DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Virtual Tour

Welcome to the beautiful Dominican Republic! Please feel free to kick off your shoes and feel the sand under your feet.

With the Atlantic Ocean bathing its northern shores and the Caribbean Sea its southern beaches, the Dominican Republic makes up the eastern two thirds of the island that it shares with Haiti.

The Taio Indians used to call the Island Quisqueya or "the mother of all lands".

Christopher Columbus "discovered" this land on his first voyage in 1492 and it was here that the first European settlement in the Americas was established.

With mountain ranges and regular rainfall, the country is well-watered and rich for agriculture.

The beautiful beaches, tropical setting and moderate temperatures attract tourists from all over the world.

A stable political environment is attracting a lot of foreign investment which is making the Dominican Republic one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America.

Over the last 30 years many people in the Dominican Republic have migrated from poor farms to cities or tourist spots, seeking employment in services, manufacturing and industry.

Most of the people are only able to find work at minimal wages. The average income is only about $600 US per year. Many must try and survive on less.

One of the largest export crops of the Dominican Republic is sugar cane. It is processed and used for sugar as well as making rum.

The many sugar cane plantations in the Dominican Republic are worked primarily by laborers from Haiti. Men are paid approximately $3 for every ton that they harvest. An average worker will make about five or six dollars a day.

Approximately 25% of the people still live on small family farms. Fruit and vegetable growing is supplemented with the raising of livestock.

In the mountain villages farmers grow coffee and coca for cash crops. Spreading out the coca beans to dry in the sun, this farmer is happy that this year has given him a good crop.

Coastal villagers find modest incomes in a fishing industry that feeds local markets.

With tourism the fastest growing industry in the Dominican Republic, many people are finding jobs in sales and transportation as well as hotel workers, guides, entertainers, and craftspeople. These Dominicans find work entertaining tourists at Manati Park, near Punta Cana.

Others may find work fashioning semiprecious stones into jewelry or demonstrating the art of rolling locally grown tobacco into cigars.

The Dominican Republic is famous for its amber. This large drop of resin from an ancient tree has captured insects and other debris from the times of the dinosaurs.

Most of the people live in small wooden houses made of a particular variety of palm tree, painted in colors typical of the Caribbean.

Education is free and compulsory to the age of 14, but only about half of the children go beyond the primary level.

The majority of the people are of the Roman Catholic faith and beautiful Catholic churches are found in most towns.

When visiting the Dominican Republic, be sure to try some of the exotic fruit, munch on some freshly cut sugar cane and try some refreshing coconut juice!

Don't forget to visit the many wonderful historical sites...

...or miss the beautiful smiles of the people!

Thank you for visiting the Dominican Republic!