An island with ideal conditions for an unforgettable holiday among luxurious nature and picturesque beaches is Dominican Republic... Sights attract with their originality, and numerous resorts - the opportunity to spend time surrounded by peace and solitude, among the exotic and pleasant weather.

Dominican Republic on the map

Even being a small island state with a modest size, it never ceases to be a topical holiday destination.

Where is?

The Dominican Republic is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and you can find it in the vastness of the Caribbean Sea. It is located on the second large island of this reservoir - Hispaniola, neighboring the state of Haiti and occupying the eastern part of the land.

Also, the Dominican Republic owns the territory of several nearby islands.

Geographically, the Dominican Republic is located between North and South America, and next to it are no less popular resorts:

• Cuba;
• Jamaica.

Thanks to this, the tourist flow does not dry out all year round, therefore main source of income countries - the sphere of services, recreation and entertainment.

Main tourist areas

The Dominican Republic is an island with an abundance of various places and resorts. The most famous and popular of them are located in eastern part- on the Atlantic coast. Many travelers - fans of beach and outdoor activities are familiar with the following names:

1. Santo domingo;
2. Punta Cana;
3. Boca Chica;
4. Puerto Plata.

Santo Domingo is the capital Dominican Republic and the oldest settlement in South America. The city attracts tourists primarily because it has a rich cultural, historical and artistic heritage.

Once Santo Domingo was a large city in the New World, and Christopher Columbus walked along its streets.

Many unique sights and interesting places can be found in other tourist areas of the Dominican Republic. Vacationers in Punta Cana, La Romana, Cabarete and Boca Chica attract excellent beaches, amazingly beautiful nature, wrecks and historical buildings from colonial times.

Attractions - photo with description

Despite the fact that the Dominican Republic and its resorts are classified more as a beach destination, there are amazing places on its expanses that introduce you to the life of this country, its history and culture.

Architectural structures

A treasure trove of architectural monuments - Santo domingo- a city with a rich and ancient history. It has cathedrals, palaces, remains of ancient buildings, historical areas with buildings from the time of colonization. Walking along these places will allow you to travel back in time - in the XVI-XVII centuries, when Spain had claims to these territories.

In the center of Santo Domingo, there are many structures of the New World, and you can find them in Colonial zone:

• Castle Alcazar de don Diego Colon- the structure of 1510, for the construction of which not a single nail was used;
• Puerta del Conde- an ancient gate, symbolizing protection from invasion.

It is best to get acquainted with the architectural monuments of the Colonial Zone on your own. In this part of the city, all objects are preserved in the form in which they were built. A special atmosphere is present at Las Damas street- on the oldest cobbled street in the world. It is decorated with mansions in pastel colors, from the walls of which baskets of flowers playfully hang.

One of the most prominent sights of the Dominican Republic and its capital - Osama fortress- the first defensive structure in America. It was built in 1508 to defend against pirates. For four centuries, this bastion served as a military base, and after that it was a prison.

Tourists will be interested in National Palace- an imposing and beautiful building in which the president of the republic works. Within its walls, serious issues are resolved and important meetings are held. The construction of this building was completed in 1947, and a colossal amount was spent on its construction. The house attracts by the fact that it was built in an eclectic style.

The appearance traces the cultural, linguistic and racial differences between the representatives of the Caribbean.

For a long time, Santo Domingo was the capital of all Spanish colonies in America. Therefore, there are important historical sites on its territory. One of them - royal shipyards- a complex of warehouses, which became the first and only structure of its kind with a similar purpose. The building was a kind of customs office through which all goods that entered the territory of the New World passed through.

Almost every resort has an opportunity to plunge into the colonial past of the Dominican Republic. Puerto Plata has a whole historic district with Victorian buildings - exquisite mansions, reminiscent of the wealth of former residents of slave traders and merchants. The houses are two-story mansards with Moorish arches.

There is an old bastion in Puerto Plata - Fort San Felipe- a structure that served to protect Spanish ships from pirates and corsairs. It was built by order of the Spanish king Philip II in 1577.

Later, the fort was made a prison, and now it is located Museum with interesting historical military artifacts. If you climb one of the towers, you will have a magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean.

