La Romana Town Walk

La Romana grew up around the Central Romana sugar mill, and it still feels like a working town rather than a resort. From the cruise pier, walk north along the east bank and cross the Charles Bluhdorn bridge over the Río Dulce. Parque Duarte is the heart of town: shady benches, shoeshine men, domino players and the white Santa Rosa de Lima church on one side. The streets around it are full of phone shops, bakeries and colmados, and the Jumbo supermarket near the river is a handy stop for rum, coffee and snacks at local prices. There is little shade and traffic is busy, so go in the morning, carry water and keep valuables out of sight.