Intrepid traveler and Dominican Republic expert Christopher J. Baker takes a fascinating tour of this up-and-coming eco-destination. Beginning in the bustling, historic capital city of Santo Domingo, Baker moves on to the southwest, land of the Taino people, the old sugar-processing town of Barahona, wildlife-rich Lago Enriquillo, and magnificent beaches. Then it's on to the southeast, known for the resort zones of Punta Cana and Bavaro, remote beaches, and sugar plantations; the spectacular, underdeveloped Semana Peninsula, famous for its whale-watching; and the north coast, with seemingly unending beaches and "what a great life" atmosphere.Christopher Columbus' first sight of the New World was upon these shores. The visit ends with explorations of the Valle el Cibao and the central cordillera in the Dominican Republic's mountainous interior, complete with nightlife-bustling Santiago, farmlands that produce some of the world's best cigars, and endless rain forest laced with hiking trails.