Two days in the Dominican Republic

Having arrived in the Dominican Republic at Marina de Casa de Campo near La Romana aboard the Costa Atlantica. Together with my companion and a couple we met on the cruise, we took a taxi to Baiahibe, a drowsy village with a bay of white sand, palms and colourful little boats. From here, on a motorboat skilfully piloted by a young local, we sped off to the island of Saona. The island is officially uninhabited but there's no lack of a semi-equipped beach full of tourists, many of them Italians lying on the white sand surrounded by palms. After an hour's stop we take our little boat again for the return to Baiahibe. During the crossing the young sailor stops the boat and, with an exceptional athletic move, dives into the crystal-clear water and grabs a big starfish with his hand, bringing it to the surface for us to stroke.

A few miles and here we are at the 'natural pools', a stretch of very clear sea where the water reaches your knees even several hundred metres from the coast. The spectacle is exceptional not only for the crystal-clear water but also because the coast opposite is superb in beach and vegetation: great royal palms spread their broad fronds towards a picture-postcard sky, one of the most spectacular spots in the Caribbean. A few more miles and here we are in front of a tufa cliff where the iguanas seem to roast in the morning sun. The little boat then takes us to the beach of Baiahibe where we have another swim. From here by taxi again to Altos de Chavon, the recent reconstruction of a village from Columbus's time.

The site isn't much more than a tourist shopping centre but the view offered by the square in front of the little church gives you the high view of the canyon carved by the Chavon river, a film set for movies like 'Rambo' and 'Apocalypse Now'. When evening falls we have ourselves taken to the port of Marina de Casa de Campo, where we board the ship to spend the night. The following morning the ship moves a few miles and once again anchors off the island of Catalina. Here, aboard launches, we are transferred to the beach of the little island, the classic Caribbean shore with clear water, white sand and palms but too crowded with cruise passengers. In the afternoon the launches take us back to the ship, with which we will leave the Dominican Republic.