When many people think of the Caribbean, they think of great resorts, Jamaica, and Cuba. But what they don't realize is that the most popular destination in the Caribbean is the Dominican Republic. This Caribbean destination has a lot more to offer visitors than your run-of-the-mill resort.
Climate
The Dominican Republic is an all-year destination; the temperature remains constant almost year round. The annual average temperature is 25 degrees Celsius (77°Fahrenheit). Rainfall is very seasonal. The wettest months are October through to April in the north, with May to November being the rainy season in the south. The south can also be struck by hurricanes during August and September. The best time to travel to the Dominican Republic is between November and April.
The diverse Caribbean tourist destination of the Dominican Republic has something in store for everyone. Try its gourmet delicacies, jump down the waterfalls, discover its pre- and post-colonial history, watch a baseball game, hike a mountain, or just lounge on some of the region's sparkling white-sand beaches. Visiting the Dominican Republic is all about catching the endless deep blue horizon. Families will enjoy various activities, such as playing in the sand, snorkeling through a string of reefs and crystal clear waters, or scuba-diving to discover beautiful undersea gardens.
Are YOU A Golf Lover?
The Dominican Republic is considered the undisputed leader of golf in the tropics because of its famed and impressive golf courses. Did you know that at least seven of the DR's courses have steadily topped Golfweek Magazine's Top 50 courses in the Caribbean and Mexico? Various courses offer you tee time by the sea.
I'd love to help you get a tee time and plan your trip to the Dominican Republic! Just click the link below when you're ready to travel.
The eastern half of the island of Hispaniola, now known as the Dominican Republic, is the earliest of all the European colonies in the western hemisphere. The settlement of Santo Domingo was established on the south coast in 1496 by Diego Columbus, younger brother of the explorer. It became the main base for Spanish activities until the conquest of Mexico.
Christopher Columbus
Before Christopher Columbus arrived, the indigenous Taínos (meaning ‘Friendly People’) lived on the island now known as Hispaniola. Taínos gave the world sweet potatoes, peanuts, guava, pineapple, and tobacco – even the word ‘tobacco’ is Taíno in origin. Yet the Taínos themselves were wiped out by Spanish diseases and slavery. Of the 400, 000 Taínos that lived on Hispaniola at the time of European arrival, fewer than 1000 were still alive 30 years later. None exist today.
Horacio Vásquez Lajara
After three centuries of Spanish colonization, with periods of French and Haitian rule, the Dominican Republic became independent in 1821. The ruler of the region, José Núñez de Cáceres, was intent on making the Dominican Republic part of the nation of Gran Colombia, but he was quickly removed by the Haitian government and "Dominican" slave revolts. Victorious in the Dominican War of Independence in 1844, Dominicans experienced mostly internal troubles over the next seven decades, and also a brief return to Spanish rule. The United States occupied the country from 1916–1924, which was followed by a relatively tranquil and prosperous six-year period under the leader Horacio Vásquez Lajara.
Fight for Independence
Around 1930, the Dominican Republic found itself under the control of the ruthless dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina, who ruled the country until 1961. The civil war of 1965, the country's last significant period of strife, was ended by a United States-led intervention and was followed by the authoritarian rule of Joaquín Balaguer, the leader from 1966–1978. Since that time, the Dominican Republic has moved steadily toward representative democracy and has been led by Leonel Fernández for most of the time after 1996.
Want to learn more about the history of Dominican Republic? I can help with that! Click on the link below and we can start planning your vacation.
Dominicans are generally very polite, but observe a couple of strict rules for dining and etiquette. Generally, it's a laid back, leisurely culture, so be patient if things are moving slower than you'd like. Dining Lively background music in restaurants is the norm, so loud conversations aren't unusual. Attention Rather than calling out, hissing is the preferred method for getting someone's attention.
Language
Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic although some English and French are spoken. There are variants of the Spanish language that are spoken in different parts of the country. The commonly used Spanish dialect in the country is the Dominican Spanish. Dominican Spanish is a subset of Caribbean Spanish based on Canarian and Andalusian dialects of Southern Spain. It also borrows some words from the Arawak language.
The Dominican monetary unit is the peso, indicated by the symbol RD$ (or sometimes just R$). Though the peso is technically divided into 100 centavos (cents), prices are usually rounded to the nearest peso. There are one- and five-peso coins, while paper money comes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 pesos. Many tourism-related businesses, including most midrange and top-end hotels, list prices in US dollars, but accept pesos at the going exchange rate.
