Altos de Chavón

Altos de Chavón is a stone village perched on a cliff above the Chavón River, inside Casa de Campo east of La Romana. It looks centuries old but was built from the late 1970s, designed to recreate a 16th-century Mediterranean town, with cobbled lanes, coral-stone walls, wrought-iron lamps and a small church, St. Stanislaus, that is popular for weddings. It is one of the most photographed places on the south-east coast.

There is more to it than the views. The village houses the Altos de Chavón School of Design, an art and design school, plus galleries, craft and jewelry shops selling larimar and amber, and a small archaeological museum with Taíno artifacts. A 5,000-seat open-air amphitheater, inaugurated in 1982 with a Frank Sinatra concert, still hosts concerts and events. The lookout over the river and the sugar cane country beyond is the reason most people come; late afternoon light is best.

Visiting: Casa de Campo guests visit freely. Non-guests pay an entry fee at the gate. Reported amounts vary widely (from under $10 to $25 or more per person), so check the current price before you go. Many visitors come on organized tours from Punta Cana or Bayahíbe, which include transport, a guide and the entry fee; some combine Altos de Chavón with a boat trip on the Chavón River or a visit to the Cueva de las Maravillas. Concert tickets are sold separately.

Restaurants in the village range from casual cafes to more formal dinner spots with river views. Note that some evening dining may be limited for non-guests, so book ahead if you plan to stay for dinner.

Time needed: an hour or two is enough to walk the village, see the church and lookout and browse the shops. From Bayahíbe and Dominicus it is about 20 to 30 minutes by car; from Punta Cana, plan on around 1.5 hours each way.

Best for: couples, photographers, wedding planners, and anyone who wants a break from the beach. Not ideal for: travelers on a tight budget (shops and restaurants are priced for Casa de Campo guests), or people expecting a genuine colonial town; for real 16th-century architecture, Santo Domingo's Zona Colonial is the place. It is a good choice for a cloudy or rainy day.