Located on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti, the Dominican Republic is a lively and festive nation blessed with great natural beauty and glorious white sand beaches. Its friendly and flamboyant people celebrate life and enjoy sharing their rich history and culture with visitors. Christopher Columbus reached the north coast of the island on his first voyage to the New World in 1492 and gave it its name, which means "Little Spain." The colony of Santo Domingo retains much of its colonial architecture, including some of the oldest buildings ... More
Begin your vacation with an orientation tour of the capital, known as "The First City of the Americas." Visit the Cathedral of Santo Domingo, Columbus Castle (Alcazar), and the Old Colonial City. Shop at the flea market, take lunch by the river, and then visit the National Aquarium.
This three hour excursion to the capital, Santo Domingo, takes visitors to the first cathedral of the new world and the home of Columbus' son, Diego. Later, guests enjoy a panoramic view of the National Palace and of the Cultural Square. This tour only operates on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Modern luxury high-rise in the capital city's center – This is one of the leading hotels in the capital, a luxury modern high-rise that overlooks the sea, and is located within walking distance of the city's most exciting districts. An elegant atmosphere and top-notch service make this an attractive choice for business and leisure travelers alike.
This elaborate year-round resort complex provides gracious accommodations in an elegant Caribbean style. Enjoy the 4 restaurants, casino, bar, live music, dancing, and much more.
Relax by the outdoor pool, dine on fresh seafood, and get lucky at the casino while staying at this comfortable hotel overlooking the sea. In the evening, the modern bar has live music.
This 24-hour All-Inclusive on Boca Chica Beach is located near vibrant and historic Santo Domingo. On-site, there's terrific dining and nightlife, water sports, a disco, a casino, a kids' camp, and more.
Luxury low-rise, Spanish-style beachfront with optional All-Inclusive on 12-acre estate – Not far from Santo Domingo, the country's capital city, this estate-like 12-acre property features Spanish-style buildings, lush gardens, and an unspoiled stretch of palm-dotted white-sand beach. This is a top choice for family vacations, couples getaways, and honeymoons.
Family-friendly, All-Inclusive low-rise on the beach – Situated on the edge of the palm-fringed sands of Villa del Mar beach on the southeast shore, this affordable All-Inclusive is a popular choice for families and couples, and is designed to preserve the surrounding tropical forest. The gardens feature lush flora, stone walkways, wooden bridges, and a flamingo pond.
Framed by exotic gardens and a par-72 golf course, this beachfront resort features a casino, 6 restaurants, several bars, a disco, plenty of water sports, a gym, a kids' club, and more.
Located on the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti, the Dominican Republic is a lively and festive nation blessed with great natural beauty and glorious white sand beaches. Its friendly and flamboyant people celebrate life and enjoy sharing their rich history and culture with visitors. Christopher Columbus reached the north coast of the island on his first voyage to the New World in 1492 and gave it its name, which means "Little Spain." The colony of Santo Domingo retains much of its colonial architecture, including some of the oldest buildings in the Western Hemisphere.
This often overlooked country offers one of the best vacation values in the Caribbean, as well as one of the most entertaining. Everything is infused with an irrepressible island spirit that enhances your experience, from finally learning to wind-surf, to exploring a bygone world, or getting swept up into a merengue street dance!
New York City 3.25 hours
Boston 4 hours
Miami 1.75 hours
Philadelphia 4 hours
Chicago 5 hours
San Francisco 8 hours
Dallas-Fort Worth 5 hours
Los Angeles 7.5 hours
Santo Domingo: One of the most beguiling cities in the Caribbean, La Capital is a riveting mix of colonial buildings, museums, gourmet restaurants, hip clubs, and serene, tree-lined avenues. The city's main thoroughfare, and the first stone-laid street in the Americas, Calle las Damas (Street of Ladies) is lined with historic buildings and museums. At the heart of the colonial city, a seafront promenade known as the Malecon bustles with sleek hotels, outdoor cafés, restaurants, nightclubs, and shops.
