Higuey

Travelers leave the tourist bubble of Punta Cana by taking a guided half- or full-day tour of Higuey. Stops typically include the Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, a Roman Catholic cathedral built in 1972; it serves as the city’s biggest attraction. Despite its recent development, the church holds a strong religious presence and is the place of pilgrimages each year. It is well known due to its location, where a sighting of the Virgin Mary is said to have occurred. This elevated the church to high esteem, and Pope John Paul II visited the site in 1992.

The Church of San Dionisio is also a site to see, though this one holds significance due to its history. The small church dates back to 1572, making it one of the oldest churches in the Americas, and features Spanish colonial architecture and a stately bell tower.

• The large artisan market, the Plaza Higüeyana, is on many tour itineraries.

• Food stalls serving sandwiches and drinks are located near the Basilica.

• Services are held at the Basilica several times a day.

Higuey is equidistant from Punta Cana and La Romana—about 29 miles (46 kilometers) in each direction. It can be reached by car, though you may want to choose a tour that stops in Higuey to save yourself the hassle of navigating city traffic and finding parking. Plus, motorcycles are known to zoom around the crowded streets, so remain alert whether driving or traveling on foot.

Every year on Jan. 21, thousands of Dominicans gather to honor the town's patroness, the Virgin of La Altagracia, whose portrait had been brought over from Spain by the first European settlers. The current Basilica was built to honor the image displayed in the old cathedral's sanctuary. And in August, the Toros de la Virgen de la Altagracia arrive as part of an annual pilgrimage. Hundreds of the bulls are auctioned off to raise money for the church.

Catholicism used to dominate the religious practices of the island—and still does—but Protestant and non-Christian groups have grown in number. In addition to the sites in Higuey, visitors may also want to see Panteon Nacional, an 18th-century Jesuit church in Santo Domingo, and the Catedral de Santiago Apostol, a 19th-century cathedral in Santiago de los Caballeros that features beautiful stained-glass windows.