Dominican Republic

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Quick Facts

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Local name

Republica Dominicana

Capital

Santo Domingo

Government

Representative Democracy

Nationality

Dominican

Population

8,580,000

Languages

Spanish

Religions

Christianity (Catholic)

Currency

Dominican Peso (DOP)

Calling Code

+1809

Time Zone

UTC-4

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Introduction

Sosua neighborhood

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Discovered by Columbus on his first voyage to the New World, the Dominican Republic has come a long way since the Spanish empire claimed it, ignoring the presence of the local Taino people. While modern Dominican culture retains some elements of traditional Taino culture, aspects of Spanish, African and American culture have also contributed, creating an energizing lifestyle dominated by music and dance (the nation celebrates three annual music festivals).

The country is larger than most of the other Caribbean island nations and this gives the Dominican Republic a greater geographic diversity. While it offers beautiful sandy beaches to relax by, travellers can also enjoy a spectacular mountainous inland, a rich habitat for native flora and fauna.

Brief History

The Dominican Republic was claimed by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage in 1492. He named it the island of Hispaniola, and it became an important city during the Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the Americas.

By 1697, the French had gained dominion over the western third of the island of Hispaniola, which became Haiti in 1804. The remaining two thirds of the island, known at the time as Santo Domingo, attempted to gain their own independence in 1821, but they were conquered by the Haitians and subsequently ruled by them for 22 years. In 1844, they finally attained independence and became known as the Dominican Republic.

Geography

Regions

The valleys and mountains of the Dominican Republic divide the country into 3 geographical regions.

• Northern Dominican Republic includes Cibao Valley, the Northern Mountain Range and the Atlantic coastal areas.
• Central Dominican Republic is dominated by the Cordillera Central (Central Range).
• Southwestern Dominican Republic lies south of Valle de San Juan, encompassing the Sierra de Neiba.

Cities

• Santo Domingo - The capital
• La Romana
• Puerto Plata
• Samana
• Santiago
• San Pedro de Macoris
• San Francisco de Macoris
• La Vega
• San Cristobal
• Rio San Juan

Sights and Activities

Cigars

The Dominican Republic is one of the largest producers of cigars in the world. Some argue Dominican cigars are even better than Cubans. A great activity is to go explore the entire cigar making process from growing to rolling and lastly smoking. The best places to experience the cigar process are in the center of the island near Santiago and Cibao Valley region.

Golf

Due to the large number of resorts on the Dominican Republic some world class golf courses have appeared. The island has been a favorite golfing destination for many famous people like Bill Clinton. There are 19 courses with oceanfront views and several courses designed by legendary designers.

Beaches

The Dominican Republic has more then a thousand miles of white sand beaches with clear blue water. If you're looking for super high end resorts with pools and gold course then some beaches are perfect for you. If you're looking for something more off the beaten track with no people, that is also easy to find! The beaches surround the entire country and all of them are great in different ways. The beaches are amazing and are a great place to relax.

Other Sights and Activities

• The north shore "Cabarete Beach" in Puerto Plata is famous for windsurfing, kitesurfing and regular surfing. It's also an excellent place for paragliding.
• Diving. Go for some excellent diving at places like Boca Chica, Juan Dollo and Ocoa Bay.
• Eco and Adventure Tourism. This has grown in the Dominican Republic in recent years. Travellers who enjoy bird watching, camping, climbing, horseback riding, or white water rafting will find plenty of opportunities.
• Baseball. Catch a baseball game and experience a local sports event.
• The Colonial District of Santo Domingo. Explore the back allies of this historic district and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Catedral Santa María La Menor. This was the first Catholic cathedral in the Americas and is located in Santo Domingo.

Events and Festivals

• Carnaval. Carnaval is an exciting time to party. The best Carnaval celebrations are in the city of La Vega and Santo Domingo. The Merengue Festivals, which occur in the Malecon in the city, are also exciting events.