Visitors from the USA, it's always a good idea to carry around some cash for small expenses, like cab rides, or for that rare occasion when a restaurant or small shop doesn't take credit cards, which can happen if you're dining at a neighborhood joint or buying from a small vendor. U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere.
Due to the great migratory flows, the Dominican Republic currently counts with a great variety of creeds being a country which allows religious freedom. The most practiced one is still Catholicism, since more than the 50% of the Dominican population practice this faith. It is followed by the Lutherans and the Atheists. Furthermore, you can also find religions such as Buddhism, Judaism, Islam or China’s Traditional Religion, among many others.
Horseback riding is an integral part of the Dominican culture. It's an influence that dates to the Spanish colonial times. You can go horseback riding anywhere in the Dominican Republic. Puerto Plata's hills are challenging to beat, with a lush terrain that passes rivers, cattle, and vast swaths of pure Caribbean scenery. Samana's coconut-filled valleys and cliff-top sea views offer a surreal backdrop. La Romana's Casa de Campo is one of the best equestrian centers in the Caribbean. It gives you options such as cattle ranch trails, as well as expert-led lessons in English or Western-style riding. Whether novice or expert, horseback riding is a fun way to explore the countryside.
The Dominican Republic has concentrated on cultivating tobacco, producing large quantities of cigars that are exported all around the world. Tobacco must be well planted, cultivated and harvested, well dried, properly stored, well fermented and aged. The prime tobacco growing area starts along the outskirts of the city of Santiago, located in the north-central part of the country.
I'd love to help you plan your trip, so be sure to click on the link below when you're ready to go.
With nine diverse ecological regions, the Dominican Republic is a haven for scuba divers, hikers, spelunkers, birders, and culture hounds. It is best to drop by the Silver Bank between December and April; the famous offshore region is filled with the haunting melody of whale song as humpback whales come to calve. Scuba divers can choose from a wide array of diving sites off each coast. Its warm water and generally excellent visibility make most of the Dominican Republic a year-round destination. What's best about all these is that the dive sites are friendly to beginners, and a lot of the island's resorts offer discovery dives fit for everyone, even those who've never blown bubbles before.
The Dominican Republic serves as one of three breeding grounds of humpback whales in the North Atlantic, located near the Samana Peninsula. Once a year between January and March, some three to five thousand humpback whales return to the Caribbean waters to give birth and mate for the following year. Another breeding ground is situated 90 miles off the North Coast at Silver Banks. The show is magnificent when the 40-ton giant males jump up to the water and fall a few meters ahead. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
A stretch of long white-sand beaches dotted with slim coconut trees is always a fascinating sight. The Dominican Republic is best known for its beaches. From the south to east and north, you will find your favorite plot of sand along our 1,000-mile sandy coastline. There are over 200 beaches, many of which remain underexplored and undeveloped. Caribbean-facing beaches are safe all year round, while our northern coast requires more attention and precaution to weather conditions before swimming.
- Take a Kitesurfing Lesson in Cabarete Bay
- Dive the Marine Caves at the Gri Gri lagoon
- Hike Mount Isobel de Torres and take a cable car down
- Go on a white water rafting adventure on the Rio Yaque del Norte in Jarabacoa
- Rappel down a series of 27 waterfall cascades in the Damajagua area
- Paragliding at Jarabacoa
If you are like me and need a checklist of things to see and do while you are vacationing, these are some items you will not want to miss! Not to mention they are some photography hot spots (so get your cameras and selfie sticks ready)!
Lake Enriquillo is the only saltwater lake throughout the Antilles. It is located in the center of the Parque Nacional Isla Cabritos and is a haven for wildlife. It is one of the largest natural reserves for the American crocodile.
This World Heritage Sites is one of the largest marine parks in the Caribbean. Rhinoceros iguanas, bottlenose dolphins, sea turtles, and manatees are just some of the amazing wildlife that visitors will get to experience when they visit Eastern National Park.
The picturesque turquoise waters that line this 6-mile stretch of beach is best accessed by boat from the small village of La Cueva. Its' marine life and incredible views will make for memories that you couldn't possibly forget anytime soon.
