Content
- Holidays in the Dominican Republic
- General information
- Climate in Dominican Republic
- Documents for entry into the Dominican Republic
- Customs regulations
- Flight
- Popular Resorts Dominican Republic
- The best excursions of the Dominican Republic
- A few words about the carnival
Holidays in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic occupies two thirds of the Caribbean island of Haiti. This is a cozy and interesting tropical country. In addition to the white beaches and crystal turquoise waters, here you can enjoy the majestic mountains, emerald rainforests and medieval buildings. But before you go to this amazing republic, it will be useful to find out some details.
General information
The Dominican Republic is located on the eastern part of Haiti. The western part is occupied by the state of the Republic of Haiti. The closest neighbors of the Dominican Republic are Cuba (in the northwest) and Jamaica (in the west). The capital of the republic is Santo Domingo. Spanish is recognized as the national language, but in places of rest they speak mainly English. Less often you can hear French and Italian speech. More than 95% of the population adhere to the Catholic faith. The country’s currency is the Dominican Peso (DOP). Money can be exchanged for national currency at hotels or banks..
Climate in Dominican Republic
The island has a humid and subtropical climate. The temperature is in the range of + 25-27 ° C. The coldest month is January (+ 22 ° С), and the hottest – August (+ 31 ° С). Tourists easily tolerate the heat, due to the soft sea breezes and trade winds. The rainy season lasts from May to September. The Dominican Republic is characterized by frequent and powerful, but short showers. In the remaining months, the weather is dry and warm. The most favorable period for a trip is from December to April. It is worth noting that in the rainy season the cost of rest is reduced. It’s all about high humidity. At a temperature of + 24 ° C, the sensations will be the same as at + 18 ° C. Rainy season lovers are advised to check the weather before traveling. Typhoons and hurricanes characteristic of this period can overshadow the rest.
Documents for entry into the Dominican Republic
You can stay in the country for 30 days, and if you want to extend your vacation up to 2 and 3 months for a nominal fee ($ 2). The following documents must be collected:
- A passport with a minimum time before expiration is 6 months. This is not a rule, but a recommendation so that when crossing the border there are no undesirable questions.
- Migration card (fill in at the border). About $ 30 will be needed to pay for the card and permission to fly out of the country.
- Air ticket to the Dominican Republic and back. The control service is important to make sure that the tourist does not stay in the country after the end of the permitted period.
- Confirmation of a reservation at a hotel. This item will also make border guards more loyal..
- Children need a notarized travel permit from the parent who stays at home. If the teenager is traveling alone, permission from both parents is required..
Customs regulations
To avoid unpleasant surprises when crossing the border, check out the Dominican Republic customs rules:
- Import and export of the Dominican currency is prohibited. There are no restrictions for importing another currency, but its amount should be recorded in the customs declaration. More than $ 10,000 is not allowed to be exported..
- Without payment of the fee you can bring: 500 g of coffee, 2 bottles of open perfume, 1 liter of spirits (more than 22%), 2 liters of weak spirits, 200 cigarettes or 1 box of cigars, personal hygiene items. The price of gifts should not exceed $ 100.
- Food is not allowed to be imported. It is important to know that the import of all products of animal, garden and agricultural origin is prohibited. Before you travel, make sure that you do not have such products. Also, you can’t import drugs and, in connection with this, some drugs.
- It is forbidden to export items of special value (for example, the core of a palm tree, antiquities from the seabed, some varieties of orchids, etc.).
Flight
Only 3 Dominican Republic airports serve international flights: Las Americas (Santo Domingo), Punta Cana (Punta Cana) and Gregorio Luperion (Puerto Plata). Transaero and Aeroflot operate direct flights between Moscow and Punta Cana twice a week. The flight duration is about 13 hours. Other airlines provide flights from Russian cities to Dominican Republic airports with transfers in different cities of Europe and the USA. Duration of trip – 13.5-20 hours (excluding transplant).
