Introduction
Bounce between carnivals and glide between manatees. The white-sand beaches, impressive mountain ranges veined with spectacular rivers and waterfalls, and saltwater lakes teeming with exotic wildlife are just part of the Dominican Republic's appeal. Whether you're looking to party, relax or explore, the Dominican Republic has a lot to offer.
Destination facts
Capital: Santo Domingo
President: Leonel Fern á ndez
Government: representative democracy
Time zone: GMT -4
Area: 48730
Population: 8850000
Languages: 95% Roman Catholic
Currency: Dominican Peso (RD$)
Country Dialing Code: 809
Getting There
The main foreign tourist seasons are from December to February, July to August, and Semana Santa (the week before Easter). Expect higher prices and more crowded beaches during these times. Also, note that most water sports and activities are prohibited throughout Semana Santa. The June-to-September hurricane season might be worth missing; though the chances of one blowing through are miniscule, remember that one little hurricane can wreck your whole holiday. All in all, February and November are perhaps the best months to visit - both have great weather, thinner crowds and allow you to partake in either pro baseball, Carnival or whale-watching.
Getting there and away
The cheapest way to get to the Dominican Republic by air is as part of an all-inclusive package tour; they're so cheap, in fact, that many people book time at an all-inclusive ticket and leave their hotel rooms empty part of the time while they explore the rest of the island. Whether you get your ticket a la carte or through a resort, there are direct flights from Europe and the Americas. Fares vary with the season, date of purchase and whims of the airline; shop around. Several cruise ship lines also have ports of call in the DR. There is a departure tax whether you're leaving by land or by sea. There are two main crossing points between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. One is at Jiman í /Malpasse, on the southern route that links Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo. The other, at Dajab ó n/Ouanaminthe, links Cap-Ha ï tian and Santiago. There is a third crossing near the centre of the island, at El í as Pi ñ a/Belladere, but foreigners generally give this one a miss. Borders are generally open 08:00-16:00, but don't cut it too close or you may be asked to come back the following day. Be sure to have all the necessary documents together to expedite the process.
Getting around
Air Santo Domingo is the only carrier providing service within the Dominican Republic; its small planes may rattle like East German cars, but they're reliable to a fault. Fares generally run a little higher than 50.00 between most destinations. Buses are the preferred way to see the DR. They're cheap, convenient and, if you use Metro Bus or Carib Tours, air-conditioned and comfortable. There are also gua-guas, smaller and less-comfortable buses that are favoured by locals. They're a great way to scoot between locations in the same region, and fares rarely break a few Dominican pesos. Car rental in the DR is fairly expensive. You must be older than 25 and have a credit card, valid driver's license and nerves of steel. There are few road rules in the Dominican Republic and those on the books are rarely enforced. Traffic police are notoriously corrupt; you may be stopped and 'fined' 5.00 or 10.00 for such offences as 'driving a dirty car' or 'failing to brake fast enough'. One LP writer was told simply, 'Give me money. I want to buy a beer.' It's best not to argue; tell the officer you're sorry, promise to never break the law again, and keep a small amount of money in your wallet for just such an emergency. Renting a motorcycle might be a better idea, if you're comfortable driving on dirt roads. They're cheaper to rent - around 16.00 a day - and they'll get you to places neither buses nor cars can go. As an added bonus, traffic police are less likely to hassle you on two wheels. Safety is a real issue on a motorbike in DR however, even moreso than in a car.
Visa:
All visitors require a valid passport; citizens of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cura ç ao, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Russia, Surinam, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela and Yugoslavia are eligible for a 90-day tourist card. Check with the Dominican consulate for the latest visa requirements.
Weather
Except in the central mountains, temperatures don't vary much in the Dominican Republic, averaging a summery 28 ° C-31 ° C (81 ° F-87 ° F) in most places for most of the year. In the mountains, sunny days climb to 24 ° C (75 ° F) but can just as easily fall to single digits at night or on cloudy days. Tropical humidity can make the temperatures feel higher, though sea breezes help mitigate the effect. There are two rainy seasons, October to May along the northern coast and May to October in the south; bring an umbrella if you plan to travel the entire country. Dominican rain isn't your garden-variety 'just-enough-to-cool-things-off' precipitation native to Hawaii or Central America - this stuff drenches waterfall-style and could easily last half a day.
Places of Interest
The white-sand beaches, impressive mountain ranges veined with spectacular rivers and waterfalls, and saltwater lakes teeming with exotic wildlife are just part of the Dominican Republic's appeal. Whether you're looking to party, relax or explore, the Dominican Republic has a lot to offer.
