A paradise for winter

Now that the winter has taken hold and there's still a long way to go before there's much chance of any sunshine, how do you fancy getting away to a tropical island with year-round summer temperatures and some of the best beaches on the planet? If that appeals to you, the Dominican Republic may be the perfect destination.

They say that the beaches of Punta Cana, stretching for over 50 kilometres along the east coast of the island of La Hispaniola, are the best beaches in the world. With their white sands, warm turquoise waters and lush coconut groves, they certainly live up to the traditional image of a tropical paradise. Luxury beachfront resorts offer the perfect romantic setting for a honeymoon, but are also great for family holidays, and this is an ideal getaway for golf-lovers, too. Farther round the island, on the south coast, the beaches of Bayahibe and Dominicus near La Romana are of the same calibre. Whether you just want to relax in the sunshine on a tropical beach or you prefer a more active vacation, maybe playing golf on a world-class course, polo, tennis, or water sports such as diving and snorkelling; dance to the rhythm of merengue and bachata, sample the fine local cuisine and visit the museums and galleries or browse the boutiques... whatever kind of holiday you fancy, the Dominican Republic is the perfect choice.

The tropical climate, white sands and crystalline waters of Punta Cana make it a popular resort destination with both private beaches and public beaches offering all sorts of sports and recreational activities 

Set in this incomparable tropical paradise, Cap Cana is an exclusive five-star resort development with luxury villas, fine dining and fantastic golf facilities 

The elongated island of Saona off the coast of La Ramona boasts some of the best white-sand beaches in the Caribbean, fringed with coconut palms; no construction is allowed along its unspoiled coastline, and it is home to numerous species of birds 

The Dominican Republic has around 400 kilometres of coastline and is renowned for its pristine white sands lapped by the warm blue waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean 

Off the southeast coast of La Hispaniola lies the pretty island of Saona, one of the most beautiful places in all the Dominican Republic and part of the National Park of the East 

Some ten miles east of La Ramona is the town of Bayahibe, whose beach is famed for scuba diving, as well as being the departure point for excursions to the nearby island of Saona 

The beaches of Punta Cana extend for over 50 kilometres along the east coast of the island of La Hispaniola and include idyllic stretches of palm-fringed sand such as Playa Juanillo, the base for a community of fisherfolk who bring their catch to land here each afternoon 

Opened in the early Eighties, the curious village of Altos de Chavon includes restaurants, shops selling traditional handicrafts, art galleries and a school of design, as well as the picturesque church of St. Stanislaus and an amphitheatre which has hosted concerts by such greats as Frank Sinatra, Sting and Santana 

One of the biggest visitor attractions of La Romana is Altos de Chavon, a re-creation of a medieval European village set on the bluffs overlooking the River Chavon 

There are plenty of opportunities for sports, both on land and in the water. Kayaking on the river Chavon is just one of the possibilities to enjoy a different prespective of the scenery 

Houses, shops, restaurants and bars surround the Casa de Campo marina, giving visitors a chance to sample the country's cuisine, which blends Spanish, Taino and African influences 

A flagship resort complex just outside La Ramona, Casa de Campo boasts three championship golf courses, including the famous "Teeth of The Dog" course, and a modern 400-berth marina; many of the elegant villas here boast a private dock where a luxury yacht is moored 

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