Weather

The Dominican Republic is a very popular places to spend some time doing nothing much more than relaxing and enjoying the weather and it is obvious to see why. The climate is warm (sometimes even hot) throughout the year, but the humidity can feel oppressive at times. Although most of the country is warm and there is a wet season like in most other parts of the Caribbean, there are some small differences, mainly between north and south.
In the south, where the capital Santo Domingo is located, differences between the summermonths of May to October and the wintermonths of November to April are relatively small regarding temperatures, around 28 to 31 degrees Celsius during the day and 19 to 24 degrees at night. In the north, it is a bit colder during winter but somewhat warmer (September can feel extremely hot) during summer.
Also, although the south has the wet season from June to October, the north actually sees more rain on average throughout the year and the wintermonths of November to April actually have much more rain as well.

Getting There

By Plane

Air Dominicana (website under construction) is the national airline of the Dominican Republic, but is only expected to begin flights in April 2008, mainly charters to several cities in the Caribbean and to New York. It is based at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). There are dozens of airlines serving this airport, from North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe. Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) near the capital Santo Domingo is another important international hub with flights to most neighbouring countries and islands, South America, Central America, North America and several direct flights from Europe as well. Destinations include Frankfurt, Toronto, New York, Madrid and Paris.

By Boat

Ferries del Caribe offers three weekly ferries between Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic and Mayagüez in Puerto Rico. From Santo Domingo they leave on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8pm arriving in Mayagüez at 8am the following morning. From Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, they leave on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm, and arrive in Santo Domingo at 8am the next morning. The journey takes about 12 hours in both directions.

Getting Around

By Plane

Air Santo Domingo is the only domestic carrier and has regular flights between Santo Domingo, Santiago, Samaná, Punta Cana and Puerto Plata. There are also gua-guas which are smaller and less comfortable buses but are an excellent way to meet locals and travel within a smaller region.

By Car

Renting a car is a good way to get around in the Dominican Republic, although it's expensive compared to other countries in the region. Roads are generally in a good condition, although not all roads are tarred and some roads (even tarred ones) can be difficult to pass after very heavy rains. The main roads include the Sanchez Highway running westwards from Santo Domingo to Elias Pina on the border with Haiti, the Mella Highway eastwards from Santo Domingo to Higuey in the southeast and the Duarte Highway which runs north and west from Santo Domingo to Santiago and to Monte Cristi on the northwestern coast. There are several international and local companies offering rental cars, both at the airport as well as the major towns and resort areas.

You have to be 25 years of age to rent a car, and you must have a credit card and a valid national driver's license. Driving is not easy in the Dominican Republic and traffic police are known to be corrupt.

By Bus

The Dominican Republic has a good bus system and it's one of the best ways to get around. Buses are generally cheap, reliable and comfortable, although some buses aren't as nice. Metro Bus or Carib Tours have air-conditioned and comfortable cabins and are a little faster as well.

By Boat

Other than a daily ferry between Samaná and Sabana del Mar, most travellers that go out on ferries or boats are on a tour for snorkeling, diving or fishing.

Red Tape

The following nationals can enter visa free and only need a passport:

Argentina, Chile, South Korea, Ecuador, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Peru, Liechtenstein and Uruguay.

The following nationals can enter the Dominican Republic without a visa but have to purchase a Tourist Card upon arrival for $10:

Albania, Andorra, Antigua, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Curacao, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Reunion, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Turks and Caicos Islands, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom the United States (including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands), Venezuela.

Money

See also Money Matters

Work

Study

Language

Related article: Spanish: Grammar, pronunciation and useful phrases

Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic.

Eat

Sleep

There are many different options for stays in the Dominican Republic, including many resorts.

Resorts
Puntacana Resort & Club is is one of many resorts in the Dominican Republic. It features accommodations that range from hotel stays to private villas to real estate opportunities. The amenities at the resort include world class golf courses, a premier spa, an ecological preserve, land & water sports galore as well as many dining & entertainment options.

Drink

Health

See also Travel Health

Safety

See also Travel Safety

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

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