Santo Domingo Colonial Zone

The Zona Colonial of Santo Domingo is the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in the Americas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, laid out from 1498 onward. Its grid of cobblestone streets holds a string of New World firsts — the first cathedral, the Alcázar de Colón built for Diego Columbus, and Calle Las Damas, the first paved street, walked since 1502. Day trips from Punta Cana spend the afternoon wandering its plazas, colourful colonial facades and lively café terraces. It's the country's deepest cultural excursion and an endlessly photogenic one. Our photographers walk the streets with you, framing the cathedral, the archways and the timeless street life — best in the softer light of late afternoon, and rewarding year-round.