First City of the New World Tour

Visit the oldest city of the New World and Christopher Columbus' first permanent settlement after his arrival in the Americas. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992, Santo Domingo is a city of many firsts in the New World with the first cathedral, paved road, university, hospital, plaza, stone home, tavern, etc.

After you transverse the eastern part of the Dominican Republic with it's rolling sugar cane fields, the first stop in the capital will be at the Three Eyes National Park with underground caves and lagoons once used by the Taino Indians (the Dominican Republic's original inhabitants). From here, you'll make a quick photo stop at the Columbus Lighthouse, built in 1992 on the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' landing in the New World. His tomb is located inside. Then it is off to the oldest thoroughfares of the Western Hemisphere in Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone, or "Old City," a 16 square block neighborhood oozing with Dominican history and culture.

Your first peek at the Colonial Zone comes at the Columbus Palace. Completed in 1514, it was once the home of Christopher Columbus' son, Diego. From the palace, you'll walk through the historic Plaza de Espana, the first of its kind in the Americas and was once the center of commerce for ships entering and departing this new strategic city in the Middle Ages. Then, stroll to Calle Las Damas (the first paved street of the New World). The ultimate destination is one of the most important sites in the Dominican Republic: the first cathedral of the New World. Kneel at the alter and take in over 500 years of history. It was in the cathedral's basement that Christopher Columbus' remains were found. 

Lunch is then served at a well known Dominican restaurant in Santo Domingo's Gazcue sector. The eatery is known for it's excellent home style cooking and typical dance performances by the waiters and waitresses. After lunch, you'll pass by some of the modern areas of the capital and the National Palace where the Dominican president and high level government officials have their offices. To end the day, you'll take some time to visit a spacious gift shop selling nearly every Dominican keepsake imaginable. Or you can choose to stroll the local streets. For history, culture and a genuine experience, join on this exclusive excursion to Santo Domingo.