| Dominicana General Info |
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Geography We are an island in the archipelago of the Greater Antilles, occupying a little over two thirds of the island of Hispaniola. Bounded on the north by the Atlantic Ocean; on the south by the Caribbean or the Antillean Sea; on the east by La Mona Channel that separates us from the island of Puerto Rico; and on the west, by Haiti. It has some 1288 km of coastline and the highest elevation mountain of the Caribbean islands called Pico Duarte with 3,098 meters above sea level. Inland waters (rivers and lakes), represent 1.6% of the territory. Weather Tropical. The average annual temperature is 26º C (79º F). Although, most of the year during daytime, temperatures reach 35º C (95º F). August is the hottest month and January the coolest. In mountainous areas, it could stay at 20º C (68º F), as an annual average, and in January, it could drop to -5º C (23º F). The season with most rains covers from May to November, excelling May, August, and, September. The island is prone to storms which annually form in the Atlantic Ocean from June to November. Due that the island is located in the northern hemisphere of the globe, the seasons are: Spring, from March 20/21 to June 22/23; summer, from June 21 to September 21; fall, from September22/ 23 to December 21; and winter, from December 21 to March 21. The characteristic of a mild and stable climate throughout the seasons and days lasting 11 hours in winter and up to 13 hours in summer, enables us to be the ideal destination to perform the most varied sports and recreational activities as well as outdoor adventures. Natural Areas & Biodiversity Dominicana has a vast array of natural areas. Among those are the ones which form the national system of protected areas of the Dominican Republic. Within their own categories of management, they possess features that provide attractive and unique ecosystems, habitats and biodiversity samples, many of which are tourism-oriented. They all provide the facilities for visiting and enjoying them. The system is composed of 86 protected areas, distributed throughout the country. They are identified in eight categories: 8 strict protected areas, 15 national reserves, 19 national parks, 19 natural monuments, and 25 managed habitat and species areas. Our biodiversity is composed by a flora of more than 5,600 species of plants. A fauna appointed throughout the island with about 70 fish species, 60 amphibians, 141 reptiles, 254 birds, and 33 mammals. In addition, there is a large formation of coral reefs with a huge diversity of gender and taxonomic family throughout our tropical island. Hispaniola, located in the domain of the neo-tropical region of the Caribbean (eco zone land that includes South America, Central America and the Caribbean); has a wide range of ecosystems from the ones typically tropical to the ones of temperate climate that has developed in the cacuminals areas (peaks) of the mountains, where weather conditions are determined by their height. In the Cordillera Central are located the highest mountains in the Antilles, including Pico Duarte. On the other hand, we have the Enriquillo Lake, the largest of the Antilles, with 265 square kilometers in area, located in a tectonic pit, 40 meters below sea level, with the characteristic of having hyper salted waters partly due to evaporation. As well, rains or the rainfall patterns prevailing in different areas of the territory, one of the determining factors for the establishment of biotic communities and areas of life in the island, ten in total, make us one of the few places where this broad diversity can be seen. The orientation from east to west of the main mountain ranges and the prevailing direction of the alisios winds, from the northwest to southwest, lead rains to the northern slopes of the mountains, making the more humid regions those exposed to the Atlantic Coast and the drier the ones located towards the southwest coast of the Caribbean Sea. Broadly, the main ecosystems of the island can be distinguished as described below, from sea level to mountain tops. Coral reefs. They have developed in the coastal zone on the island platform. They can be seen as fringe reefs, barrier reefs, and patches. They provide a characteristic habitat where part of the marine production grows, offering underwater landscapes of unique beauty. Marine prairies. They are also distributed along the coast of the island, covering the sandy bottom of estuaries, bays and inlets. Consist mainly of sea grass: Thalassia testudium, filiforme Syringodium, and algae, which are higher photolytic plants belonging to the magnoliofitas species (those that have flowers and fruits, plus a complex system of rhizomes). These ecosystems are feeding and breeding important places for many different species of animals. Mangroves. Typical pan tropical formation forest (in tropical regions of the continent); it is developed in estuarine areas (widest and deepest part at the mouth of rivers), protected bays and inlets, and also on the coastal marshes; It usually consists of a dense forest and intricate highly specialized, aggressive and pioneer trees such as Rhizophora mangle, able to grow in permanently flooded areas, as well as Avicennia nitida and Laguncularia racemosa, which develop on consolidated land. The largest mangroves of the Dominican Republic are located in the Samaná Bay, the mouth of the Yuna River, and the mouth of the Yaque Del Norte River, San Fernando de Montecristi. Lagoons. Freshwater or salty; some temporary or permanent; they are on flood plains along the coast or in the interior, having or not communication with the sea. Are generally associated with other types of ecosystems, such as mangroves and prairie halophytes (plants that grow in salty soil) growing on its banks. The largest are the Cabral and Oviedo in the South; the Redonda and Limon in the East and, of course, Lake Enriquillo which is the largest body