Sosúa, Domincan Republic

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It was just a few decades ago that Sosúa Dominican Republic was a small and tranquil fishing town on the Silver Coast. A steady construction of hotel complexes along the beautiful white sand bay has made the town one of the key tourist hotspots of the island. But despite the rapid growth, Sosúa remains a tranquil place, with each hotel complex nicely separated from the next. Locals (many of whom work in the tourist industry) live in the nearly Chamaricos area, a good place to try Dominican food, especially fresh fish.

Sosua has had a somewhat checquered history. After an initial tourist heyday in the 1980s, it became known as a center for sex tourism. The government cracked down hard on the brothels and seedier nightlife in the mid 1990s, going as far as closing all the bars in town.

Sosua has since rebounded. Today, the town is perhaps best suited to the all-inclusive visitor, and great rates can be found online for Sosua vacations. Nevertheless, there is a large ex-pat European community who rent out chalets and who own many of the businesses in town, so an independent traveler should not discount a visit to Sosua.

Sosúa Dominican Republic is blessed with a great coral reef, making it a destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. No Sosua vacation is complete without a dip in the water, where colorful fish and preserved ship wrecks await.

The Sosua nightlife is still famously vibrant, with many bars and nightclubs close to the hotel zone. The most popular festival is the Sosúa Jazz Festival, which attracts top American and Caribbean artists every  October.

The nearby town of Cabarete, a world-renowned center for kite-surfing, makes a pleasant day trip on a Sosua vacation. Other activities include horse riding and jeep safaris.

OVERVIEW for your visit to the Dominican Republic:

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