Puerto Plata: The "Silver Port" lies to the north along the Atlantic coast in the shadow of Cordillera Septentrional. Old Puerto Plata features Victorian architecture while the main tourist drag houses modern hotels on Playa Dorada.
Punta Cana: The paradise of the east, locals call it, with has its emerald waters and 20-miles of glorious, palm-shaded beaches. This beautiful area around the Bavaro resort center has successfully balanced modest development with ecological concerns. Hotels, restaurants, and clubs here are luxury establishments dedicated to indulging visitors and hosting a complete roster of water sports.
La Romana: Located along the southern coast in an easy day-trip from Santo Domingo, this fabulous resort area houses such star complexes as the Casa de Campo, set on 7,000 acres of lush coastline. Its highlights include Altos de Chavon, a replica of a 16th century Mediterranean village perched on a cliff above the river. Nearby Juan Dolio and Boca Chica offer impressive beaches and hotels.
The second largest country in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti to the west. The majority of its people live in Santo Domingo and Santiago. The rest of the island is wild and mountainous, filled with rainforests, fertile valleys, and miles of beautiful beaches. Several national parks preserve the best of the island's natural features, including its outlying islands.
The Dominican Republic is blessed with a year-round tropical climate that can be divided into two seasons. The winter Dry Season runs from November to April and boasts pleasantly warm temperatures with low humidity and little precipitation. The summer Wet Season runs from May to October and is accompanied by high humidity and a bit more rain. Throughout the year, however, pleasant trade winds keep the air cool. The heart of hurricane season lasts from late August to early November, though strikes are rare and there is plenty of advance notice to prepare. When threatened by a hurricane strike, one should expect a 2-day displacement from evacuation to safe return.
Spring average 75°
Summer average 81°
Fall average 78°
Winter average 72°
As with most Caribbean islands, any time is a good time to visit. The most popular time is January through March, which coincides with Carnival season. Since the weather is great year-round, spring and fall are wonderful times to visit because they are the "off season," and there are far fewer people to contend with. Hurricane season runs from late August to early November, but strikes are rare, last only about two days, and there is plenty of advance notice to prepare.
The Dominican Republic is known for its history, fine beaches, and affordability. It has a lively culture of with animated people and great natural beauty. Travelers, especially those on a package plan, discover some of the best vacation values in the Caribbean.
Santo Domingo City Tour: Begin your vacation with an orientation tour of the capital, known as "The First City of the Americas." Visit the Cathedral of Santo Domingo, Columbus Castle (Alcazar), and the Old Colonial City. Shop at the flea market, take lunch by the river, and then visit the National Aquarium.
Puerto Plata City Tour: Venture through Fort San Felipe, the Amber Museum, and the Brugal Rum Distillery. After lunch, enjoy a cable car ride to the top of Mount Isabel de Torres for a breathtaking view of the city and coast.
Samana & Cayo Levantado Tour: Board a bus to the scenic fishing village of Samana. Then sail along the bay to Cayo Levantado Island. Enjoy lunch on the beach and a walk to the gorgeous Los Cocos Waterfall.
Shopping Tour: With the largest duty-free zone in the Caribbean, Santo Domingo is a shopper's paradise, especiallyalong El Conde Street and La Atarazana, a charming row of 16th-century buildings that house exclusive boutiques and galleries. The homeland of designer Oscar de la Renta is also famous for its rum, coffee, and cigars. Haggling for a better price is fun and expected, especially with street vendors and in the markets.
Cumayasa Ranch: Located on the banks of the Cumayasa River, this sprawling estate invites you to horseback ride on its lush pastures and take a boat ride along the river through mangroves. You'll also enjoy folk dances and merengue, as well as an authentic Dominican lunch served at the ranch.
Saona Island: Take an exciting ride on a motorboat or catamaran to Saona Island, a tropical paradise with pristine white sand beaches. Enjoy drinks onboard and lunch at the beach. Visit the National Park of the East.
