Private day trips from Santo Domingo to places you'll never forget

Santo Domingo is the oldest permanently inhabited European city in the Western Hemisphere, founded in 1498 on the island of Hispaniola. Its Zona Colonial (Colonial Zone) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site packed with the first cathedral, first hospital, and first university established in the Americas. Today it is the Dominican Republic's vibrant capital and largest city in the Caribbean, pulsing with merengue, bachata, extraordinary food, and a historic waterfront along the Malecon.

The Zona Colonial is the unmissable heart of any visit. The Catedral Primada de America, the first cathedral built in the New World, towers over Parque Colon at the center of the old city. Fortaleza Ozama, built in 1502 and the oldest military fort still standing in the Americas, rewards with great views over the Ozama River. The Alcazar de Colon, once home to Diego Columbus (Christopher Columbus's son), is now a fascinating colonial-era museum on Plaza de Espana.

The Dominican Republic uses the Dominican peso (DOP). US dollars are accepted in many tourist-facing businesses, hotels, and restaurants. Credit cards are accepted at most larger establishments. Having some local currency is useful for street food, local markets, and smaller vendors.

Spanish is the official language. In Santo Domingo's main tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants, English is spoken fairly widely, particularly around the Zona Colonial. Outside these zones, Spanish is predominant. Dominicans are famously warm and hospitable, and any effort with the language is warmly received.

La bandera dominicana (the Dominican flag) is the national lunch: white rice, stewed red beans, and braised meat, served together daily across the country. Manguu (mashed plantains with pickled onions, fried cheese, and salami) is the beloved breakfast staple. Fresh seafood along the Malecon is excellent. Mama Juana, a drink made by steeping rum with red wine, honey, and tree bark and roots, is a uniquely Dominican spirit worth trying.

A 10% service charge is automatically included in most restaurant bills in Santo Domingo. Leaving additional cash for exceptional service is appreciated but not required. For taxis, rounding up the fare is the norm. Tipping hotel staff, guides, and drivers who go out of their way for you is always a kind gesture.

The Zona Colonial is best explored on foot. The city has a Metro system with two lines, useful for longer journeys across the city. For day trips to the countryside and coast, Daytrip's private transportation is a stress-free way to explore the wider Dominican Republic without navigating local bus networks.

Popular day trips from Santo Domingo include the beach resort of Boca Chica with its calm Caribbean waters, the colonial heritage town of San Cristobal, the Jaragua National Park on the southwestern tip of the island, and the Los Haitises National Park with its dramatic mangrove forests and limestone mogotes.