Dominican Republic Things To Do

The Dominican Republic is located on Hispaniola, sharing the island with the Republic of Haiti. Even after five centuries have passed, the palace of the Columbus family can still be found here, as well as a sixteenth-century cathedral, the oldest in the New World.

Great for: beaches, all-inclusive resorts, whale watching (during season), merengue
Location: Greater Antilles, part of Hispaniola
Population: 9.7 million
Size: 18,815 sq miles
Capital city: Santo Domingo
Airports: La Romana International Airport, La Romana. LRM
Punta Cana International Airport, Punta Cana, PUJ
Puerto Plata International Airport, Puerto Plata, POP
Las Americas International Airport, Santo Domingo, SDQ
Language: Spanish
Currency: Dominican Peso (RD$ or DOP) - check exchange rate
Time Zone: Atlantic Time Zone
Area code: 809

Did you know?
Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic. Whether you're on the beach or in town, you'll hear the beat of the tambor and most likely encounter an exuberant teacher ready to show you the steps.

Explore Santo Domingo the oldest city of the Americas. Visit Puerto Plata, it will charm you with its old Victorian houses! Visit the historic Fort San Felipe and also the Amber Museum, where you will be able to purchase precious souvenirs.

Take in sunset by the timeless Caribbean Sea, where gardens of corals have flourished for centuries, or ride out the day with a whale-watching tour (during season). As you head back towards the city, look to the night skies: the Columbus Lighthouse projects a giant cross that can be seen as far away as Puerto Rico.

The Dominican Republic caters mostly to those looking for the type of vacation where the resort has everything and one never has to go outside the gates. Many resorts are all-inclusive, like those along the picturesque coastline in the Punta Cana/Bavaro area, where a sizeable coral reef draws scuba divers.

Beaches

Nature & Wildlife

Diving & Snorkeling

Landmarks

Resorts on the Dominican Republic come complete with the most lavish beach and pool facilities, spectacular gardens and a number of programs to keep guests happily occupied. Fishing, wind sailing, parasailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, water skiing, horseback riding, and golf are a few of the many offerings. However, there are plenty of activities to choose from for those who want to discover more. With mellow beaches and exotic wildlife the Dominican Republic is a gem in the Caribbean.

Dominican Republic Beaches:

The beach is the No. 1 attraction in the Dominican Republic. Some of the most popular beaches are the following:

Playa Rincon - Conde Nast Traveler ranked this beach as one of the world's 10 best.
Las Terrenas and Playa Bonita - Both located on the Samana peninsula.
Playa Bavaro - located just north of Punta Cana.
Punta Cana - With a continuous strand of sugar-sand beaches that spans for miles and miles, Punta Cana boasts the largest stretch of uninterrupted beaches in the Caribbean. It is the DR’s most popular resort area.
Cabarete - Located on the north coast cabarete is one of the top five kiteboarding and windsurfing beaches in the world.
Boca Chica - Located on the south, this beach is popular with Santo Domingo residents.

Nature & Wildlife in the Dominican Republic:

Manatee Park Bávaro - A preserve with permanent exhibits of birds, reptiles, and fish. A show with parrots, dolphins and dancing horses is included in the admission fee. There is an optional possibility of swimming with the dolphins for an extra fee.
 
Punta Cana Ecological Reserve - Experience the wilds of exotic fauna and flora of the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean through daily-guided tours, which traverse subtropical forests and freshwater lagoons. Made available through the conservation efforts of the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation.
 
Petting Farm and Iguana Habitat - The Ecological Reserve offers a chance for children to interact with live animals at the Petting Farm. Your kids will love feeding the animals and seeing the indigenous species of iguanas located in an enclosed habitat near the Farm at Rancho Punta Cana. 

Los Haitises National Park - A sanctuary for nature lovers and those interested in natural history. The underground rivers flow through caves replete with pre-Columbian drawings and petro glyphs, silent testimony to the Indian population who dwelled there peacefully for centuries before the arrival of the Europeans. Be sure to visit the Cueva de la Linea and the Cueva de las Arenas. The boat trip to get to these caves that are off San Lorenzo Bay will take you through the largest system of mangroves in the Caribbean. Another option to visit and a place to have lunch in the area is the Paraiso Caño Hondo river center, a short drive from the National Park Los Haitises departure point.

Jaragua National Park - Jaragua has one of the largest bird populations in the Dominican Republic and it is home to the largest population of pink flamingos. The main park office is east of the town of Oviedo.

Plantación Tropical - A memorable side trip north from San Pedro de Macorís to Hato Mayor will reward the entire family with one of the largest horticultural centers in the Caribbean. Tropical Plantation displays scores of exotic species -- bromeliads, orchids and others along challenging labyrinthine paths. Complementing their intense colors, fragrance and beauty is an aviary with the island's native birds and a vast butterfly enclosure. It is an entertaining cross between a botanical garden, an amusement park and a working plant nursery that will captivate all for an entire morning or afternoon.

Diving & Snorkeling:

Saona Island - A larger island, just a boat ride away from La Romana, with abundant marine life. The island has a quiet fishing village with friendly locals who now cater to thousands of day trippers. You can go by catamaran, big tourist boat or small motor boat. The boats generally leave from Bayahibe. If you are lucky, dolphins will swim along with you.

Sosua - Located near Puerto Plata, Sosua offers good diving.

Samana - With its caves, tunnels and reefs the peninsula of Samana offers some of the best dive spots.

Dominican Republic Landmarks:

Santo Domingo - Santo Domingo is the oldest city of the Americas. Even after five centuries have passed, the palace of the Columbus family can still be found here. You'll also get to see the oldest cathedral, street, monastery, and hospital in all the Western Hemisphere.

• You must present a valid U.S. passport.
• Non-US citizens, please contact the nearest consulate or embassy of the country to which you are traveling to determine your entry/visa requirements.
• Upon arrival to Dominican Republic, you'll be given an Immigration Card to complete and sign. The customs official will stamp the card and return it to you. Be sure to keep the card in a safe place, because you'll need to turn it in upon departure. 
• Passport, visa and travel advisory information may be found at the U.S. Department of State's Dominican Republic pages. Although most travel to international destinations is completed without incident, Caribbean-TravelDeals.com urges passengers to review travel prohibitions, warnings, announcements and advisories prior to booking.