Alcazar de Colon: Located at the heart of the Colonial City, this is an imposing stone palace built by the son of Columbus in 1510. The palace features a significant collection of Gothic and Moorish antiquities.
Cathedral of Santo Domingo: Begun in the early 16th century and thought to be the oldest cathedral in the New World, this is one of the capital's most beautiful buildings.
Columbus' Tomb: Dedicated in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of the New World, the Columbus Lighthouse is a towering monument that boasts 150 search lights and houses treasures from around the globe. A chapel in the heart of the lighthouse holds Columbus tomb.
Casa del Cordon: Tour the oldest stone house in the Americas, built in 1504 by a shipmate of Columbus.
Museum of the Royal Houses: With its stunning collection of colonial artifacts, ship replicas, tapestries and gilded furniture, this museum is best in the country.
Fort San Felipe: The oldest fort in the New World is a popular attraction at the Malecon in Puerto Plata. Originally built by the Spaniards in the 16th century to defend against pirates, the fort later served as a prison before being restored in the 1970s.
Recreational Sports: The Dominican Republic offers countless opportunities for outdoor activities including golf, tennis, mountain biking, horseback riding, windsurfing, deep sea fishing and scuba diving, to name just a few!
The Dominican Republic treats diners to a wide variety of cuisine in almost as many settings. Take your meal in an old colonial palace, a street-side café, along the waterfront or down in an ancient sea cave. International fare includes everything from Italian, to Middle Eastern, French, Argentine, and native fare. Typical Dominican cuisine tends to be heavy in meats such as chicken, beef, pork and goat. The meal is usually centered on a stew of brown beans, plantains and rice flavored with very mild spices. Local dishes you are likely to encounter include sancocho, a thick stew blended with meats and vegetables, mangu, mashed green plantains, and arepa, a sweet cake served with your main dish. Presidente is a high-quality local ale and a jugo is a refreshing fresh fruit drink made with crushed ice and sugar.
Gourmet: La Puntilla de Piergiorgio is perched on a cliff at the edge of the sea. While your eyes enjoy a feast of their own with the view, your palate is treated to fine Italian cuisine served on the garden veranda. Don't miss the mimosa, it's a house specialty! Sosua
Highly Recommended: La Bahia makes a great first impression on its patrons with its scenic setting along the sea promenade, then outdoes the view with its exquisite menu selections featuring an amazing variety of seafood dishes from baked red snapper to sea bass and several conch specialties. Santo Domingo
Local Flair: El Mason de la Cava has a cool setting that you reach by spiral staircase; it's in a sea cave 50 feet below ground that was carved over the ages by ocean waves! The hearty menu is simple but top-notch. You'll enjoy steak, seafood, and local recipes served by an amiable staff. Santo Domingo
Romantic: Casa del Rio is set amid the turrets, bougainvillea, and candlelight of a recreated 16th-century castle that offers one of the Caribbean's most intimate and romantic places to dine. Indulge in sumptuous meals prepared with a French flair and a West Indian twist. Altos de Chavon
After dinner, the capital city of Santo Domingo buzzes with the excitement of the intense partying going on in hundreds of bars and discos, especially from those lining the Malecon and seafront promenade. Many of these nightspots cater to a young, college-aged clientele while a few such others feature live bands performing merengue, salsa and other zesty dance music.
Club Scene: The clubs in the prime resort areas of Santo Domingo and Puerto Plata include highlights like Bachata Rosa, a mega dance club in the Colonial Zone with 3 floors of action, Neon Discotheque in the Hispaniola Hotel, and La Guacara Taena, a sizzling merengue and salsa dance club set in an underground cave in Parque Mirador del Sur.
Casinos: Try your luck at card games and slot machines in one of the big hotel casinos, usually open until 4:00am (weekends until 6:00am).
Romantic Nights: An enchanting activity for a quiet evening is taking an open carriage ride along the Malecón.
Fiestas Patronales: Each village has its own patron saint, and throughout the year they are honored with wonderful festivals featuring horse races, bullfights, street fairs, food, drums, and dancing. Some of the most notable are the Fiesta de San Felipe in Puerto Plata in June, the Fiesta de San Antonio in Sosua also in June, and the July Fiesta de Santiago Apostol in Santiago.
