The Dominican Republic was under the control of the Tainio Indians when Christopher Columbus arrived with his Spanish fleet in 1492, and their occupation of Hispaniola (the island which the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti) left its mark on the culture, with Spanish still spoken as the official language today.
It wasn't until 1884, after a little interference from both the French and the English, that the Dominican Republic finally gained independence, and Cofresi remained a relatively unknown fishing village until the last half of the 20th Century, when its favourable-to-tourism location was realised and its development into the high class resort it is today begun.
For a slice of Dominican authenticity, head down to one of the local markets for some freshly caught fish, and the look out for the locally owned restaurants for a taste of Dominican cuisine. As far as music is concerned, the Dominicans love to dance, and whether it be jazz or the more traditional ëMerengue' beat, the clubs located perhaps a little further from the main streets are the best places to see the locals unwind.
Carnival hits the whole island around Ash Wednesday, and the colourful parades and extravagant costumes are great entertainment for the whole family. Similarly is the 27th of February, Dominican independence day, which is always a cause for celebration amongst locals!