When Christopher Columbus arrived on the Dominican
Republic's shores in 1492, he proclaimed, "There is no
island that is more beautiful in the world ". For
visitors of the country today, the Dominican Republic
definitely represents just that. It is simply a paradise
to discover - golden sandy beaches, crystal clear
turquoise waters, mysterious lush valleys, majestic tall
mountains and wonderfully friendly people.
The Dominican Republic occupies 48,482
square kilometers, making up the eastern two thirds of
the island of Hispaniola, with the country of Haiti
comprising the western third. The island of Hispaniola
sits more or less in the center of the Caribbean Islands
- with the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas to the
North, Cuba and Jamaica to the west, Puerto Rico and the
Leeward Islands to the east, and South America to the
south. The north coast gives way to the Atlantic Ocean
and the south coast gives way to the Caribbean Sea.
When and Where to Visit
When to Visit the Dominican Republic
Any time is a good time to visit the Dominican Republic
because of its warm and generally sunny climate all year
round. Some call the weather here 'the endless summer'.
There are months where it is more likely you'll have
rain. If you wish to avoid these periods, please visit
our Climate section to find out when these are, as these
occur at different times depending on the area of the
country you may be visiting. The busiest tourism season
in the Dominican Republic runs from December through
April, where many North Americans and Europeans visit to
get a warm, tropical break from the cold temperatures in
their home countries. The next busiest period is in the
summer months, June through September, when the majority
of visitors are made up of Europeans visiting for their
long summer vacations. Generally, the busier the season,
the more in advance you should begin to plan your visit
in order to secure your flight and accommodations of
choice. Accommodation rates fluctuate slightly (are
generally higher) during the busier tourism months, but
almost all other costs, such as food & beverages,
excursions, sporting activities, etc., remain constant
year-round.
Where to to go in the Dominican Republic
-Cabarete ...Adventure, water sports, young, hip and
famously fun...
-Sosua ...Great beaches, nice snorkeling & diving...
-Playa Dorada ...All-inclusive hotels, golf courses,
casinos and plenty of activities...
-Cabrera & Playa Grande ...Luxury villas, one of the
finest golf courses and beaches in the country...
-Las Terrenas ...Mediterranean flair, picturesque
beaches, relaxed, yet close to adventure...
-Las Galeras ...Remote spot with boutique hotels, hidden
beaches, a lovers' paradise...
-Punta Cana ...Caribbean postcard perfection with
all-inclusive hotels to take care of the rest...
-Bayahibe ...Tranquil setting, great beach and a
not-to-miss National Park...
-La Romana ...Casa de Campo/La Romana: One word:
"luxury" - villa paradise, golf heaven, fine dining?
-Juan Dolio ...A little French Riviera in the
Caribbean...
-Boca Chica ...Smaller hotels, a place to mix with the
locals, great diving...
-Santo Domingo ...The CAPITAL of the Dominican Republic
- exciting, cultural, historical, sophisticated..
-Barahona-Pedernales…In the southwest part of the
country with green mountains and rivers flowing into the
turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea make this region
the most beautiful and the future of the high level
tourism of the country.
-For more pictures go to:
www.dominicanaonline.org/portal/espanol/cpo_galeria_Barahona.asp
How to Dress
Dominicans wear light clothes accordingly with the
tropical climate and you should do the same. However, we
should mention that Dominicans like to wear a shirt
named Guayavera, which is made of linen and used in
formal and informal gatherings. For business and other
formal activities try to wear a tie and suit. |