Jarabacoa is best known as an area ripe for ecotourism and the location of the Dominican Republic's only whitewater river, the Rio Yaque del Norte. The terrain, rivers, and waterfalls make it perfect for adventurous activities like hiking, climbing, and mountain biking.
Mother Nature is hiding an awe-inspiring beauty at Puerto Plata, Damajagua Falls. It's a rare gem carved over the centuries. Spend your day exploring the waterfalls and the crystal clear water pools. 27 Charcos de Damajagua waterfall park offers a day of hiking through a thick forest, crossing footbridges and passing numerous flora before eventually reaching a rocky hilltop where you can make your way down by jumping or sliding down a series of waterfalls! Ready to have some slippery fun? I’d love to help you plan your trip, so be sure to call or email me when you're ready to go.
One thing you should not miss while visiting Puerto Plata is riding the teleférico–the only complete cable car ride you’ll find in the whole Caribbean region, operating continuously since 1975. The exhilarating 10-minute ride takes you up, up and away in one of two cable cars, 2,625 feet above Puerto Plata. Below is a magical scenery, from the sea on your north to the lush, green plains that eventually lead you to the other end of the cable at Mount Isabel de Torres. Make sure to explore the nature reserve and botanical gardens, and enjoy the ride back down by cable car once more before heading out.
This peninsula and bay are lined with beautiful mangroves, caves, rock formations, and one of the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic. It is also home to the Parque Nacional Los Haitises. Marine life is present in this area year-round, including mother humpback whales giving birth in January and February.
There is a small scenic island just three miles from Samaná Bay, and it's tagged Bacardi Island because of a Bacardi commercial filmed there in the 1970s. This island of Cayo Levantado boasts shiny white-sand and palm-fringed beaches. Boat taxis depart regularly from the Samaná port on Avenida Marina, bringing visitors daily to this small island. There are so many things to do on the island, such as swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. You might also enjoy fresh fish on the public side of Cayo Levantado. Spend the night at an on-site luxury hotel situated on the other side of the island.
Traveling with your family to the Dominican Republic? Take a look at these fantastic activities you can experience with your family!
- Splash around the Dolphin Island Park
- Explore the ChocoMuseo
- Take a Safari into the Interior of the Island
- Zip-Lining in the Monkey Jungle
- Visit the Santo Domingo Aquarium
You'll surely appreciate souvenir shopping in the Dominican Republic. Each of the crafts are unique. There are a variety of arts and crafts in all kinds of shops, markets, and street stands. It will be tough to choose, though. One thing is for sure: they all tell the story of Dominican folk tradition. Ready to explore the markets and shop?
- Taino Crafts
- Dominican Painting
- Dominican Jewelry: Larimar, Amber, Blue Amber
- Dominican drum: Tambora
Need some more ideas on what you and your family can do while visiting the Dominican Republic? I'd love to help you plan your trip, so be sure to click on the link below when you're ready to go.
Food in the Dominican Republic is an exciting mix of cultures. Its rich history and acquired influences throughout the years, as well as the different groups of people who have inhabited the island, give Dominican recipes a unique personality. The delicious dishes are products of the rich and flavorful combinations of Spanish, Taíno, and African cuisines. Generally, as in most Hispanic cultures, lunch is the main meal of the day for Dominicans. One of the most famous dishes in the Dominican Republic is La Bandera. It's considered a national dish and consists of rice, red beans, meat, and salad. This traditional food will land on your travel bucket list!
Foods To Try
- Pastelitos
- Lorico
- Chimichurri
- Chivo
- Moro de Guandules
- Mangu/Salami
- Dulce de Leche
- Tostónes
- Sancocho
- La Bandera
- Mofongo
Fresh fruits
The best selection of fresh tropical fruits is in the Dominican Republic. The fruit is ripened on the tree under the tropical sun and then picked and sold almost instantly. The first bite of fruit is undoubtedly a sweet treat as it is bursting with flavor. You can pick your fruit, but they are available at every fruit stand in Punta Cana. It's hard to miss them on the side of the road.
Drinks To Try
- Refreso Rojo
- Batida De Lechoza
- Brugal
- Presidente
- Mamajuana
Ready to indulge your taste buds and get your hands on some amazing Dominican Republic cuisine? Let me help you plan your vacation! Click on the link below to start planning.
Take a peek at this video on the Dominican Republic to see ALL that it has to offer to its visitors!
Credits:
Created with an image by Digimagen - "punta cana caribbean palms"