This trip covers the three sides of the DR that most visitors miss. You start in Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone — walking the same streets the Spanish built over 500 years ago — then head north to Santiago's cigar country and art museums, before finishing with four days of all-inclusive relaxation on Puerto Plata's Atlantic coast.
COLONIAL · CIGARS · COAST
Cultural Gateway
8 days / 7 nights — This trip covers the three sides of the DR that most visitors miss. You start in
WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL
Trip highlights
Guided walking tour of Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone with stops at the Cathedral and Alcazar
Visit the Centro Leon museum in Santiago — one of the Caribbean's best contemporary art collections
Tour La Aurora cigar factory and watch hand-rolling in action
Ride the Isabel de Torres cable car for panoramic views over Puerto Plata
Explore San Felipe Fortress and the Dominican Amber Museum
Four nights all-inclusive on Puerto Plata's palm-lined Atlantic beaches
DAY BY DAY
Your itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Santo Domingo
Airport transfer and check-in at your hotel in the Colonial Zone. Free time to explore the Malecon waterfront or grab dinner at a local comedor.
Day 2: Colonial Zone Walking Tour & 4D Cinema
Full morning guided tour of the Colonial Zone — the first cathedral, first hospital, first university and first paved road in the Americas. Visit the Alcazar de Colon (Columbus's son's palace) and the Fortaleza Ozama. Afternoon visit to the 4D Cinema experience covering Dominican history. Evening free.
Day 3: Transfer to Santiago & La Aurora
Drive through the fertile Cibao Valley to Santiago de los Caballeros, the country's second city. Afternoon tour of La Aurora cigar factory — the oldest in the DR, running since 1903. See the ageing rooms, rolling floor and cigar museum. Check in to your Santiago hotel.
Day 4: Santiago City Tour & Centro Leon
Morning Santiago city tour including the Monumento a los Heroes and the main market. Afternoon at the Centro Leon museum — a world-class space with Dominican art, Taino artefacts and contemporary exhibitions. Time for a coffee in the museum garden before dinner.
Day 5: Transfer to Puerto Plata — All-Inclusive
Drive north to Puerto Plata and check in to your all-inclusive resort on the Atlantic coast. The rest of the day is yours — beach, pool, or exploring the resort grounds.
Day 6: Isabel de Torres & San Felipe Fortress
Morning ride on the Isabel de Torres cable car to the hilltop botanical garden with 360-degree views of Puerto Plata and the coast. Descend and visit the San Felipe Fortress (built 1577) and the Amber Museum to see prehistoric insects preserved in Dominican amber. Afternoon back at the resort.
Day 7: Beach Day or Optional Excursion
Full day at leisure. Relax at the all-inclusive resort, or choose an optional excursion — Cayo Arena (Paradise Island) for snorkelling, or the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua for a guided climb-and-slide adventure through canyon pools.
Day 8: Departure
Breakfast, then transfer to Gregorio Luperon International Airport in Puerto Plata for your departure flight.
What's Included
- 7 nights lodging — bed & breakfast in Santo Domingo and Santiago, all-inclusive in Puerto Plata
- Private transfers between all destinations and airports
- Guided Colonial Zone walking tour with English-speaking guide
- 4D Cinema experience in Santo Domingo
- La Aurora cigar factory tour
- Centro Leon museum entrance
- Isabel de Torres cable car tickets
- San Felipe Fortress and Amber Museum entrance
- English-speaking guide throughout
What's Not Included
- International flights
- Lunches and dinners in Santo Domingo and Santiago (not included in accommodation)
- Optional excursions (Cayo Arena snorkelling, Damajagua Waterfalls)
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses and gratuities
Frequently Asked Questions
The all-inclusive in Puerto Plata covers all meals (buffet and a la carte restaurants), domestic and international drinks, snacks, entertainment, pool access and non-motorised watersports. Premium spirits and room service may cost extra depending on the resort.
Interested in This Trip?
Land-only pricing starts from £1,699 per person. We can arrange flights from any UK airport and tailor the itinerary to your dates. Get in touch for a personalised quote.
We typically respond within 24 hours
From£1,699
per personATOL protected (10898)
From£1,699
per personATOL protected (10898)
Real reviews
What our customers say
From travellers who visited Dominican Republic with us
“
We took the kids (aged 9 and 12) to the DR and it was perfect for families. Snorkelling at Isla Catalina, exploring Los Haitises National Park by boat, and the children loved the zip-lining near Puerto Plata. Fabian recommended a family-friendly boutique hotel in Bayahibe that was far better than any chain resort. Already looking at Cuba next.
Claire & Rob A.
“
First time in the Caribbean and the Dominican Republic did not disappoint. Santo Domingo's colonial zone was fascinating — the oldest cathedral in the Americas, cobblestone streets, and fantastic rum bars. The drive out to Punta Cana for a few beach days at the end was a nice wind-down. Only giving four stars because the internal transfer was a long drive, but that's the country not the service.
Marcus T.
“
The DR was brilliant. We based ourselves in the Samaná Peninsula rather than the big resorts and it felt like a completely different country. Whale watching in the bay was magical — we saw a mother and calf from barely twenty metres away. The local restaurants in Las Terrenas served incredible mofongo and fresh lobster. Travelfab knew all the best spots.
Jenny & Paul C.
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Tailor-made · ATOL 10898
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