7 Reasons You Need to Visit Hispaniola

Visit Hispaniola and Rediscover the Land Where the Americas were Born

While you’re thinking about taking your next Caribbean vacation, we’ve put together the 7 top reasons why you should visit Hispaniola this season, home of the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

La Hispaniola is a geographically rich and unique island composed of cool and frosty mountain ranges, dry and subtropical dessert areas, and of course phenomenal beaches that expand into picturesque sunsets that’ll bring a tear to your eye.

So, to get started, let’s jump right into those tropical waters for a little swim through paradise.

The Beaches

With more than half of its shores facing the Atlantic Ocean, and the other part facing the Caribbean Sea, La Hispaniola offers you a range of golden sand and turquoise, to white sands and transparent waters you can see to the bottom, where an abundance of coral life thrives in the warm temperatures.

Recommended spots:

Gelee Beach, Les Cayes, southern Haiti

Saona Island, La Romana, southwestern D.R.

Gonave Island, the Isle of Gonave, Haiti

Historical sites

Hispaniola is probably in its entirety the most historically significant location in all of the Americas, for the fact that it was the “launchpad” for the European colonization of the indies, where Tainos first presenced the arrival of Christopher Columbus with the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria ships.

Also, it was the site where African slaves were first being transported and processed, to then be spread out to the U.S., Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto RIco, and other Caribbean islands.

Recommended Spots:

Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo, D.R.

Citadelle Laferriere, Town of Milos, Northern Haiti

City of Jacmel, South of Haiti

Natural Wonders

A great place to rid yourself of those explorer In-Laws and send them hiking on a trip to visit Hispaniola’s:

• Elaborated cave systems which were sacred religious sites for the indigenous people, filled with thousands of drawings and pictographs.

• Exotic Lakes and Lagoons housing beautiful Flamingos, Pelicans, Caymans, and Leatherback Turtles.

• Huge Oceanic Depressions that serve as a sanctuary for Humpback Whales from across the Atlantic.

Recommended Spots:

Pomier Caves, San Cristobal, D.R.

Laguna Oviedo, Jaragua National Park in Pedernales, D.R.

Grotte Marie Jean, Port-a-Piment, Haiti

Mountainous Regions

There’s a reason why the indigenous named La Hispaniola “Quisqueya” (meaning Mother of All Lands) and “Ayiti” (meaning Land of High Mountains), because the island takes home the trophy for donning the highest mountain peaks in the entire Caribbean, located in the Central Mountain Range in the Dominican Republic and the Chaine de la Selle Range in Haiti.

Recommended Spots:

Pic La Selle, Ouest Department, Haiti

Pico Duarte, San Juan Province, D.R.

Constanza, La Vega, D.R.

Delicious Food

The scent of alluring spices, tropical fruits and sautéed vegetables light up the air in La Hispaniola, attracting visitors and locals alike to the nearest Comedor or Sal a Manje (Haitian and Dominican Diners) for a plate of Rice, Chicken in tomato sauce, potato salad and Beans, or fried Griot (fried pork) with plantain chips.

Recommended Dishes:

Lambi, marinated Conche Fish

Dirit Djondjon, Rice with Djon Djon Mushrooms

Salcocho, a 3-meat stew with Potatoes, Plantains, and Yuca plant.

Sports

The island has become an ever-growing center for watersport, All Terrain, and Paragliding aficionados from around the world, hosting annual international competitions in Kite-Surfing, Sailing, Biking, and of course the national sports of Baseball and Football where talented scouts from all overlook for their next champions.

Recommended Sports:

Jet skiing in Punta Cana, D.R.

Wind Surfing in Cabarete, D.R.

Deep-sea fishing in Cap-Haitien, Haiti

Festivals

When you can hear the sound of bells ringing, whistles blowing, and percussion instrumentals blaring, you’ll know that it’s the festival season on La Hispaniola.

The major carnival processions in both Haiti and the Dominican Republic are celebrated through the entire month of February, when all locals honor their shared indigenous heritage and culture, and your only duty is to eat, drink, be merry and dance through the streets of Port-au-Prince or Santo Domingo for the most electric activities.

Recommended festivals:

Mardis Gras, Haiti (March 1)

Fete Gede, Haiti (New Year’s Day)

Guloya Festival, D.R. (New Year’s Day)

Stephen Gast

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