, watch dolphins, and in season whales.
Question of price
The country offers a lot of interesting things, but Saona (Dominican Republic) gives a special pleasure to tourists. Prices for excursions may vary, although in any case it will not be cheap entertainment, like all holidays in the republic. The cost depends on the content of the excursion package. The cheapest one costs about $70, a tour with meals and a stop in an ancient city on the coast of Haiti will cost $150.
Excursions to Saona
But the question of how much an excursion to Saona in the Dominican Republic costs is decided on the spot when the program is determined. It may include delivery on a yacht or catamaran, lunch with drinks, a photo session, a visit to an aboriginal village, a visit to the city of artists. But it is more profitable to take only delivery with a minimum of services. Since a variety of food is offered on site, including the freshest seafood. The island is not very large, so you can walk around it yourself. And the richer the package of excursions, the less time will be for enjoying the beauties.
Practical information
Vacationers in warm regions love to see natural sights, which are absolutely exotic for Russians, and such a place, of course, is Saona (Dominican Republic). Hotels on the island are prohibited, so you can only come here for a while. Therefore, it should be understood that there will not be enough time for sunbathing and relaxation. Often tourists go to the island repeatedly to fully immerse themselves in the romantic atmosphere of this place.
Reviewstourists
Many tourists who come to the Dominican Republic want to see the different islands of the country, and Saona (excursion) is perfect for this purpose. The Dominican Republic, for which the price of tickets is an important source of income, had to open access to vacationers in the national reserve. Travelers say that the island is a real embodiment of our ideas about paradise. It is very clean and quiet here, and the landscapes seem to be specially created for the enjoyment of the eyes: blue skies, turquoise water, white sand and green palm trees just beg to be photographed. Tourists write in their reviews that here you can eat delicious local cuisine, see how the indigenous population lives.
