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Population: 10,219,630
Capital City: Santo Domingo
Climate: Tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Time Zone: GMT-4
Language: Spanish (official)
The beaches in the Dominican Republic are long expanses of fine white sand that stretch out along the coast. The blue-green waters are excellent for diving, swimming, surfing, and wind surfing.
There are many reasons why so many folks are in love with the idea of owning a home on a Caribbean island. But with thousands of islands scattered across the Caribbean, which one should you go for?
In most of the places I've lived and traveled, including Costa Rica, Roatan, Dominican Republic, Mexico, etc. gringo is a term for any expat, North American and often Europeans as well. It's not an insult, which is the connotation in the U.S.
For six months of the year, Owen Hughes spends his days wandering down to palm-tree-lined Sosua Beach, one of the most beautiful in the Dominican Republic. Sitting at a table in the shade of the palm trees, or enjoying the occasional swim or snorkel in the warm, turquoise water is a nice contrast to the cold winters back in Ontario.
As a busy carpenter and contractor in his native Canada, Steve Quinn relished his regular trips to Costa Rica to relax and unwind on the beach. After six years of short visits, he decided to make this beach lifestyle permanent. He took over a beach bar and restaurant in Tamarindo, a funky surf town on the country's northern Pacific coast. He's leasing the property for three years, with an option to buy, which is a great way to test the waters without committing to purchasing property right off the bat.
You might not be familiar with the little beach town of Las Terrenas on the Caribbean island of the Dominican Republic. That's understandable. For a long time, it stayed off the radar of most North Americans.
Las Terrenas on the Dominican Republic's Samana peninsula is a little piece of paradise. It boasts 19 miles of walkable, public beach, palm trees, warm breezes, and stars so bright it feels like you could pluck them from the sky. This isn't a manufactured beach or resort. It's a laid-back, cultured getaway. In town, behind and between the palm trees, are chic cafés and restaurants run by French and Italian expats.
Five years ago, my husband, Jeff, and I started looking for a vacation home where we could eventually retire and—after extensive research—we decided on Las Terrenas in the Dominican Republic. It has everything we were looking for.
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