of lentic waters (static) in all the Antilles. They are natural sanctuaries for many species of waterfowl, many of which are migratory. Forests. The current forest formations represent a cliserie (staggered distribution of different vegetation types which are determined by changes in climate) from forest hyper xerofíticos (dry) of the lower areas of the Southwest and Northwest regions to the humid tropical areas in the mountains. All these ecosystems belong to our various areas of life classified as: subtropical thorny mount, dry subtropical forest, dry- to- humid forest, subtropical wet forest, subtropical very- wet forest, subtropical rainforest, moist low mountain forest, very humid low mountain forest, low mountain rainforest, and very humid mountain forest. Sports, Recreation & Adventure Surrounded by crystal waters, our island, with an unique geographical diversity in the Caribbean, offers the perfect places to practice the most varied sports, entertainment, and adventure which has turned Dominicana into the center of the region. If the sea is your preference, our amazing beaches and coastline invite you to enjoy diving, snorkeling or sail a boat to observe the spectacular coral and underwater life. The options for surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, jet skiing, kayaking, ski, sailing or a quiet ride on pedal boats, among others, will keep you entertained and away from boredom. Fishing in its various forms, excursions, and trips on boats and yachts to unforgettable natural attractions are available all year. The interior of the island, with its rivers and lakes, fields and mountains, as well as towns and cities are ideal places to practice from relaxing walks or hikes to extreme flights in delta wing, gliding, paragliding or parachuting, without mentioning other options such as horseback riding, fine step, jump and pole riding, rafting, rappel, climbing, mountaineering, mountain or all terrain cycling, motorcycling, all terrain vehicles, rallies, and many others. If talking about traditional sports, enjoy or practice baseball, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis, and many other disciplines; they are offered during most of the year. Several championships and international and local competitions are held regularly. The popularity of disciplines offers the ease of practicing facilities throughout the territory. Up Nightlife Having fun with joy and good company distinguishes Dominican nightlife. The night starts early, after the end of the regular working schedule, at 18:00 hours. Usually, it begins with a cold beer at a beer center or colmadón, where, in a pleasant atmosphere, begins the night journey! For the more demanding ones, the enjoyment of a traditional drink made with rum or other Dominican drinks, accompanied by a Dominican cigar at different types of bars, taverns or cafes, offers different settings for different tastes. For diner either typical, savoring our delicious Creole cuisine, or any other type of cuisine you want; you can enjoy the many and varied restaurants available. There are many theaters, galleries and cinemas, offering a variety of music, plays, opera, ballet, visual arts, and films produced by local or foreign authors. These may be subjected to seasons and are usually offered in several batches during the week. If you want to taste your luck, there are many casinos with a wide variety of games available throughout the territory. They are mainly located in the hotels. If this is your case, we wish you the best luck! If you prefer to listen and dance merengue, bachata, son, salsa, rock, jazz or any other rhythm, you may do so in different environments, such as typical ranchos, traditional clubs, and dance halls. Up The Dominicans Being Dominican is a great pride. Cheerful, quiet and not so loquacious as other Caribbeans, we are a blend of seasonings, traditions, expressions, rhythms, joys, attitudes, and algarabías; we love dancing our own music. We like doing things slowly and enjoying them, but our best quality is that we are friendly and courteous. We want our visitors to be aware of our culture and customs, so that they return to their country with the best impression of what Dominicans are. Culture Dominican culture is the result of the fusion of three races that have shaped their beliefs and customs as consequence of the transmission of cultures initiated by the meeting of two cultures in 1492: Mestizo from the European conqueror; from the Indian carried out in its nostalgia; and from the African slaves. The Hispaniola, as first baptized, was the first European colony in the New World. It was in Santo Domingo, the capital known as America's First City, where originated the first cultural and social institutions that symbolize colonization. Here were built the first forts, churches and cathedral; the first university, the first hospital, and the first monuments. The prosperity of the colony, as the axis of the new colonialist enterprise, was clear and growing based on its mineral wealth and sugar plantations. However, towards the end of 1600s, gold mines were depleted in a meaningful way, causing the migration of settlers which reduced their population. This was exploited by French buccaneers who used the island as a bridge for smuggling and for permanently occupying the western part of the island. They found Saint Domingue (now Haiti), as a colony based on the exploitation of plantations using African slaves laborers. This changed the current economic system of the colony due to the arrival of slaves. It resulted in a cultural fusion, prevailing the strongest culture, with the emergence of different ethnic groups still predominating today, as are our mulatos (blacks and whites) and / or mestizos (whites and tainos). Subsequently, two nations were born sharing the same island: the eastern part, Spain, and the western, France. Being target of possession, disputes, and ambition by European colonialists, two states originated coexisting