Punta Cana History

Columbus arrived on the Island of Quisqueya on December 5, 1492. He found a civilization (the Tainos) who had developed a sophisticated social order that embraced daily religious ceremonies, seasonal festivals, and team sports. They were approximately 1 million divided in 5 tribes.

They lived close to the rivers and the coasts, and survived by fishing and hunting. They also cultivated crops, including tobacco.

Columbus and the Spanish colonizers who followed him used the island as their base for further New World discoveries, and built the 1rst cathedral, the 1rst monastery and the 1rst hospital.

Hispañola (the 1rst name of the full island) remained a Spanish possession for three centuries. The French also ruled the island for two brief periods, as did the Haitians.

But with the importation of African slaves in large numbers adding to the Spanish-Taino Creole, the modern Dominican people began to emerge.

Their cultural uniqueness is underscored by their food, their music, the arts and crafts, their vocabulary and their relaxed, good-natured approach to life's challenges.

More than 90% of the population is catholic but the Dominicans are very tolerant for all other religion.

Nowadays, there are over 9 million people living in Dominican Republic, a third of them in the capital Santo Domingo.

Tourism is one of the economy pillars.

It is in 1980 that the first hotel of the Palm Tree Coast, now called Punta Cana, was built. This was followed by the International Airport located just a 30 minutes drive to the main city of the Province of Altagracia, the town of Highey. This city, whose name in taino (language of the first Indians of the island) means, “Sun”, was founded in 1502. It developed very quickly and is considered as one of the main religious sites of the country. In fact, the Dominicans in majority Catholics are very proud of the basilica of Nuestra Senora de la Altagracia. This church, built in cement, has an arc of 80 meters high and an impressive carillon. It was conceived by two French architects, Mr. Dunoyer de Segonzac, and Mr. Dupre.

At 5 km from Higuey, direction Punta Cana, you discover a very nice little village called Otra Banda. This village is popular for its nice little houses full of colors.

It is in this magnificent and typical site that we invite you for an unforgettable vacation.