There it was. A giant, perfect starfish, lying on the ocean floor. You could see it from the boat through the beautiful clear water. It was a magical moment in a magical place.

White powder sand beaches, and fabulous, all-inclusive cheap hotels. What more could you want in a vacation? The only drawback is that some tourists do get sick from the food or water.

However, La Romana, in the Dominican Republic, is still a wonderful place to visit, relax and soak in the sun. It’s bit off the beaten path, but well worth the trek, if relaxation is your goal.

It is the third largest city in the Dominican Republic, with numerous beachfront resorts. I had never been to the Dominican Republic, but had heard a lot about it, and was curious. As most people seem to go to Punta Cana, I thought a visit to nearby La Romana might be interesting instead.

We flew into Punta Cana, as that was the most direct way, and took a van to La Romana. Much of the road was bumpy, or non-existent, and the van had no shocks, and the driver was fearless. I tried to make conversation with my companion to avoid looking at the road. But he was pale, and gave me one-word answers. About an hour and a half later, we made it, relatively unharmed.

Once we checked in and looked around, we were awestruck. The pool was huge, the beach pretty, and the people very friendly. Our hotel, like most in La Romana, was all-inclusive, which makes it easy to relax.

Sipping rumrunners, and lying on chairs under straw umbrellas, I thought, this is the life. And if you are looking for more than that, there are plenty of other things to do. There is much more to La Romana than the beaches, and there are several worthwhile excursions available.

La Romana is on the edge of the National Park of the East, a tropical and sub-tropical rainforest, which is bordered by thick white sand and picturesque blue and green ocean. It is full of natural beauty, with its history even preserved underground. La Romana has the most extensive cave system in the Caribbean, with over 110 caves that were used by the Taino Indians, according to Lissette Gil, executive director of the Romana Bayahibe Hotel Association.

It is also home to the Cave of Marvels, or Cueva de las Maravillas, one of the geological wonders in the Dominican Republic. A sloping 780-foot path takes you some 25 feet below the surface, where you can check out 500-year old pictographs, and stalagmite and stalactite rock formations.

Other historical sites of interest include: Casa de Ponce de Leon, the home of the famous explorer built 500years ago, has been converted into a museum; and the shipwrecks of Bayahibe, which have been preserved for divers and snorkelers to visit.

Katie Barlow, an resort representative at our hotel, said, “People are surprised at how much there is to do and see here, in addition to the beautiful beaches.”

Altos de Chavon is one of those things. It is a replica of a 15th century Mediterranean village with artists’ studios, craft shops, galleries, restaurants and bars. The views are breathtaking, and the crafts are of a higher quality and higher price than those found in huts that dot the beaches.

The highlight of our trip was Saona Island or Isla Saona. Gil said, “Isla Saona is one of La Romana’s most popular attractions. In addition to the exceptional beaches located on Saona, the island offers some of the best snorkeling in the area.”

Saona is a tropical island located on the southeast tip of the Dominican Republic. It is also a government protected nature preserve and a popular tourist destination. You can take a catamaran or small motorboat to the island.

The beaches are picture perfect – you feel you have arrived in paradise.

It is so famous for the beauty of its beaches that it has been used by filmmakers and advertisers. Many species of birds and tropical marine fish inhabit the area, which also has natural sandbars, enabling tourists to wade out in waist deep waters for quite a distance.

For me, and many of the others visiting the island, the highlight was when our boat left the island, and stopped nearby to show us the enormous starfish that are indigenous to the region.

There were giant starfish, small starfish and everything in between in the waters. I had never seen a live starfish, so it was very exciting to pick them up and touch them, while still keeping them in the water. Our guides urged us not to take the starfish out of the water, as they start to die if they are removed.

If you’re more into shopping than site seeing, there is plenty of that too. La Romana has crafts made from wood, horn, snail shell, pottery, ceramics, baskets and embroidery. The island’s national gemstone, amber in the rare colors of blue, red and black, is quite unusual. Larimar is another gemstone unique to the Dominican Republic.

There are also Dominican dolls found in most shopping areas. The dolls have blank faces. Gil explained, “The faceless dolls represent the people of the Dominican Republic. Dominicans are a blend of diverse races and cultures mixed together. Instead of singling out one race, the dolls are made without faces to represent the harmony among the different people and cultures.”

There is much more to do and see in La Romana. If you’re looking for a fun and relaxing vacation, this is it.


PHOTOS BY DAVID LORENZETTI