February 2016 — Along the eastern coast of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, a coastal tour boat rests against the pale sandy shore as shifting weather approaches over the Caribbean Sea. The turquoise shallows—characteristic of this stretch of the Atlantic coast lined by coral reefs—contrast sharply with a dense bank of darkening storm clouds moving inland. Beach excursions and snorkeling trips commonly depart from this area, where the water remains shallow and calm before the reef break. The photograph captures the transitional weather common to the region’s tropical maritime climate, highlighting the tension between the inviting clarity of the shoreline and the dramatic sky signaling an imminent rainfront.

February 2016 — A sailboat in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

February 2016 — An abandoned gift shop in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

February 2016 — Abandoned boat off the coast in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

February 2016 — Hotel Cortecito Inn, Bavaro, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

February 2016 — Hotel Cortecito Inn, Bavaro, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

February 2016 — Elevated above the small town of Miches on the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, this vantage point offers a sweeping view of the Caribbean shoreline and the lush countryside of El Seibo Province. The town’s clustered homes, cemetery, and local roads sit beneath dramatic rain clouds moving in from the sea, while the pale turquoise water hints at the nearby shallow coastal shelf. Miches has historically relied on fishing and agriculture, but over the past decade it has become a gateway to expanding tourism projects along the coastal corridor toward Punta Cana and Samaná. From this hillside, the contrast between traditional local development and the region’s growing transformation is clearly visible against the backdrop of changing skies and the mountainous horizon.

February 2016 — Perched high on one of the hills surrounding the coastal town of Miches in eastern Dominican Republic, Hotel La Loma offers a panoramic view of the shoreline, the town below, and the wide expanse of Laguna Redonda stretching toward the horizon. The hotel’s elevated terrace and pool area, with simple seating and curved white railings, reflects the region’s small-scale tourism development before large resort expansion began nearby in the late 2010s. From this vantage point, you can see Miches’ compact urban fabric, local cemetery, and fishing boats that support the town’s traditional economy—contrasting with growing interest in ecotourism and coastal resort projects along the north shore. The turquoise water of the protected lagoon and the dramatic storm clouds illustrate the area’s tropical climate, shaped by trade winds and sudden rainfall typical of the Dominican northeast.

February 2016 — The Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia in Higüey, Dominican Republic, is one of the most significant Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the Caribbean. Completed in 1971, the church was designed by French architects André-Jacques Dunoyer de Segonzac and Pierre Dupré, who created a unique modernist interpretation of a basilica with towering concrete arches and geometric symmetry meant to evoke hands raised in prayer. The blue metal-framed windows contrast against the stark reinforced concrete, emphasizing both spiritual and structural purpose. The basilica was commissioned to honor the Virgin of Altagracia, protector of the Dominican people, and it officially received the status of Minor Basilica from Pope Paul VI. Known for its 80-meter bell tower and monumental entry arch, it attracts thousands of worshippers every January 21 during the Feast of Altagracia.

February 2016 — Imagine Nightclub in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, occupies a repurposed limestone cave system, offering a distinctive nightlife experience shaped by the region’s natural geology. The venue retains the rugged cave façade and cavern-like interior, blending artificial lighting with tropical vegetation to accentuate its underground atmosphere. Guests enter through a torch-lit stone walkway surrounded by water channels, creating the impression of descending into a historic fortress or cavern retreat. The club became known for transforming these natural caves into themed dance halls, each room taking advantage of the acoustics and humidity of the rock chambers to host different music styles and events. This photograph shows the illuminated entrance structure against the cave wall at night, highlighting how modern entertainment adapted to local terrain rather than replacing it.

February 2016 — structure, with a palm-thatch roof and simple seating, reflects the informal beachfront culture of the region, where many bars operate just steps from the water. Captured at night with a long exposure, the Caribbean Sea appears smooth and misty as waves gently wash beneath the structure. In the distance, faint shoreline lights show the resort-lined coast of Punta Cana. The photo highlights the fragility of beachfront structures, many of which face increasing erosion and tidal encroachment due to coastal development and rising sea levels.

February 2016 — A roadside fairground in Laguna Verde, Dominican Republic, blends local entertainment with visible traces of the country’s political life. Temporary carnival rides—like a small Ferris wheel and green spinning pods—sit on an open lot beside major campaign billboards promoting municipal candidates, reflecting the country’s vibrant political culture leading up to local elections. Street signs point toward nearby towns including Punta Cana and Bávaro, while the signage and infrastructure hint at the influence of regional tourism development. The scene captures the intersection of rural festivities, political campaigning, and the growing transformation of communities in the eastern Dominican Republic.

February 2016 — A solitary cow stands just beyond the guardrail along Highway 107 in the Dominican Republic’s El Seibo Province, an area defined by steep hillsides, grazing land, and dense tropical vegetation. This winding road connects the interior highlands with coastal towns like Miches and is known for its sharp curves, frequent landslides, and roadside pastures where livestock freely wander. The lush slopes in the background show typical small-scale hillside grazing patterns, where cattle and goats clear patches among naturally regenerating forest. Road markings and safety reflectors highlight the rural infrastructure, while the presence of the cow illustrates the everyday intermingling of agriculture and transportation in the Dominican countryside.

