Book excerpt: Discover a new side of the Caribbean's most popular island destination with the definitive travel guide to the Dominican Republic, researched by Rough Guides' expert authors. Escape the all-inclusive resorts and find the real Dominican Republic - surfboarding resorts and ecolodges in remote pueblos, the Caribbean's highest mountain and the sites of the Americas' first European settlements. You'll find detailed practical advice on how to get the best from your trip, too, with colour-coded maps, listings and information personally checked out by our intrepid writers. The Rough Guide to the Dominican Republic covers everything from museums, shopping and art galleries in the cities to tranquil beaches and remote waterfalls, plus up-to-date descriptions of the Dominican Republic's best hotels, bars, clubs, shops and restaurants for all budgets. Whether you have time to browse detailed chapters, or need fast-fix itineraries and 'Top 5 boxes' that pick out the highlights you won't want to miss, The Rough Guide to the Dominican Republic won't let you down! Make the most of your trip with The Rough Guide to the Dominican Republic.