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From Puerto Plata, the Carretera de las Américas heads 50km
west to El Castillo, a seaside village located on the
site of Columbus's first permanent settlement. It's easy to
see why he picked it, since the town is set on a splendid
bay of tranquil, blue water and a solid wall of imposing,
Olympian peaks.
Just off the main highway, before you make town, is the
entrance to Parque Nacional La Isabela (9am-5.30pm,
closed Sun; RD$30), which preserves the ruins of La Isabela,
the first European town in the New World. Centered on the
private home of Columbus himself, which is perched atop a
prominent ocean bluff, the park also encompasses the
excavated stone foundations of the town and a small museum.
A few kilometers further on, you enter the village, draped
over a steep hillside above Playa Isabela, which attracts
few beach-goers and is instead marked mainly by small wooden
boats. A kilometer offshore is an intact coral reef
where there's a healthy, multicolored reef bed that's home
to thousands of tropical fish and sea creatures. The
Rancho del Sol hotel can arrange diving and
snorkeling trips .
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If looking to spend the night, check out Rancho
del Sol (phone 809/543-8172; US$25-50), located off the
Carretera de las Américas at the town entrance, which rents
simple but well-maintained duplexes with kitchen and bath.
They also have a great seafood restaurant - the menu varies
with the day's catch. Miamar , Calle Vista Mar (phone
809/471-9157, fax 471-8052; US$25-50, breakfast included),
is a modern hotel with a swimming pool and enormous rooms
with lovely ocean views. For good Dominican cuisine try
Milagro , near the entrance to Rancho del Sol , a
small and friendly comedor with a good selection of
local dishes.
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Dominican
Republic
travel guide
Dominican Republic
Where to go
 When
to go
Getting there
Entry requirements
Money and costs
Getting around
 Food
and drink
 Communications
Crime and safety
 Brief
history
Best of DR
Info and maps
 Diving,
surfing
 Festivals,
holidays
Explore
Dominican Republic
Barahona
Barahona
The City
East of Barahona
San
Cristóbal
San José de Ocóa
West of Barahona
Bayahibe
Bayahibe
Travel info
Boca Chica
Boca de Yuma
Cabarete
Cabarete
Windsurfing
Restaurants
Sports outfitters
Cibao
Cibao
Explore Cibao
Cordillera Central
Explore Cordillera Central
Jarabocoa
Jarabocoa
Arrival & accommodation
Restaurants,
tour operators
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La Vega
La Vega
Pico Duarte, Cordillera
Central's Nat'l Parks
San José de las Matas
Santiago
Arrival and getting around
Places to eat
Nightlife
El Castillo and La Isabela
El Limón
Hato Mayor and
Sabana de la Mar
Juan
Dolio
La Romana and
Casa de Campo
Practicalities
Las Galeras
Eating options
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