Savour urban delights and explore the tropical landscapes that surround La Romana. As one of the country’s biggest cities, this coastal hub provides a wide range of shopping, oceanfront promenades and luxurious clubs. Use La Romana as a gateway to discover the raw natural beauty of the Dominican east coast.
The city was founded in the 1900s as a trading centre for sugar cane production. Today, more than 200,000 residents retain a simple lifestyle among pretty European-style streets and buildings. Walk around the main square to see the Spanish-style church, Santa Rosa de Lima, Town Hall and a number of stately banks. Find shops and bars where you can enjoy a cold beer along the adjacent Avenida Santa Rosa.
For a taste of luxury in oceanfront accommodation, visit one of a few nearby villages. Paddleboard or kayak off beaches around Bayahibe or Dominicus and savour authentic cuisine at restaurants along the water. The developed Casa de Campo Marina in the city’s east is an elegant location to drink a cocktail or browse art galleries.
Local culture can be explored at the Altos de Chavon. This village, modelled on a 16th-century Mediterranean settlement, is home to bakeries, artworks and an archeological museum where you can learn about the region’s indigenous Taino Indians.
Use La Romana’s proximity to the Dominican Republic’s East National Park to embark on a wild adventure. Take a boat tour to Isla Catalina or Saona, where you can snorkel over marine environments and relax on empty white beaches. Alternatively, journey west to the Cueva de las Maravillas (Cave of wonders) and see stalactites that have taken millennia to form.
Take a daytrip to the town of Bavaro, where you can tour Dolphin Island Park and swim with playful mammals.
Get to La Romana from Santo Domingo by bus for a small fee. Alternatively, fly into La Romana International Airport. Get around town on foot or use local taxis.