La Romana: the gateway to Casa de Campo

A former sugar city on the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, La Romana today hosts Casa de Campo resort, among the most exclusive in the Caribbean.

The center, gateway to the exclusive Casa de Campo resort, is comfortably explored by taxi or rental car.

Altos de Chavón, a medieval Mediterranean-style village rebuilt atop a cliff, houses art galleries, restaurants, and an amphitheater that has hosted international concerts.

Minutes away, the Teeth of the Dog golf course, designed along the Caribbean coast, remains among the Caribbeans most celebrated and photographed courses.

Heading further offshore lies Isla Catalina, an uninhabited islet surrounded by a coral reef popular for snorkeling.

As evening falls, the Chavón River, which winds through the region, offers boat trips amid lush tropical vegetation.

Altos de Chavón was built entirely from scratch in the Seventies by Dominican and European artisans, faithfully recreating the appearance of a medieval Mediterranean village that never actually existed in this form.

The Teeth of the Dog golf course, designed by architect Pete Dye, takes its name from the sharp coral rocks that jut out along several holes perched on the Caribbean Sea, considered among the world's finest courses.