Head for the Dominican Republic in 2012

The Dominican Republic, located in the Greater Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, shares the island of La Hispanola with Haiti. The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern portion of the island with lush, beautiful farmland, mountains, rain forests and there's even a desert. The scenery is breathtaking and the Spanish speaking country's many attractions and quality accommodations promise Caribbean holidays filled with pleasure and interesting activities.

Whether your interests are in birdwatching, cycling, body surfing, snorkelling or touring Colonial sites, the Dominican Republic, being one of the up and coming destinations for Caribbean holidays has so much to offer. The beaches are outstanding with literally hundreds to choose from. While the northern side of the country offers windier beaches for waves and windsurfing, the southern areas have calmer waters perfect for families and snorkellers.

Parque Nacional del Este is home to 112 different bird species and has caves and coral reefs for divers. It's among the largest of the marine parks in the Caribbean with a few quaint, remote beaches perfect for romantic evenings watching the sun set.

The Cordillera Septentrional mountain range is particularly beautiful site where biking, canyoning and abseiling is popular and the area has waterfalls up to 30 meters high. Canyoning trips and cascading excursions, for those bold folks who enjoy swimming and abseiling down freshwater waterfalls, through rivers and pools, are planned and guided amidst the magnificent scenery of the Dominican Republic.

For fishermen, the country has much to offer as blue and white marlin frequent the area particularly around Punta Cana. There are numerous charters available for anglers who are anxious to try their luck in Caribbean waters. Many of the Dominican Republic villas for rent are located on or near the coast and fishing trips and other water based activities are often with easy reach.

For those interested in history and culture, there are many sites to visit including Mount Isabel de Torres. A cable car ride to the top of the mountain gives visitors a tour of a beautiful botanical garden filled with blooming flowers and a breathtaking view of the beautiful geography of the country below. Another notable site is the oldest cathedral in the Americas built in the early 1500's, the Catedral Primada de America, which still stands in Santo Domingo preserving centuries of history.

Golfers will look forward to this Caribbean holiday, offering several top notch golf courses including Jack Nicklaus's Punta Espada and Teeth of the Dog, designed by Pete Dye. Complimenting the quality and beauty of the manicured courses are reasonable greens fees and experienced caddies.

Dominican Republic villas for rent are surprisingly versatile in design, available with choice villas offering 1 to 10 or more bedrooms. There are gated complexes with pool areas and ocean front villas with exquisite views. No matter the requirement, there is a villa that's perfect for every preference.