Your travel will start either from the capital Santo Domingo or Punta Cana where the best flight deals are available. Starting in Santo Domingo allows you to go next to anywhere in the country, starting in Punta Cana limits more the possibilities. Santo Domingo is a good start and hub to go and come back considering it’s central location.
The country is well connected with buses that are reasonable (between 200 and 300 pesos – 4 and 6 USD). Travel distances are usually from 100 to 250 km making the longest trip a 5 hour journey. The main bus company is called Caribe Tours.
To move around in cities, mototaxis and shared cars as cheap as 50 pesos for short distances and 100 for long ones – 1 to 2 USD.
Itinerary part 1: North and Samana Peninsula (11 days)
1 day Santo Domingo
The safest area in Santo Domingo is Zona Colonial that concentrates most of the touristic attractions of the city. Staying there is a must since everything is walking distance. If you stay in other district, UBER are available for as cheap as 200 pesos (4 USD) for a 6km ride. Island life backpackers is the best hostel in town, with a pool, dorms, privates and plenty of people to meet up.
Since you are always going to be back in Santo Domingo, use your first day to arrive, walk a bit and rest. Move to the north the next day.
5 days North
Santiago is the second biggest city and the attraction there is the heroes monument that has a museum inside and allows you a great viewpoint from the city landscape.
From Santiago, head to Sosua that has 2 main interest attractions, the beaches and Castillo Mundo King. Multiple options are available such as boat trips, diving or just chilling in the beach.
Castillo Mundo King is a must, with an entry fee of 300 pesos you access the most eccentric, weird and interesting African art and aliens museum. Built by the artist Rolf Schulz, a German citizen that sold his belongings in Hamburg to pursue his dream of building a castle with arts from Africa and spaceships.
End your north exploration with Cabarete, a party town and destination for kite and wind surfers. If you are into those sports that’s definitely worth the stop.
The beaches aren’t great but Cabarete has also natural pools in caves really worth to check out.
The north is highly explored by backpackers and Russians (the Castillo Mundo King was in the Russian TV)
5 days Samana Peninsula
One of the most interesting areas of Dominican Republic are around this peninsula. The main town is Las Terrenas, a mixture of expats and locals. Beaches with plenty of coconut trees and also city that host the production of the TV show Survivor.
Las Terrenas is a gateway to Las Galeras, a small fishing village with paradise beaches and Salto el Limon, considered the most beautiful waterfall in the country.
Activities such as fishing trips, diving, water sports gear rentals and plenty of walking beaches are available. Various type of tourists like this area, Americans and Europeans, from luxury to backpackers.
Itinerary part 2: South and East (10 days)
5 days South
The south is the hidden path, not many hotels, people are in general more simple and with less education. Speaking spanish become almost a must if you don’t have a guide.
You can stay in Barahona and take gua-gua (local transport like van) to San Rafael Beach and Los Patos for 100 pesos (2 USD). Both are wild beaches with fresh water rivers running into it. I would not recommend to enter the ocean because the currents are strong and the waves are big, but you can enjoy both rivers. Neoprene shoes recommended considering the high amount of small stones in those destinations.
Head to Pedernales, the border with Haiti and take a transport to Bahia de Las Aguilas, considered the most beautiful beach in the country. Food over there is expensive and is highly recommended to be bought in advance in supermarkets. Camping is available and boat trips with local fishermen are a must.
5 days East
Head back to Santo Domingo to see what you missed when you arrived, that go to the most touristy area of Dominican Republic, La Romana, Bayahibe and Punta Cana.
Tours to Catalina Island and Saona Island are available directly from Santo Domingo or from La Romana and Bayahibe cities. Is a good spot also for diving and chilling in the beaches.
Punta Cana is a resort destination and 67% of the flights in 2017 arrived there, mostly with Americans and Canadians