Travel Guide to Dominican Republic

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Location

Situated on one of the Caribbean’s largest islands, The DR is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the warm, clear waters of the Caribbean Sea to the south. The island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles, is divided roughly into thirds with the eastern two thirds forming the country of the Dominican Republic and the western third forming Haiti.

Shopping

There are great shopping opportunities in the DR with numerous shopping stores and malls situated around the bigger hotels. Prices are generally cheaper than elsewhere and some stores offer duty free prices on many goods. Since the DR is almost as famous as Cuba for its cigars, first-class cigars are widely available everywhere. Similarly rum is a very popular purchase, with over 36 varieties to choose from, as is real Dominican coffee – reported to be some of the finest in the world. All of these are found at very reasonable prices. If you’re looking for something more traditional, local handicrafts are readily available and include Taino-styled soapstone carvings, woodwork, Haiti artwork, ceramics – including dolls in traditional costumes, leather goods, amber and larimar jewellery (larimar is a semi-precious blue volcanic stone only found in the DR). Beware of fake amber though and remember that real amber floats in water and glows under a UV light.

Geography

As the second largest Caribbean Island, 250 miles (400km) by 150 miles (240km), the Dominican Republic has a variety of stunning landscapes to admire. Home to the highest mountain in the Caribbean, its three central mountain ranges are lined with rugged peaks that dip to valleys of rivers and lakes, savannah-lands, tropical rainforests and a coastline that seems like heaven on earth. Vast swathes of powdery white sand beaches line the warm, clear blue seas. In the south-west, Lake Enriquillo is the lowest point in the Caribbean at 40m below sea level and is home to the world’s only saltwater lake inhabited by crocodiles.

History

Originally inhabited by Taino Indians, the island underwent a dramatic change when discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492 and the first Spanish colony in the Americas was founded on, what is now, the DR’s north shore. The island was named Hispaniola and became a base for exploring the Americas and Caribbean. The capital was moved to Santo Domingo on the south coast and flourished under the influence of the Spanish, achieving many of the New World’s ‘firsts’ such as the first cathedral, the first hospital, the fist chapel and the first university amongst many others. A fact of which, even in the modern day, they are very proud. In 1697, Spain relinquished the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti, to the French. The other two thirds became known as Santo Domingo and until 1821, the Spanish, English, French and Haitians fought for control of this eastern part of Hispaniola. The Haitians took control and governed the island until 1844 when Juan Pablo Duarte led the region to independence and it became an autonomous country – the Dominican Republic. The following century saw almost continuous political upheaval with a dictator ruling from 1930 until his assassination in 1961 and a president whose continuous re-election from 1965 to the 1990s was claimed to have been achieved through rigged voting. Many believe the country’s first fair election was in 1996. For the last decade, the Dominican Republic has had one of the fastest economic growth rates in the northern hemisphere.

Climate

Basic Information

Language
Both Spanish and English are widely spoken.

Currency
The Dominican Peso (RD$). Coins have values of 0.10, 0.25, 0.50 and 1 peso. Notes have values of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 pesos. There are around 16-17 pesos to the US dollar. Visitors are expected to bring US dollars in cash or traveller’s cheques and these are accepted everywhere.

Electricity
110 volts AC 60 Hz. Plugs have two flat pins.

Banks
Generally open Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m.–3.30 p.m.

Driving
Traffic drives on the right.

Time difference
GMT minus 4

Tipping and local customs
A sales tax of 10% is added in restaurants but you are also expected to leave an additional 10% tip as the additional tax is not a service charge or tip. Taxi drivers, porters and hotel staff usually expect a small tip but this is at your discretion.

Water
Bottled mineral water is recommended.

Visas
A Tourist Card (visa) is required for entry into the Dominican Republic, which must be purchased on arrival at a cost of USD10 per person. Irish passport holders must have a Machine Readable Passport (MRP) to enter the Dominican Republic, which also applies to children over and under 16 years, who must have their own valid MRP.

Tourist info
www.dominicanrepublic.com
www.hispaniola.com
www.dr1.com

What makes it so special?

The beautiful, pristine beaches and excellent resort facilities. Near perfect year-round weather. The stunning variety of natural scenery. Fantastic atmosphere of music and dance including merengue, bachata and salsa. Numerous watersports to choose from.

Where to visit?

Set just south east of La Romana, on the south coast, is Bayahibe, a small fishing village with a traditional, laid back atmosphere. Close to the town centre is the National Park of the East, which offers some of the best snorkelling in the DR and caves with historical paintings by Taino Indians.

Close to Santo Domingo, Boca Chica (on the south coast) is a very popular area. It features a stunning shallow lagoon surrounded by reefs, filled with crystal clear waters and lined with a stunning white-sand beach. When the tide is out, you can walk to the small, uninhabited island of La Matica. Waterskiing, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, sailboats, paddleboats and jet skis are all available. Also near to Boca Chica is Juan Dolio, which features a smaller beach, a casino and two golf courses.

Punta Cana and Bavaro on the east coast are lined by a beautiful stretch of palm-lined, white-sand beach and are home to several all-inclusive hotels.

Sosua, on the north coast, is home to several fantastic beaches and some excellent diving sites. There’s plenty of shopping opportunities and a vibrant nightlife to keep you occupied. Close to Sosua is Cabarete, which hosts the Annual Windsurfing championships and is subsequently famed for its windsurfing and kite-surfing sites.

Santo Domingo is the country’s capital and the oldest city in the Americas. Home to the island’s best nightlife, shopping, eateries and cultural sites, there is plenty to cater for all tastes.

Most popular tours

Tour a cigar-making plant
The National Park hiking trails