From the model colonial capital of Santo Domingo, a three-hour drive through tall sugar cane plantations takes you to Cabrera on the Atlantic North Coast, offering spectacular diving in clear water among coral reefs and shipwrecks, winds that draw watersports junkies from all over, and Playa Grande, one of the world’s great beaches.  Other popular activities in the area are humpback whale watching, snorkelling, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, mountain biking, jeep safari and world-class golf.