New Year: A grand fiesta along the waterfront rings in the New Year. Santo Domingo, January
Carnival: The festival season really gears up with this national party with many parades, street shows, dancing, traditional music and dance, native cooking, and much more. Island-Wide, February
Merengue Festival: This energetic, 10-day traditional music and dance event is very popular and always a blast. Santo Domingo, October
Christmas: The season is celebrated over a 12-day period with religious services and many public celebrations. Island-Wide, December
Daytime dress is tidy casual, but beachwear is only acceptable in resorts and at the pools. Evenings tend to be smarter with jackets recommended for men at better restaurants and clubs.
We strongly advise that you confirm the following information and regard this only as a basic guide.
Gambling/Drinking: You must be 18 years or older to gamble.
Tipping: Most restaurants add a 10% service charge to your check. A further tip of 5% to 10% is usually added if the service has been good. It is customary to tip hotel porters, maids and taxi drivers as well.
Water: Drink only bottled water. Never drink water from the tap unless it has been thoroughly boiled. Fresh, bottled water is available almost everywhere on the island but if you venture off the beaten track you may have to stock up. Look for the words filtrada and purificada on the bottle's label.
Security: Most areas of Puerto Plata are safe for visitors but precautions should be taken, especially at night and in the poorer sections of Santo Domingo and Sosua. Avoid unmarked street taxis and hustlers who attempt to offer their services as guides. Pickpockets, street hustlers, and muggers target tourists. Do not leave valuables unattended on the beach or in cars. Large amounts of money and other valuables are usually best kept in a hotel safe.
Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic. English is spoken by tourism staff, however, knowing a little basic Spanish is particularly helpful in the interior. Signs and menus are generally in Spanish.
The electric is 110 volts/60 cycle AC, the same as in the United States.
Entry/Exit: The US Embassy in the Dominican Republic strongly recommends that all US citizens traveling to the Dominican Republic do so on a valid US passport. Although Dominican law technically allows US citizens to enter the country on other proof of US citizenship (US birth certificate, Naturalization Certificate, etc) along with a photo ID, numerous US travelers have been prohibited from departing the Dominican Republic on such documents. In these cases, Dominican Immigration has required the travelers to obtain a US passport from the US Embassy in Santo Domingo. Obtaining a US passport may take up to 10 business days and requires documents that most tourists might not carry, thus delaying the traveler's return to the United States.
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: Effective January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including US citizens,traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card, Form I-551, if applicable.
The passport requirement does NOT apply to US citizens traveling to or returning directly from a US territory. US citizens returning directly from a US territory are not considered to have left the United States and do not need to present a passport. US territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Dominican Republic Customs: Visitors of legal age may bring into the Dominican Republic up to two liters of alcohol and 200 cigarettes duty free.
Departure Tax: A $20 departure tax is charged upon exiting the country.
US Customs: US citizens returning directly from the Dominican Republic may bring back $600 worth of merchandise without paying duty. This may include 1 liter of alcohol as well as 5 cartons of cigarettes and 100 cigars duty free. The importation of Cuban tobacco products, however, is strictly prohibited and is punishable by heavy fines and/or criminal prosecution.
Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism: Government Offices Block D, Avenida Mexico, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, phone 809-221-4660, fax 809-682-3806
Chicago: 300 North Michigan Avenue, 4th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601, phone 312-606-9252, fax 312-606-9012
Houston: 4507 San Jacinto, Suite 308, Houston, TX 77004, phone 713-772-3819, fax 713-772-6058
Miami: 1200 NW 78th Avenue, Suite #203, Miami, FL 33126, phone 305-718-4091, fax 305-718-4098
Los Angeles: 2401 W 6th Street, 5th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90024, phone 213-351-2075, fax 213-351-2074
New York: 21 East 63rd Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10021, phone 212-821-0314, fax 212-821-0387