In resorts such as La Romana, Boca Chica, Punta Cana, architectural objects are also worth noting old houses, in which colonists or merchants once lived. Nevertheless, these places are more famous for their nature and coastline.

Religious buildings

The first temples of America appeared on the territory of the Dominican Republic in colonial times, and many of them have survived to this day. America's first cathedral located in Santo Domingo. The son of Christopher Columbus, Diego, had a hand in the construction, and the English pirate Francis Drake had a hand in the ruin.

Santo Domingo was the capital of the New World, so it was decided that it was in this place that the first religious building would be built. The cathedral was erected in 1544 from golden coral limestone, and it was made in the style gothic and baroque... Inside the temple there are many different treasures - collections of statues, precious jewelry, dishes and furniture.

National Pantheon- a religious building in the Dominican Republic with an interesting and unusual history. Initially, the building served as a church at a Jesuit monastery, but later prominent personalities of the republic began to be buried within its walls.

Bodies are stored in sarcophagi- the founders of the monastery are buried here, as well as the woman who hand-embroidered the country's flag, and many other people. The entrance to the premises is guarded by a guard of honor.

You can get inside the Pantheon on weekends, but it is very important to adhere to the dress code (no T-shirts, shorts or short skirts).

Churches and temples The Dominican Republics are also found in other resorts of the country:

1. Cathedral of San Felipe in Puerto Plata;
2. temple of Saint Raphael in Boca Chica;
3. Basilica Higway in the town of the same name.

On the coast of the Dominican Republic there are authentic chapels with a rich past. Many of them are so charming and romantic that they attract those who want to get married.

Museums

In Santa Domingo, there is a famous museum - Columbus lighthouse... This structure does not at all look like a signal tower and is not even located on the seashore.

The imposing white marble building resembles cross, and inside it is a priceless collection of exhibits dedicated to the discovery of America, the life and travels of Columbus, as well as various artifacts of the indigenous population.

According to legend, it is in this museum that remains great navigator. But it is also known that they can be found in Genoa and Seville. Nobody knows the real burial place, but the inhabitants of the Dominican Republic believe that it was on their land that Christopher Columbus decided to stay.

Going on a long journey, it is worth knowing that the human body can react negatively to a change in its usual environment. Read about the symptoms of acclimatization.

Of the significant museums in the Dominican Republic, it is worth noting those that are in Santo domingo:

• Palace Museum;
• Amber Museum;
• House Tostado;
• House of five medallions;
• Museum of man.

The open-air museum is especially attractive - Altos de Chavon in the resort of La Romana. The exposition is a replica of a medieval village with houses and narrow cobbled streets, temples, cafes, shops and craft workshops.

It originated in 1980 thanks to the American tycoon Charles Bloodhorn- one of the owners of Paramount Pictures. According to one version, Charles was inspired by this island and its beauty, so he decided to recreate the architecture of the 16th century here, so that Americans can get acquainted with the traditions and culture of the country.

Altos de Chavon is one of the most attractive places in the Dominican Republic. The medieval village at different times inspired directors, actors and rulers with its beauty.

In the local church of St. Stanislaus, the Duke of Anjou and the heiress of a Venezuelan noble family were married, and Michael Jackson and Lisa Presley were also married.

In Altos de Chavon there is amphitheater 5000 seats, where Julio Iglesias, Carlos Santana, Frank Sinatra and other world stars gave concerts. Some scenes from the movie "Apocalypse Now" were filmed near these places.

What else can a tourist see and where to go?

The Dominican Republic, its sights and places of interest are varied. Not only the beaches are beautiful here, but also the architecture, nature and hiking trails. During excursions, tourists also have the opportunity to get acquainted with national cuisine, taste cocoa, tobacco and purchase local.

The nature of the Dominican Republic is the real pride of the country. Rivers, lakes, nature reserves and parks, lagoons, quaint flowers, mangroves, secluded islands and mysterious caves are ideal for ecotourism.

Most attractive for hiking trails Armando Bermudez National Park... It is famous for the fact that there are three high peaks - La Pelona, ​​La Rusilla, Duarte. The height of the last of them is 3098 meters. This feature attracts fans of outdoor activities and extreme lovers.

