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The Dominican Republic captures many of the images that come to mind when describing the Caribbean: palm-fringed beaches, soaring mountains, misty jungles, cascading waterfalls and awe-inspiring sunsets. In fact, the Dominican Republic is a geological mini-version of the entire Caribbean. Across its beautiful and diverse landscape is the region's highest point, Pico Durate at 10,417 feet, and the lowest spot, Lago Enriquillo at 135 feet. About 10 percent of the country is protected by national parks and the island features over 5,500 species of flowers and plants.

Having it all

As diverse as the Dominican Republic is geologically, so are its vacation choices. To some the island is full of swank resorts and night life pulsating to merengue and non-stop casino action. Then there are those who come to enjoy a thousand miles of sugar-white beaches, or challenge some of the most beautiful and difficult golf courses in the world. Outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to trekking and biking through the magnificent mountain ranges which are scattered throughout the island, often dramatically rising straight up from the sea. In Old Santo Domingo, history aficionados can witness the buildings and streets that were once inhabited by Columbus, Ponce de Leon, and Cortez.

Smiles abound with friendly locals

Though some people will be taken aback by the poverty, ramshackle roads, weaving high speed taxis, and seemingly endless chaos in the hustle and bustle of Santo Domingo, almost all will agree that the local people are among the warmest, friendliest, and most interesting of the Caribbean.

Christopher Columbus arrived off the north shores of the Dominican Republic in 1492. His own diary makes references to the incredible beauty of the island and the extreme tenderness and friendliness of the original inhabitants -- The Taino Indians. Unfortunately their trust of Columbus was exploited, and the Tainos soon disappeared into the history books as their population was enslaved to work in Spanish mines. Those who resisted quickly perished.

The oldest city in the "New World"

In 1496 Christopher Columbus's brother, Bartolomeo, founded the first permanent and now the oldest European settlement in the new world, Santo Domingo. At the time, the entire island -- the largest in the Caribbean after Cuba -- was known as Hispaniola, and the colonial city of Santo Domingo served as the jumping-off point for further Spanish colonization of the Caribbean and the Americas.

For the next 300 years the island was the scene of constant warfare between European powers. The French carved out the western third of the island that eventually became known as Haiti. The Dominican Republic struggled through several wars of independence, in 1821 from Spain, and in 1844 from Haiti.

Caribbean island with a Latin American beat

Through it all, the people have remained warm, open, and friendly. They are passionate about music and dance. Merengue greets you at the airport, travels with you in your taxi, and is probably playing in the lobby as you arrive at your hotel! While you will hear the latest hits from America or Europe, you will also be able to experience a wide range of Dominican music (with influences from Africa and Latin America), including Salsa, Caribbean Jazz, Folkloric and the Tumba (horn) styles of neighboring islands. And if you want to enjoy another great local passion, ask about baseball. Outside of North America, the Dominican Republic has the most active players on the rosters of US Major League Baseball.

The Caribbean Islands can accommodate any type of vacation plan. The challenge is finding the island that is right for you. Edward has compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions about Caribbean travel to help you in your decision-making process.

The temperature does not vary much throughout the year in the Caribbean. Winter averages about 77-82 degrees and the Summer 79-85 degrees. Temperatures can be as cool as the mid 60s and the high to 95, but those are the extremes not the norm. Tradewinds keep things cool and fresh near the coastlines. High mountain elevations can be delightfully chilly at night and in early morning hours. Mid-day can be rather warm and caution should be taken if playing tennis or tanning. The cool winds can be deceptive and you could soon suffer from a sunburn that takes away the enjoyment of the rest of your trip.

Due to colder winter conditions in North America and Europe people are looking for a warm, tropical vacation. Thus "High Season" occurs from Mid-December through April- this is the most popular and expensive time to go to the islands. "Low Season" is the summer months that travelers can find the best deals on the somewhat less crowded islands. May and the fall months are a good time for couples to go if they are looking for lower package prices and less of a family crowd. Family travel is heaviest in summer, holidays and in the spring or school breaks.