Bounce between carnivals and glide between manatees. The white-sand beaches, impressive mountain ranges veined with spectacular rivers and waterfalls, and saltwater lakes teeming with exotic wildlife are just part of the Dominican Republic's appeal. Whether you're looking to party, relax or explore, the Dominican Republic has a lot to offer.
Destination facts
Capital: Santo Domingo
President: Leonel Fern á ndez
Government: representative democracy
Time zone: GMT -4
Area: 48730
Population: 8850000
Languages: 95% Roman Catholic
Currency: Dominican Peso (RD$)
Country Dialing Code: 809
Getting There
The main foreign tourist seasons are from December to February, July to August, and Semana Santa (the week before Easter). Expect higher prices and more crowded beaches during these times. Also, note that most water sports and activities are prohibited throughout Semana Santa. The June-to-September hurricane season might be worth missing; though the chances of one blowing through are miniscule, remember that one little hurricane can wreck your whole holiday. All in all, February and November are perhaps the best months to visit - both have great weather, thinner crowds and allow you to partake in either pro baseball, Carnival or whale-watching.
Getting there and away
The cheapest way to get to the Dominican Republic by air is as part of an all-inclusive package tour; they're so cheap, in fact, that many people book time at an all-inclusive ticket and leave their hotel rooms empty part of the time while they explore the rest of the island. Whether you get your ticket a la carte or through a resort, there are direct flights from Europe and the Americas. Fares vary with the season, date of purchase and whims of the airline; shop around. Several cruise ship lines also have ports of call in the DR. There is a departure tax whether you're leaving by land or by sea. There are two main crossing points between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. One is at Jiman í /Malpasse, on the southern route that links Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo. The other, at Dajab ó n/Ouanaminthe, links Cap-Ha ï tian and Santiago. There is a third crossing near the centre of the island, at El í as Pi ñ a/Belladere, but foreigners generally give this one a miss. Borders are generally open 08:00-16:00, but don't cut it too close or you may be asked to come back the following day. Be sure to have all the necessary documents together to expedite the process.
Getting around
Air Santo Domingo is the only carrier providing service within the Dominican Republic; its small planes may rattle like East German cars, but they're reliable to a fault. Fares generally run a little higher than 50.00 between most destinations. Buses are the preferred way to see the DR. They're cheap, convenient and, if you use Metro Bus or Carib Tours, air-conditioned and comfortable. There are also gua-guas, smaller and less-comfortable buses that are favoured by locals. They're a great way to scoot between locations in the same region, and fares rarely break a few Dominican pesos. Car rental in the DR is fairly expensive. You must be older than 25 and have a credit card, valid driver's license and nerves of steel. There are few road rules in the Dominican Republic and those on the books are rarely enforced. Traffic police are notoriously corrupt; you may be stopped and 'fined' 5.00 or 10.00 for such offences as 'driving a dirty car' or 'failing to brake fast enough'. One LP writer was told simply, 'Give me money. I want to buy a beer.' It's best not to argue; tell the officer you're sorry, promise to never break the law again, and keep a small amount of money in your wallet for just such an emergency. Renting a motorcycle might be a better idea, if you're comfortable driving on dirt roads. They're cheaper to rent - around 16.00 a day - and they'll get you to places neither buses nor cars can go. As an added bonus, traffic police are less likely to hassle you on two wheels. Safety is a real issue on a motorbike in DR however, even moreso than in a car.
Visa:
All visitors require a valid passport; citizens of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cura ç ao, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Russia, Surinam, Switzerland, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela and Yugoslavia are eligible for a 90-day tourist card. Check with the Dominican consulate for the latest visa requirements.
Weather
Except in the central mountains, temperatures don't vary much in the Dominican Republic, averaging a summery 28 ° C-31 ° C (81 ° F-87 ° F) in most places for most of the year. In the mountains, sunny days climb to 24 ° C (75 ° F) but can just as easily fall to single digits at night or on cloudy days. Tropical humidity can make the temperatures feel higher, though sea breezes help mitigate the effect. There are two rainy seasons, October to May along the northern coast and May to October in the south; bring an umbrella if you plan to travel the entire country. Dominican rain isn't your garden-variety 'just-enough-to-cool-things-off' precipitation native to Hawaii or Central America - this stuff drenches waterfall-style and could easily last half a day.
Places of Interest
The white-sand beaches, impressive mountain ranges veined with spectacular rivers and waterfalls, and saltwater lakes teeming with exotic wildlife are just part of the Dominican Republic's appeal. Whether you're looking to party, relax or explore, the Dominican Republic has a lot to offer.
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