Excellent hotels in the Dominican Republic offer high quality service and comfortable accommodation. Read about the country's best hotels.

The park is valuable for its rich and unusual flora and fauna. In its vastness there are endemic, impressive in their variety. The forests are inhabited by rare species of parrots, woodpeckers, nightingales, trogons, quails and siskins. Among mammals, it is worth noting wild pigs and rodents, and among reptiles, lizards and snakes are found.

Are not inferior in their beauty and fullness other parks:

1. Los Haitises;
2. Jaragua;
3. El Choco;
4. Jarabacoa;
5. Los Tres Ojos.

Ecotourism fans have the opportunity to visit small islands- Catalinita, Catalina, Saona - secluded and quiet areas of land, descended from travel brochures.

Excursions and entertainment

It is impossible to imagine acquaintance with the Dominican Republic without visiting the capital of the island - Santa domingo... In this city, the tour starts from the Colonial City and continues to sites such as the Cathedral, Tobacco Museum and the National Pantheon.

Almost all excursion places of Santo Domingo can be visited independently.

One of the most memorable excursions - "Along the path of Columbus"... During the walk, you can get acquainted with beautiful places, architectural monuments, colonies that were founded by the great navigator.

Most popular objects:

• ruins of fort La Navidad;
• Archaeological Park of La Isabela;
• architecture of santo domingo;
• town Luperon.

Popular excursions run through Punta Cana and Cap Cana... The walk takes 5-6 hours, and during it you can see beautiful places near the resort area of ​​Bavaro, take vivid photos from the coastal cliffs, admire the local architecture and swim in one of the two lagoons.

If standard entertainment, such as restaurants, clubs and discos, is already bored, then in the Dominican Republic there will definitely be something to your liking:

1. buggy safari in Punta Cana;
2. travel through cable car on a bungee in Punta Cana;
3. visit to the amusement park in Samana, decorated in the style of the most popular movie "Pirates of the Caribbean";
4. excursion to La Caleta National Underwater Park in Boca Chica;
5. dive to the sunken dry cargo ship "St. George" in La Romana;
6. travel on Dolphin island in Punta Cana;
7. watching over humpback whales on the Samana Peninsula;
8. rafting on the Yaque del Norte river in Puerto Plata.

See in this video an overview of the most popular attractions in the Dominican Republic:

If you decide to spend your vacation in the Dominican Republic, you should know that in addition to a luxurious beach holiday, there is still a lot of interesting things in this country awaiting you. How to diversify your leisure time? Where to go and what to see in the Dominican Republic? What excursions are available to tourists? What gifts and souvenirs should your friends bring? Let's talk about everything.

How to find your way around and find out everything

If upon arrival at the hotel you want to receive as much correct information as possible about possible excursions, available entertainments, prices for services, find out the answers to any questions related to hotel accommodation, etc., go to an information meeting with your guide. In the hotel lobby you can easily find the "Consumer's Corner" with information stands or information folders in Russian. At the appointed time, the guide or rap (a representative of your tour operator or host) meets with tourists, gives full information, answers questions, solves possible problems, leaves his contact for communication.

Where to go and what to see in the Dominican Republic

The sights of the Dominican Republic are really worthy of attention. You will be offered various group and individual excursions according to your interests: thematic, historical, entertainment, sports, extreme, combined. Of course, with professional Russian-speaking guides. Many of our compatriots have lived in the country for many years and serve tourists. These are interesting people who can tell a lot about the country, culture, customs. Prices for excursions in the Dominican Republic are about the same for everyone. Different prices may be at different resorts, because the transport component of the cost is different. For example, an excursion to Santo Domingo for tourists from the Boca Chica resort will be clearly cheaper than for tourists from Punta Cana, since Boca Chica is much closer to the capital. What excursions to pay attention to and what sights of the Dominican Republic are the most interesting - more on that later.

Santo domingo

This excursion is a leader in sales, and the reviews of tourists confirm this. In the colonial part of the city, which is more than 500 years old, there are: the first cathedral in America, the first orphanage, the first hospital, the first university. And the capital itself is the first city in America! The Dominican Republic ranks first in terms of the number of first buildings. Today's Santo Domingo is like any major Latin American city. A bit sleepy and very racy. You can take a few hours to walk around the entire historical center, evaluate the monuments of colonial architecture and the changing of the guard at the presidential palace through a smartphone camera, marvel at the size and grandeur of the Columbus memorial, look into local museums and souvenir shops. Included: entrance to museums, lunch, soft drinks. Price adult / child $ 125/85 for a group up to 15 people Individual excursion (1-4 persons) 750 $ *.