February 2016 — A winding mountain roadway in the eastern Dominican Republic cuts through lush tropical hillsides near the rural communities of Los Brazos and La Majagua in the El Seibo province. The wet pavement and reflective guardrails suggest a recent passing rain, a common occurrence in this humid, mountainous region known for its microclimates and dramatic vegetation changes. These hillside roads are vital connectors between interior farming settlements and coastal markets, often serving traffic ranging from motorcycles and produce trucks to occasional tourist excursions. Native trees and flowering plants cling to the embankment, typical of the region’s mix of hardwoods, palms, and secondary forest growth following decades of agricultural clearing.

February 2016 — A small agricultural processing facility belonging to a local rice growers’ association in the rural district of La Gina, near Miches in eastern Dominican Republic. Buildings like this serve as cooperative hubs where farmers mill, store, and distribute rice harvested from nearby valleys and foothills. The corrugated steel structures, machinery shelters, and entry kiosk reflect a modest but functional rural agro-industrial operation supporting community-based farming. Rice cultivation has been an important part of the Dominican countryside economy for decades, particularly in the El Seibo and Hato Mayor provinces where smallholder producers rely on local cooperatives for processing and market access.

February 2016 — RD-104 Carretera Bavaro-Miches.

February 2016 — "Extreme Alka-Seltzer" in Dominican Republic.

February 2016 — Parking lot at Cortecito Inn in Dominican Republic.

February 2016 — The beach at Iberostar Selection Hacienda Dominicus. Located in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic.

February 2016 — Playa del Hotel Iberostar, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

February 2016 — Architecture in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

February 2016 — A woman selling bread in La Romana, Dominican Republic

February 2016 — Beach vendors in the beach near Iberostar Selection Hacienda Dominicus.

February 2016 — Onno's Bar & Restaurant near Punta Cana Dominican Republic.

February 2016 — A bar and grill in Punta Cana Dominican Republic.

February 2016 — Along the northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, Macao Beach is one of the rare stretches of undeveloped shoreline in the Punta Cana region. Unlike most resort-dominated beaches of the eastern coast, Macao has remained publicly accessible, attracting both local residents and visitors for its surfing conditions, expansive sands, and panoramic views of the Atlantic. The gently rolling waves seen here are typical of the beach’s surfable breaks, shaped by offshore currents and an open coastline without coral barriers. In the distance, the low, wooded hills form the edge of the Punta Cana–Miches coastal corridor, an area where farmland, mangroves, and small fishing communities meet tourism expansion. Known historically as a landing spot for local fishermen, Macao has also been a training and gathering place for Dominican surfing youth. Today it marks a contrast between traditional coastal use and the rapid rise of resort development across the eastern Dominican shoreline.

February 2016 — A surfer at Playa Macao in Dominican Republic near Punta Cana.

February 2016 — Colorful courtyard lodging buildings at Hotel El Cortecito in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Situated in the El Cortecito beach district—one of the earliest tourism hubs in the area—this hotel reflects the architectural style common in locally-owned coastal accommodations before the rise of large all-inclusive resorts. The turquoise and terracotta exterior, white balustrades, and open garden walkways offer a Caribbean vernacular blend intended for natural ventilation and communal outdoor space. El Cortecito developed through the 1980s and 1990s as a fishing village turned tourism enclave, with modest inns like this one often built and expanded in phases by local families, contrasting with the master-planned resort complexes that later defined Punta Cana’s international tourism growth.

February 2016 — Playa Juanillo is known as one of Punta Cana’s most picturesque stretches of coastline, located within the gated Cap Cana development on the eastern edge of the Dominican Republic. Originally a quiet fishing shoreline, the area was transformed in the early 2000s into a planned resort community, balancing luxury development with preserved natural beachfront. The sweeping line of tall coconut palms in the photograph reflects the coastal vegetation typical of this part of Hispaniola, where sandy soils and salty ocean air support hardy palm species. The shallow turquoise water flows gently onto the white coral sand, demonstrating the calm conditions created by offshore reefs that protect much of the Dominican coastline. Today, Playa Juanillo remains both a public-access beach area and a popular gathering space for local events, weddings, and kiteboarding, offering a rare blend of untouched Caribbean scenery and curated resort amenities.

February 2016 — The departure terminal at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) features a distinctive architectural design that blends modern infrastructure with Caribbean-inspired elements. The high ceilings and large green circular structures atop the support columns are stylized to resemble palm tree canopies, echoing the surrounding tropical landscape. Natural wood accents and open, airy layout contribute to a resort-like atmosphere, distinguishing this airport as one of the Dominican Republic’s busiest gateways for international tourism. Travelers line up for check-in beneath oversized ceiling fans, highlighting the airport’s open-air concept, which was developed to harmonize with the region’s climate and tourism identity.

February 2016 — After landing at Punta Cana International Airport—one of the Caribbean’s busiest air hubs for international tourism—newly arrived passengers proceed through the customs and immigration area. The terminal architecture combines modern glass partitions, polished stone flooring, and views of exterior thatched roofing inspired by traditional Dominican palapas, blending tropical design with contemporary security infrastructure. The customs counters, marked with numbered green signage, are where visitors present passports and entry documents to border officers. The space reflects recent expansions that supported the airport’s growth, as Punta Cana became the Dominican Republic’s most visited destination starting in the 1990s and continuing into the 21st century, serving millions of tourists annually from Europe, North America, and Latin America.