The Dominican Republic is set to take advantage of the exponential growth of wellness tourism, the fastest growing sector of the travel industry according to Lonely Planet and a recent report from ABTA. The country offers a selection of some of the best health and wellness retreats in the Caribbean.

Green coffee body sculpting at the Six Senses Spa Punta Cana Resort and Club: The resort provides luxury treatments from its Punta Cana beachside location, with the white sandy beaches and calm turquoise waters providing the ideal natural escape from the stresses of modern life. Treatments at the spa include a variety of locally inspired massages, green coffee body sculpting, oxygen antioxidant facials, a detox cleansing ritual and yoga wellness programmes.

https://www.sixsenses.com/en/spas/punta-cana

Ancient Taino Healing at Amanera: The 'Healing Through Lunar Forces' experience at Amanera enables guests, under the guidance of a local therapist, to experience healing through attuning themselves to the natural environment. Embodying the ancient Taino methods of medicinal herbal treatments, guests will discover the flora and fauna surrounding the resort via excursions such as boat trips to bird sanctuaries and jungle hikes. Amanera, which also features a holistic spa and yoga wellness programme, is located on the north coast of the island, set between the golden sands of the Playa Grande and a nature reserve of pristine rainforest.

https://www.aman.com/resorts/amanera

Healing through horses at Casa de Campo Resorts & Villas: New for 2020, the retreat will allow guests to combine equine therapy with a stay at a luxury resort. In April 2020, Casa de Campo Resort and Villas is offering a seven-night holiday that includes the four-night retreat. The event is designed to bring people and horses together in an environment designed to promote wellness, self-discovery and healing. While on-site, participants will be able to enjoy all the facilities at the resort, relaxing on the sandy beach, paddle-boarding, taking a boat trip to a deserted island, kayaking down the river or relaxing in the luxury spa.

https://www.casadecampo.com.do/

Glamping at Bahia De Las Águilas: A truly natural wellness experience is hidden away at the Bahia De Las Águilas, a beautifully unspoiled beach on the south coast of the island, within the Jaragua National Park. The beach is accessed only by speedboat so visitors feel as though they've found a secret hideaway. The only places to stay are at two glamping resorts: Eco Del Mar and Rancho Tipico Cueva de las Aguilas. Other pristine beaches where travellers can escape from the crowds include Playa Rincon and Playa Fronton on the northeast coast.

https://www.godominicanrepublic.com/poi/beaches/pedernales/bahia-de-las-aguilas-2/

Further press information from: Isa Luque/Jo Johnson/Jules Ugo on dominicanrepublic@wearelotus.co.uk or 0207 953 7470

For more information on tourism, visit: https://www.godominicanrepublic.com @GoDomRep, #GoDomRep, #TheRealDR or #myDR https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5PIUhJ73hqMZkql1c4obvw 

About Dominican Republic

A Democratic nation with a population of over 10 million people, the Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the large island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Republic of Haiti. It is the second largest country in the Caribbean, comprising an area of 49,967 square kilometres (18,704 square miles); which is approximately double the size of Wales.

Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south, the Dominican Republic boasts about 1,600 km (1,000 miles) of coastline, where sandy-white beaches and deep blue and turquoise waters mark just the beginning of a diverse tourism offering. The country is home to 29 National Parks. As well as an impressive 6,000 species of flora and 7,000 species of fauna including cacti flowers, endemic hawks, and humpback whales; its terrain – 25% of which is protected - ranges from the highest peak in the region, Pico Duarte 10,164 feet (3,098 meters) - to the lowest body of water, Lago Enriquillo 151 feet (46 meters) below sea level. The main rivers are: Yaque Del Norte, Yaque Del Sur and Yuna.

Quisqueya, as Dominicans affectionately call their home - meaning mother of all lands – was the first permanent Spanish settlement in the Americas or the 'New World,' following the arrival of Christopher Columbus on his first voyage in 1492.

2018 tourist arrivals were 6,568,888 million guests (+ 6.2% on 2017); with 185,929 from the UK