Saona Island and Altos de Chavon

Early in the morning you set off with a guide towards La Romana. The first attraction is the city of artists, Altos de Chavon. It is a recreated replica of a medieval Italian city with a "Greek amphitheater", a museum of pre-Columbian artifacts and the Church of St. Stanislaus. The city has served as the backdrop for many of Paramount Pictures' historic films. Then descend the trail to the Chavon River and board a motorboat for the onward journey to Saona Island in the Caribbean. While lunch is being prepared on the beach, you swim, sunbathe, enjoy cocktails and move to the fiery rhythms of merengue. You can also hand feed colorful fish and take a selfie with starfish. Included: lunch, drinks, boat trip. Price adult / child 110/55 $ for a group up to 15 people

Samana National Park

Daily air tour for nature lovers. From 15 January to 15 March, mating games of humpback whales can be observed in the coastal waters, which have traveled 8,000 km to produce offspring here. On the way, you will stop at the largest waterfall in the Dominican Republic, El Limon, and visit the exotic island of Cayo Levantado (formerly called Bacardi Island). Included: lunch, drinks, horseback riding, boat trip. Price adult / child 265/225 $.

Barahona

The region in the south-west of the country is famous for its picturesque landscapes, an interesting world of animals and plants and magnificent virgin beaches (white sand, small pebbles, colored shells). In these places it is still very quiet and there are very few tourists, therefore only in the local coastal waters you can find the most unusual inhabitant of the underwater world - manati, he is also a manatee, or a sea cow. Here, near the village of Cabral, there is an amazing place - the magnetic pole, as the locals call it. This is a magnetic anomaly that can be felt during the descent or ascent of a hill. Going down, you get the impression of an ascent, and when going up - a descent, and the car in neutral gear can accelerate to a decent speed. And you also have to see a natural miracle - the salt lake Enricio, which is 40 m below sea level and is the largest natural reserve in the world, as well as the American one and a half meter crocodile living in salt water. Individual excursion from $ 650 per person.

Jarabacoa

This central province is renowned for the best conditions for outdoor activities. Tourists will find waterfalls, fast rivers and mountain peaks, mountain biking, canyoning, paragliding, rapeeling, horseback riding and trekking. The most interesting and challenging rafting is also here. You start from the Bayaguate Ranch and descend the fast river Yaque del Norte for 5 km. The highest threshold is called "Tyson's Smile", it is 4.5 m high! An additional option - climbing Peak Duarte (3098), the highest mountain in the country and all the Antilles. Individual excursion with rafting - from $ 450 per person.

Haiti

An air tour to a neighboring state is rarely asked. Extreme, expensive, unsafe. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world, and its capital, Port-au-Prince, is called the “city of ruins”. The excursion is a sightseeing tour of the capital in a minibus with a guide and security. A stop at the souvenir market will make you feel a strong sense of danger - the views of the merchants do not promise anything good if you don’t buy something. You have to buy quickly, without haggling and through the car window. An excess of adrenaline is guaranteed. Yet sometimes brave Russians ask for this excursion. Probably collecting stamps in the passport. Issue price: from 800 to 2 850 $ per person.

This is not a complete list of what the Dominican Republic has to offer to tourists. You can get a lesson in piloting with a Cessna plane (60 minutes, 1-3 passengers, 790 €) and at the same time admire the panoramic views of the island from the sky-high heights. Play golf on the best courses in the country, shoot skeet at Casa de Campo, conquer the waves on a board or sail, go diving in underwater caves, play a real or fake wedding with your beloved and guests, make a gorgeous photo session in Cap Cana, try your luck in the casino, drive real hummers or ATVs. By the way, the prices for renting transport in the Dominican Republic are divine. A minicar per day will cost $ 60, a scooter - $ 30, an SUV from a hundred, and a Mercedes - from $ 250. And do not forget to buy the main brands of the country - cigars, coffee, rum and the famous mamajuana, which cures all diseases - from flu to prostatitis and makes any man tireless in macho love.

