The Latest News From The Dominican Republic #GoDomRep

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MINISTRY OF TOURISM UPDATE

Dominican Airline Announces U.S. Expansion | Pawa Dominicana announced daily flights from Santo Domingo-Miami will start Nov. 16. Pawa Dominicana is the first commercial Dominican airline offered in the U.S. in over 20 years and will soon offer flights in New York.  www.pawadominicana.com Cap Cana Marina to Become New Cruise Port | The Cap Cana Marina will start accepting cruises Dec. 8 for its first cruise season, with majority of incoming cruises classifying as luxury vessels. This new port is part of Dominican Republic’s goal to achieve 10 million tourists by 2022. New Luxury Complex Planned for Puerto Plata | Foreign investors announced a $1 billion investment for the Punta Alma project, a new luxury complex in Puerto Plata. The development will include a hotel, spa, golf course, villas, apartments and a marina. Marine Mammal Sanctuary Celebrates 30 Years | The Dominican Republic Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Marine Mammal Sanctuary, located off the coast of Samaná. The sanctuary protects the habitat of thousands of humpback whales who come to the area’s warm waters each year for mating season. Merengue and Caribbean Rhythms Festival Takes on Two Cities | The 2016 Merengue and Caribbean Rhythms Festival will be held Nov. 5-6 in Santo Domingo and Nov. 12-13 in Puerto Plata to celebrate Caribbean rhythms like, merengue, salsa and urban music.

Explore upcoming events in Dominican Republic: www.GoDominicanRepublic.com/events/upcoming

Whale Watching Season Is About To Start In The Dominican Republic, Best Viewing Between January 20th And March 20th.

Punta Cana visitors can now enjoy whale watching in the Samana Bay by private plane or by bus on the new and efficient Uvero-Alto Miches highway. Between January 20th to March 20th one of the largest Humpback Whale migrations in the Atlantic Ocean will take place in the Samana Bay of the Dominican Republic. During these winter months, thousands of Humpback Whales make the migratory journey from the polar regions of the North Atlantic to mate and birth their calves in the safety of the warm Dominican waters. Humpback Whales are endangered animals, who were almost hunted to the point of extinction. Today around 30% of their original population continue to thrive, thanks to havens like the Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals of the Dominican Republic in the Samana Bay.The Samana Bay sanctuary is one of the largest humpback breeding sanctuaries in the world, and   a world forerunner as the most renowned in conservation and education efforts. This season, an estimated  1,500 whales will visit the Samana Bay, and around 300 whales will be present at any time;this is what makes the Dominican Republic one of the principal places for Humpback Whale watching. Due to the strict regulations which protect the whales the only way to get a glimpse of these magnificent creatures is through an organized whale watching tour. Visitors can now take the Punta Cana Whale Watching Tour by bus, which travels along the brand new Miches highway to the Samana Bay. This area of the country was previously only accessible through small rugged mountain roads; the new highway makes this a quick and comfortable hour and a half ride. Punta Cana guests looking to explore the Samana Peninsula can take the private plane excursion, which also visits the renowned Limon Waterfall in addition to the whale watching excursion. Both visitors by bus or by plane will get to visit the small island of Cayo Levantado, also known as Bacardi Island. From here visitors will board their boats to cruise deeper into the Samana Bay and begin observing the whales. Humpback Whales are some of the best whales to observe because of their acrobatic displays and curiosity for whale watchers. Whale watching in the Samana Bay is an incredible once in  a lifetime opportunity, and a great way to enhance a Punta Cana vacation. About Caribbean Dream Caribbean Dream is a tour operator based in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, providing individuals and groups with a wide range of options for excursions and transportation. For more information visit the Caribbean Dream website.