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On the east bank of the Ozama, overlooked by the imposing Faro a Colón, this stretch of open parkland has a fine selection of trees and makes for a pleasant walk.

The main attraction for scuba divers and snorkelers is the Hickory wreck, deliberately sunk here, as well as coral reefs which are accessible from the Park’s beach.

A quieter alternative to Boca Chica, the long strip of soft sand and calm water, still home to a fishing community, attracts a mix of tourists and locals.

This concrete temple to the great Dominican passion is usually open during the day.

The best beach in the San Pedro de Macorís area, it marks the point where the Río Soco meets the sea. It also offers swimming in both salt and fresh water.

A couple of tour operators organize trips up this wide river near San Pedro, during which you pass idyllic palm-lined meadows and pretty wooded hillsides.

The most popular part of Parque Nacional del Este can be easily reached by regular boat services. Despite the crowds, the island looks like a Robinson Crusoe fantasy.

The squat, fortified stone house, built in 1505, belonged to Ponce de León, founder of Puerto Rico and Florida.

The sprawling modern city is nothing special, but the basilica (see Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, Higüey), built to replace the much older Iglesia San Dionisio, is certainly impressive.

This sleepy one-street village is popular with Costa del Coco excursionists, largely because of its bright and photogenic wooden houses, built by immigrants from the Canary Islands.