La Romana Dominican Republic Airport

La Romana is a major destination for fun in the sun. (Photo: tropical resort image by brelsbil from Fotolia.com )

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La Romana is a Caribbean beach vacation that is well-known to Europeans but relatively obscure to many Americans. Visitors to this beach resort in the Dominican Republic will discover that it has many of the same charms as other Caribbean island destinations, plus some special draws of its own. In addition to its beaches and scuba diving, La Romana is next door to both a noted fantasy village and an internationally-renowned national park.

Location

La Romana is on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, about 20 miles east of the city of San Pedro de Macoris and 15 miles northwest of the National Park of the East. Santo Domingo, the largest city and capital of the Dominican Republic, is 120 miles east.

Getting There

Flying into La Romana International Airport (LRM) is the only way of reaching La Romana directly. Santo Domingo is the country's transportation hub and has its largest airport and a sea ferry connection to Puerto Rico. Buses from Haiti also stop in Santo Domingo. Travelers to La Romana who arrive in Santo Domingo must rent a car, hire a taxi or take a mini-bus to complete their journey.

Attractions

The main draw of La Romana are the area's white sand beaches and warm, clear Caribbean waters. In addition to fun on the beach, those conditions also make the area an ideal location for snorkeling and scuba diving, with much of the underwater activity centered on neighboring Bayahibe. Altos de Chavon, a fantasy version of a 16th-century southern European village, also is located in the area. In addition to the replica village, Altos de Chavon has a replica Roman amphitheater with concert performances and an archaeological museum. Frommer's described Altos de Chavon as "the country's leading attraction." The National Park of the East, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with dense forests, hiking paths and caves with Taino tribal wall drawings, is another day trip option from La Romana.

Entry and Exit

A visa is not required to enter the Dominican Republic, but visitors are required to purchase a tourist card. This card must be presented upon departure from the country; failure to do so incurs a fine.