Take a Caribbean cruise to the colourful La Vega Carnival
Thursday, 03, Dec 2009 12:00
The Caribbean is a hotbed of lively events and festivals that attract travellers from around the world.
One of the biggest of these is the La Vega Carnival in the central region of the Dominican Republic, which could offer the perfect excuse to peruse Caribbean cruise holidays and spend a few days taking in this impressive spectacle and exploring the local sights.
With just 60,000 inhabitants, La Vega is normally a quiet place - but the carnival transforms the town every year without fail.
Believed to date back to the early 16th century as a celebration of independence, the carnival takes place in La Vega every February and is famous for its colourful costumes, wild masks and fun-filled atmosphere.
Visitors will be able to see and take part in a host of parades and other events involving much music and dancing, all of which are based on the theme of good triumphing over evil.
As you might expect, food and drink are in abundance during the carnival - which might make the following Lent even more difficult for some revellers!
Once the festivities are over, there is still much to see and do in this part of the Dominican Republic and beyond.
The nearby city of Santiago offers plenty in the way of shops, bars and restaurants in the Calle del Sol district, while the picturesque park of Parque Duarte is the perfect spot in which to relax and get to know the locals.
Other attractions in Santiago include the Museo del Tabaco, which hosts exhibitions and events relating to the art of cigar-making.
Elsewhere in the Dominican Republican, you can head south to visit Santo Domingo, the capital of the country and a popular stop for Caribbean cruises.
The oldest city in the New World, Santo Domingo is packed with things to see and do - including the first cathedra, university and hospital to be built in the Americas.
Superb shops, restaurants and bars are dotted across the metropolis and the city's melting pot of cultures results in a truly cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Companies offering last minute cruises to the Dominican Republic include Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises.