Area

Geography

The Dominican Republic region is located on the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola and it borders the small country of Haiti. Hispaniola is the second-largest of the Greater Antilles islands and can be found west of Puerto Rico and east of Jamaica.

Climate

The Dominican Republic experiences a tropical maritime climate, with distinct seasons. The rainy season runs from May until November and sees frequent heavy rainstorms. Most of the rain falls in the northern and eastern regions of the country, with the heaviest rain showers falling in the mountainous regions.

Visa

For our citizens visa is required.

Custom!

Import and Export of national and foreign currency is unlimited.

Sightseeing

The Dominican Republic is home to the oldest city in the New World, so take time to fully discover Santo Domingo and its surroundings. The country is small enough to enjoy a number of sights and cities, so you can choose from resort towns, historic monuments, amber museums, ancient forts or stunning botanic gardens. Coupled with the year-round good weather, the number of sights on offer will ensure a truly memorable trip.

Fort San Felipe. This fort was built in the 1600s by the Spanish to protect the settlement from pirates. It is now a museum which documents its own important role in the history of the Dominican Republic.

Isabel de Torres Botanical Gardens. Take the 800 metre cable car ride up to the top of Isabela de Torres, the peak of which overlooks Puerto Plata, and enjoy the stunning Botanical Gardens with their subtropical vegetation and 15 small brooks and streams. You will find countless nature trails which are perfect for the entire family as well as enormous ferns, overgrown flowers, fire-red gingers and giant hibiscus. A visit early in the morning is well worth the early start, as you are guaranteed to catch the best views from the top.

Museo Mundo de Ambar. The Dominican Republic has one of the largest amber reserves in the world. This museum, found in Santo Domingo, is home to an impressive collection including both home grown and international amber. Many of the stones have insects in them, with a whole room being dedicated to ants. You will find signs in English detailing the origins of the stones, the mining process and uses.

Las Américas Highway. This highway runs east along the coast from the capital of Santo Domingo to La Romana and is a 2-hour drive. The highway takes you along a stunning route, passing through some of the country's most beautiful scenery. Midway, you will find the beach resorts of Juan Dolio and San Pedro de Macoris as well as Higüey, home to a giant concrete cathedral and shrine. East of La Romana, you will find Punta Cana and Bávaro, two beautiful beaches which are perfect for watching the sunrise. As the highway is so short, hiring a car and travelling along it is a must if you really want to experience some of the country's most beautiful scenery.

Resorts

The past ten years have been kind to the tourism industry here. The island was once was a well-kept secret, known only to surfers and travelers trying to get by on the cheap. But that time is over – now there are thousands of resorts and hotels in the Dominican Republic. Every major city on the country has plenty of each – the eastern beach of Punta Cana is the latest to delve headlong into the burgeoning tourist industry. Luckily, there are thousands of miles of sand along the coast for new Dominican Republic resorts to rise from.

Santo Domingo, Boca Chica, Punta Cana, Playa Dorada and Cabarate are the main areas to stay on the island, each one offering something different to the traveler. Santa Domingo is the sprawling capital, alive with restaurants and bars and historical monuments. For many it may be a bit too much, especially those looking for a more relaxing vacation, but the activity in the city is as infectious as it is hectic. Bound into many itineraries as merely a day trip, Santo Domingo misses out on a lot of the tourists – which is too bad because you'll find a number of the quirkiest and hippest hotels in the Dominican Republic in the capital city. Casinos and voluminous bars give you something to do at night when you stay at the Sofitel Nicolas Ovando or the pink-tinged Renaissance Jaragua Hotel and Casino.

Boca Chica is just east of the airport, and is one of the original locations of all inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic. Here you'll find a number of Dominicans on vacation, which is a good sign for any tourist. Europeans have increasingly been flocking to this area – along with the neighboring Juan Dolio resorts – which means it's only a matter of time before it's growing by leaps and bounds. The Dominican Republic resorts here are not at the same high standard as many of the other areas, but decent values and beautiful beaches abound for those who explore Boca Chica.

Punta Cana is the new hot place to be for all inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic. Coco palms sway as pale tourists attempt surfing lessons. Untouched beaches are all along the coast. Here you'll find the highest grade of luxury available in Dominican Republic resorts – there are 25,000 rooms for rent around Punta Cana. The fact that they are almost invariably sold out months ahead of time should tell you everything you need to know about this scenic area of the island.

Playa Dorada is back on the northern coast of the country, and where a handful of the very first Dominican Republic resorts were built. The beautiful Gran Ventana Beach Resort is here, and a fine deal. But the definition of luxury is found here in the boutique hotel called Casa Colonial Beach and Spa. Stucco walls, fine cuisine and a rooftop deck to enjoy your rum punch distinguish this all-suite treasure as the pinnacle of hotels in the Dominican Republic.

The final, and for many, most likable spot on the island is the city of Cabarete. Along with nearby Sosua, this is the place to stay if you want to play on the beach all day and in the clubs all night. Somewhat overlooked for years as merely a surfer hangout, there are still a number of independently owned, quality hotels and inns for those who venture to the north. Fewer and far between are the all inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic from which the country derives its fame, and that alone is a selling point for many.