Popular Resorts Dominican Republic
Most tourists travel to the Dominican Republic for a chic beach holiday. All sorts of Caribbean holidays and carnivals make visiting a tropical paradise even more attractive. Consider the most famous resorts and their features.
Punta Cana (Coconut Beach)
It is Punta Cana that is famous for its bounty-style beaches, without exaggeration. The small town has a long coastline and many five-star hotels. Nearby are three parks and mangroves. Manati and Eyes Ecological parks will pleasantly surprise tourists with a large territory and exotic animals. The Marinarium Underwater Park is located right in the ocean. It will make visitors literally plunge into the magic of the underwater world. 3 km from the resort is the fishing village of El Cortecito. At local restaurants you can try delicious dishes of freshly caught fish. Popular excursions – Santa Domingo, Saona Island, St. Catalina Island, Jeep Safari, Fun Fun Cave.
Puerto Plata
Cozy wooden houses and tropical flowers give the city an extraordinary flavor. Residents are very friendly and welcoming. There are many five-star hotels in the area with excellent service and entertainment. In Puerto Plata there is an amber museum, a rum factory, the ruins of the house of Columbus, the church of San Felipe, the Museum of the Indians Secretly, the Fortalese lighthouse. From the city there are many excursions to other places. Also, tourists are expected to enjoy such activities as a jeep safari, diving, fishing, horse riding, tennis.
Samana
This resort is more suitable for lovers of a quiet holiday. The beaches are mostly deserted. Nearby is Los Haitises Park, where you can take a dip in the underground lake and view cave paintings on the walls. True, such entertainment is unlikely to be appreciated by tourists who are afraid of bats and their squeak. The main attraction of Samana is El Limon waterfall, whose length is 30 meters. The nearby Las Terrenas village also has some interesting excursions. There you can go to the mountains.
The best excursions of the Dominican Republic
In addition to a beach holiday, it is recommended to purchase several sightseeing trips that will give tourists an unforgettable experience. Consider the most popular options..
Santo Domingo
The capital of the Dominican Republic impresses with the splendor of its attractions. The attention of tourists presented various memorial places of the colonial era. Enthusiastic reviews were given to the Alcazar de Colon Palace and the Gothic portal Cassa de Owando. One of the symbols of the city is the Faro-o-Colon lighthouse, where the remains of Christopher Columbus rest. In the Museum of Las Casas Reales, you can see exhibits dedicated to the travels of this great navigator. Fans of the Baroque era will love the Cathedral of Santa Domingo. To see as many interesting places as possible, it is recommended to book a tour that costs about $ 80.
Santiago
To feel the true color of the Dominican Republic, it is recommended to go to Santiago. This place is considered the cradle of meringue – the national dances of the Dominican Republic. In addition to dance entertainment, tourists can enjoy the magnificent Santiago Cathedral, the Thomas Morey Folk Museum, the Dominican Tobacco Museum and the cozy Duarte Park. The price of the tour may vary, but is reasonably acceptable for tourists.
Altos de Chavon
The town is a piece of medieval Spain. The place received the most positive reviews from tourists, despite the low cost of the tour. In this place you can visit the church of St. Stanislav, in which Michael Jackson, the Museum of Archeology, a stone amphitheater for 5,000 people, and the cave of the Miracles of the Indians Secretly were married. Tour price from $ 35 and above.
A few words about the carnival
Those wishing to attend the carnival are advised to come to the Dominican Republic by February 27 – this is the Dominican Republic Independence Day. The procession lasts 7 days and covers absolutely all cities and provinces. In the city of La Vega, extravaganza begins in early February and takes place every Sunday until the holiday ends. The final carnival takes place in the capital, where all groups gather. They choose the best carnival teams, the king and the queen of the holiday. The carnival symbol is the lame devil with a bull bubble in his hands. A gaping passerby can get such a bubble on his back, but according to local customs this gesture provides happiness and well-being.
The Dominican Republic will appeal to both beach lovers and more active travelers. Each resort promises a special holiday. And what it will be like depends on the wishes and preferences of the tourist.