Heavier rain can occur during the same months as Hurricanes due to an increase in tropical storm activity. But on many islands the extra rain is a blessing that keeps them cool and green. Most rain is caught on the mountains and cascades down to the coastline via waterfalls and rivers. For the most part rain showers are brief occuring in early morning and late afternoon hours. The windward islands get most of the heavy rainfall in their mountainous regions. Some islands such as Anguilla, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao rarely have rain. (They average below 25 inches per year) While others such as Puerto Rico and St. Croix have fairly constant rainfall on one end of the island while the other end is dry and almost desert like.

It runs from June 1 through November 30 with tropical storm activity heavier from Mid- August through Mid-October. Keep in mind that there is no way to predict (or control) the pathway of a Hurricane. Only a handful of islands are affected each year and some islands have not been struck for decades.

Yes, the island of Trinidad, Margarita Island (Venezuela), Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire are considered out of the normal path of a Hurricane.

The Caribbean covers an area of about 1,000,000 square miles of sea and land. There is a little over 100,000 square miles of land spread across that 1,000,000 miles. Cuba is the largest Caribbean island of the more than 2,500 islands that arch out from Florida all the way down to the north coast of South America. It is important to know the size of the Caribbean when it comes to Hurricanes (just because it is in the northern part of the chain does not mean it will come close to islands in the western part of the Caribbean) and to know the distances involved when sailing or flying between different islands.

Overall the crime rate throughout the islands is much less than in North America. However common sense dictates that you use caution whenever you travel. If you take expensive jewlery make sure you lock them in the room safe along with your passport, excess cash and airline tickets. Never flash large bills in public (such as when shopping) and leave valuables locked out of sight in the trunk of your car- as well as locking all doors. Note- Jeeps suffer the highest from theft, so don't leave anything of great value in them. At night it is recommended to stay only in the beach area that has the security of the hotel staff and avoid dark or dimly lit areas.

Unfortunately drugs are everywhere on the planet and some people assume that the majority of North American tourists want to buy and consume drugs. If approached in public, quickly and firmly decline and keep walking. You may be on vacation but illegal drugs are not. The person trying to sell you drugs may be an undercover policeman, and the jails in the islands are not the kind of all-inclusive room you want to stay in. DO NOT ATTEMPT to smuggle drugs back into North America. There is so much pressure put on stopping drugs that it is just not worth the risk of getting it past heightened anti-drug measures.

The main roads on the major islands have improved tremendously over the last few years. But each island has its own "style". Some English speaking islands drive on the left. The majority of islands drive on the right, though you will swear that they drive down the middle! Most roads are small and curvey with little to no shoulders. Use extreme caution when passing and do not be afraid to announce your presence with your horn. Slow down especially in towns and cities- pedestrians are everywhere and be prepared for sudden stops and look out for potholes. There are major North American rental car companies found all throughout the Caribbean. When renting a car note that they will run your card and have you sign a blank credit card form. Make sure you ask what their deductibles are in case of an accident. It would not be a bad idea to carry supplemental insurance in addition to your own. Read the contracts carefully and get clarification on anythingyou do not understand. There are reports that if rental mopeds or scooters are stolen- they will still charge you for the rental time as well as the cost of a brand new scooter! With that being said, and with caution kept in mind- I still feel that renting a car is the best way to get to know an island.

Some of the water from the limestone made islands are among some of the best drinking water in the world. Water purification systems throughout the Caribbean are state-of-the-art and are found in all major resorts, hotels, villas and condos. There is also plenty of bottled water to be found in just about every store.

One of the great things about the Caribbean is being able to sample all the great local food dishes. While the islands feature food with hot peppers and spices there are many dishes that are mild or more "Americanized". For example there are plenty of grilled chicken and rice, seafood and rice and pork and rice dishes not to mention vegetarian selections. In the major resorts and cities you will find an endless selection of international cuisine as well as American style fast foods. Travelers will also find plenty of staple items such as milk, bread, snacks, juice, softdrinks, cookies, candy etc, at the local markets.