| Dominican Cigars |
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Cigars in the D.R. SANTIAGO > Tucked between the Cordillera Central and Septentrional Mountains, the Cibao Valley has long been the center of Dominican Republic tobacco. Tequia Experiences offers two cigar tours of the region. > The Chateau de la Fuente tour leads you through the Fuente family plantation, where you’ll learn the art of pairing sensuous smoke with fine Dominican rums ($130; tequiaexperiences.com). > Or visit the factories of Matasa, General Cigar, or Davidoff on the Cigar Country tour, and wind up on the steps of Santiago’s Centro León museum for lunch. End the meal with a La Aurora cigar paired with Dominican coffee, then tour the storied halls of Centro León ($90; tequiaexperiences.com). > While at Centro León (www. centroleon.org), venture into the building behind the museum for cigarmaking demos by La Aurora. LA ROMANA > Casa de Campo (casadecampo.com.do), 60 miles east of Santo Domingo in the town of La Romana, epitomizes Caribbean leisure. With a marina for its Presidente Cup regatta (February 13–17), an equestrian center for twice-weekly polo matches, and renowned golf courses like Dye Fore and Teeth of the Dog, Campo is a 7,000-acre study in what a resort should be. Onsite are more than 200 villas for rent or purchase, or if you prefer, in-house real estate developer Costasur will help you find a plot of land and design your own Dominican dream home. > While at Casa de Campo, check out Altos de Chavón (altosdechavon.com), a replica 16th-century Italian artisan village overlooking the Rio Chavón. Then wander through the Museo Arqueológico Regional, filled with artifacts from the Taíno people, who began cultivating tobacco more than 600 years ago. SANTO DOMINGO > The capital city is an eclectic blend of colonial and art deco architecture, with Caribbean flair. Spend the evening in the Zona Colonial district, cigar in hand, sipping Barceló highballs at one of the many cafés overlooking the historic Plaza España. > March 5–8, Santo Domingo hosts the first-ever Procigar Festival, where you’ll clink crystal with the masterminds behind the likes of La Aurora, General Cigar, and Tabacalera de García ($595 per person; procigar.org). > The plaza restaurants are unremarkable, so instead stroll over to Malecón, where several new resorts have raised the culinary bar. On Calle Cervantes, Reina de España (809-685-2588) serves an impressive alcachofas rellenas de mariscos (artichoke stuffed with seafood and spinach). > With its rooftop helicopter access, 14 acres of tropical foliage, and Caribbean Sea views, Hotel Santo Domingo (hotelsantodomingo.com.do ) is our pick. > Be sure and visit Hipólito Peña (809-562-5969) at Epoca Prêt-à-Porter, where, for 25 years, the 54-year-old Peña has turned out the finest guayabera shirts in the world. Comments (0)
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