with obvious and marked differences by their historical national settings, cultural background, economic development, and political evolution. Cuisine The Dominican cuisine has the characteristics of an authentic Creole cuisine, with taino, European, and African origins, but developed in America, after the arrival of the Spanish conquerors in 1492. It is similar to the Caribbean cuisine, influenced by other cultures, but with changes and variations uniquely developed in each region. Although its Creole cuisine, Dominicana offers the widest variety and more exquisite cuisines in the area. Carnival The Dominican Carnival is one of the oldest traditions in the New World and America. It has existed since 1520, when the inhabitants of the colony disguised as Morons and Christians during their celebrations which have evolved in what we do today. In 1975, carnivals were held during the St. James feasts, Corpus Christi, and Shrovetides (three days before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent), among others, traditions that came from the beginning of the colony. The carnival as tradition increased its popularity after the independence struggles of February 27, 1844 (Independence), and August 16, 1865 (Restoration of Independence), provoking an association of the carnival celebration with the Independence feast and not to the Shrovetide. In addition to the traditional celebration of the carnival, there are other expressions of carnival origin and with more African influences, which celebrations are not related to the holidays mentioned above or the Shrovetide. They are known as cimarron Carnival, which takes place until Easter of the Catholic Church. Dominican Icons
Security The Caribbean is one of the safest places for travelers wishing to spend their holidays in family. Dominicana is not an exception; the country has one of the lowest criminal and risk rates, compared with many other tourist destinations. Transport The transportation of passengers to and from the outside is done mostly by air using scheduled flights or charters, as well as private ones. It is also possible by sea through the use of cruise ships, ferries and private boats. If you are visiting the neighboring country of Haiti, you can also use buses, as well as private vehicles. The country has airports and seaports, both local and international, and two bordering gates at the frontier with Haiti. Nearly all the intern transportation is by road. Intercity transportations are via buses and minibuses. In communities with low passengers’ traffic, there are cars, trucks, and minibuses available. However, there are also scheduled intercity flight services and air cargo. Among major cities, there are conchos, cars passing by all day making route stops along the way collecting and removing passengers. In small communities and rural areas, there are motoconchos, motorcycles that make short journeys. Taxi services are available in large and medium cities. Services are contracted by users and fees are subjected to time and distance. There is not any rail transportation. Sea transportation services are restricted to some communities at the Samaná Bay and islands, islets, and cays to connect them with land. Another option is the rental of vehicles. Most of the companies that offer these services are global and locally well known. Sanity No specific vaccine is required or mandatory for traveling to Dominicana. Precautions should be taken against insect bites, especially mosquitoes. Visas & Conditions Visiting foreigners must present a passport and obtain a tourist card for USD10.00, paid in cash. Likewise, it is required to complete a form of embarkation / disembarkation. This tourist card allows the visitor a temporary stay of sixty (60) days, extended if requested in the immigration offices. This is available in Dominican consulates and tourist offices, abroad before traveling, or at the port of entry. If exceeded the retention period given by the tourist card, at the time of leaving the country at the port of embarkation, an extra cost would be charged for that exceeded period. Taxes & Tips Except for certain foods, medicines, raw materials and services, all consumptions are taxed 16% (ITBIS) over the final sale value. Hotels and restaurants charge an additional 10% per service. Also, every traveler should pay a departure tax of USD$20.00 in cash collected at the port of departure. As a tip, but not obligatory, it is usually charged an additional gratification of 10% on the value of consumption. Credit and Debit Cards Most commercial establishments accept all credit and debit cards; in addition, some accept traveler's checks. The country's network of ATMs is strategically distributed across the Dominican territory.
In addition to the observed holidays above, in Dominicana are annually held two Catholic important dates: Easter, which varies according to the liturgical calendar, observed from Thursday in the afternoon, remembering Jesus’ Last Supper with his Apostles, until Easter Sunday, the Day of Resurrection; Corpus Christi which takes place on Thursday, sixty (60) days after Easter or Sunday of Resurrection. Irremovable: Its celebration is held at the exact date it falls in the calendar every year. Removable: Its celebration is moved to the Monday before when it coincides with Tuesday or Wednesday; if it coincides with Thursday or Friday, it is moved to the next Monday. If it coincides with Monday, Saturday or Sunday, it is held on those dates. Particularly in the case of Labor Day, when it falls on a Sunday, then it is moved to next Monday. * For more information about important dates, please visit our agenda. |
The Dominican Republic is an independent, representative democracy divided into three branches: the judicial, the legislature and the executive, this last one headed by the President, who appoints the central state cabinets and executes the laws passed by the Legislature. Elections are conducted by direct vote every four years.