FACTS from A to Z

Cayo Levantado:

Positioned in the middle of Samana Bay is Cayo Levantado ("raised key"), a picture perfect island with nice beaches. It is sometimes referred to in books and travel broshures as " Bacardi Island", as one of its three beaches supposed to be the one on the famous magazine and TV ad of the rum distiller. On its main beach (playa grande) there is a well organized line of tables and beachbars run by a "syndicate" who cater to the visitors, who are dropped of there for lunch and a swim on excursions. There is also a small hotel on top of the hill which has its private beach ( playa honda ), but you may as well take the 15 min. hike over there as a non hotel resident, when you prefer a quieter atmosphere without too many pesting beach vendors and other members of the "syndicate".

Education:

Is regarded as one of the most important issues for improvement and positive development of the country. Offcial Dominican statistics state that about 17% - 20% of the population are illiterates, but serious studies talk about more than 50% ! Overall the quality of elementary and higher education cannot be compared with international standards with very few exceptions. About 4% of the population are in the financial position to grant their children a decent training for life in private schools and colleges -- even sending them abroad ( mainly to US colleges). Alike previous governments , the current one admits that they have to invest in their educational system by asigning higher portions of the budget, signing cooperation agreements with other countries and international organizations and developing a 10 year educational plan -- including purchase and use of modern tuition aids and better training of current and future educators. Alike previous governments, the current one has not yet got their act together, but it seems that the new generation of public excecutives and administrators is very determined to succeed this time.

Higuey:

Capital of the Altagracia Province, in the most Eastern part of the Dominican Republic. One of the oldest foundations in the New World it is today the backbone of one of the principal centres of tourism -- Punta Cana, 43 kms of white sand beaches and endless coconut groves about 50 kms from the city. Apart from being a busy distribution center for all kind of commodities, it is the country's most religious region and center of its Maria Cult. The town achieved notoriety from a series of miracles by Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia(Our Lady of the High Grace) who is worshipped at the Basilica. The image is a small 16th century oil painting kept in a shrine inside the "NewBasilica", an impressive very unique concrete national monument built by two French architects between 1954 and 1972. The feast days are January 21st and August 16th celebrated with processions and other rituals. Note:When you pass through Higuey you should not only visit the "New Basilica" but also head for the nearby "Parque Central" the cities central square. There you will see the "Old Church" of Saint Dionisio, where the image of the virgin was kept in former centuries and which is a very nice example of colonial architecture.

Hispaniola:

Name of the whole island consisting of two independent nations: Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Hispaniola can be translated as " Little Spain ", name which was given by Columbus upon his arrival in 1492.

Las Terrenas:

Located on the north side of the Samana Peninsula, this community once used to be a secret traded among globetrotters for being a quiet place off the beaten track to relax with breathtaking landscape and panoramic views from the hills nearby.In the past five years many globetrotters , mainly Europeans, decided to stay forever turning the place more and more into a busy touristic spot fot the individual traveller with lots of small guesthouses, bungalows, restaurants and inns etc. The package tourism industry has also turned its attention to the area and there are three mayor resorts already operating in the vicinity, with more to come in the near future. Nevertheless the village of Las Terrenas has kept its charm and is definitely still well worth not only a short visit but a longer stay to get the feeling for the Dominican way of life.

Los Haitises National Park:

The island boasts the most varied topography in the Antilles, with 170 geomorphic regions including this extensive karst formation -- from the air it actually looks like a green egg - carton -- and its shapes, the "Haitises" (little hills) are unique. Covering more than 1,600 sq. kms, this is one of the 14 national parks in the Dominican Republic. About only 10% of its area is accessible at all, mainly by boat from Samana Bay and about 4% of its area are open for visitors. If you are intrested in biodiversity -- Hispaniola possesses the highest level of any island in the New World, with more species per sq km than anynother region in the western hemisphere -- then a visit is a must on your to do list: Most touroperators have day bus excursions from the main tourist areas of the country including boatrides through the mangrove belt, walking into some of the caves with wall paintings from the aboriginals and a little bird watching. If you prefer on your own:

• By car to Sabana de la Mar
• Stop by first at the office of the national park administration " direccion de parques nacionales " and
• buy a permit (US$ 3.00 per person)
• Then you may hire a park ranger and drive with him on to "Cano Hondo" - the only entrance.
• Next continue by boat to the main visitor areas, depending on the agreement you made with the ranger.

You must speak Spanish and have a lot of patience as sometimes a ranger or gasoline for the boat or both are not available. To avoid any hassles you may call ahead and make an appointment ( dial 1411 from any phone to get the current number, they change very often).

Los Tainos:

Although there have been many settlements by ancient tribes in the Antilles and the island of Hispaniola, the ones who were there when Columbus arrived are known as Taino indians, being of Arawak race and originating from the deltas of the Orinoco river in Venezuela. They already had developed fairly high social and cultural standard and are responsible for whatever manifestation or artefact is left on aboriginal culture today in the Dominican Republic.

Silverbanks:

First sanctuary of sea mammals in the Atlantic Ocean, declared in 1986 by the Dominican Government "Sanctuary of the Humpback Whales of the Silverbanks" -- with the purpose of protecting those animals being an endangered species. The bank is a submarine platform located some 80 miles north of the Samana Peninsula and is part of the bank network from the Bahamas through the Christmas Bank. Protected from the strong waves and winds by a reef that even is dangerous for navigation, it creates the right environment for the reproduction and raise of baby humpbacks ( world's largest concentration of humpback whales). The coral groups forming the reef have alwys been a challenge for navigation and the most important ship wrecked in 1641 with a load of gold and silver from Mexico on its way to Spain -- hence the name Silverbanks. The precious coins of the "Concepcion" are sold as replicas turned into beautiful jewlery in many shops in the Dominican Republic. Some -- serious -- dealers claim also to have a few real original coins for sale.

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page