In the Dominican Republic, everything is possible and accessible. As they say, any whim for your money. And if whims or money is not enough, it is also not scary. You have already paid for the sea and the sun, this is the main thing.

Dear friends, we decided to write a useful article for you (we hope that it will become so) so that you can prepare for your vacation and learn all the most interesting about this wonderful island! The article turned out to be large and rich ... Read and comment!

From the history of the Dominican Republic - only briefly and to the point;)

Please accept our congratulations, because soon you will find yourself in the friendliest, funniest and most colorful country - the Dominican Republic. Here people speak Spanish, though with some Indian and African admixtures. In short, such a mixture of cultures and languages ​​here began with Christopher Columbus, when on December 5, 1492, he landed on the shores of our island. Then the owners of the island were the Indians, according to one of the theories, who came here from Asia. Look at the appearance of the Indians. Who do they remind you of?

The Spaniards tried to subjugate the Indians, but they turned out to be a tough nut to crack and refused to serve the invaders. Somewhere the Indians were completely exterminated (mostly all the islands of the Caribbean), and in countries such as Mexico, Peru and Venezuela, representatives of this culture can still be found on the street.

Despite the fact that there is practically no Indian culture in the Dominican Republic, here you can hear its echoes everywhere ... In the appearance of many Dominicans and in their language. For example, in the Dominican Republic such a fruit as passionfruit is called "chinola", and papaya is called "lycheza". And some modern Dominicans have black straight hair, yellowish skin, and slanting eyes.

Having failed to enslave the Indians, the Spaniards began to import African slaves to the islands, who, in the end, stayed here. And a few hundred years later (February 27, 1844) a new independent country was formed - the Dominican Republic. In the culture and appearance of its inhabitants, three completely different peoples have mixed - Africans, Spaniards and Indians. Not a bad mix, however.

About the population of the Dominican Republic and a little about racism

Today the Dominican Republic is home to almost 10 million people. And this number does not include unregistered foreigners who have chosen this paradise country with simple conditions for emigration. Almost all Dominicans are Roman Catholics. They believe in Jesus, love him and sing songs about their love. A large number of people are below the poverty line, but there are also people (white Dominicans, descendants of the Spaniards) who own plantations, factories, factories, hotels and much more. In reality, this country is ruled by clans - ancient families, descendants of the Spanish conquerors, who own absolutely everything in the Dominican Republic. Since childhood, white Dominicans have been encouraged to marry only white Dominicans. If we are talking about skin color, then we will tell you that 60% of the population of this country is mulatto, 26% is white and 14% is black. This is the kind of clan racism that happens in this heavily tanned country;)

We bet that the following information about the Dominican Republic will greatly surprise you?

1. In the Dominican Republic, the level of medicine is an order of magnitude higher than in Russia. For $ 600 per six months for a family of three, you can buy health insurance that will cover doctor's appointments, tests, pills, hospitalizations, and more. Moreover, these will be beautiful private clinics with a high level of service.
2. The Dominican Republic has become a very popular birth destination among Russians. For example, the daughter of the famous rapper Timati was born in the Dominican Republic.
3. Living in the Dominican Republic is not cheap at all. Food products familiar to Europeans in stores are much more expensive than in Russia.
4. 90% of Dominican women have beautiful curls, which they straighten twice a week in hairdressing salons. Moreover, if you walk with curly hair, this is considered a sign of bad taste or unconventional orientation. Wealthy Dominican girls and women visit the salon several times a week to have their hair, makeup, manicure done, or just to chat with their friends.
5. In the Dominican Republic, it is allowed to have weapons. You might be surprised to find that a regular diner guard has a decent shotgun. I'm 100% sure they don't even know how to use it! And they wear it for intimidation. Living here, you get used to it, but an impressionable tourist can be very surprised.
6. The Dominican Republic is a very safe country. Concepts such as a sexual maniac are not in use here. I, as a white girl, can leave the house at 3 am without fear for my honor and life and walk alone. What can not be said about my past place of residence - Khimki near Moscow. The most you can run into is a simple street robbery on a motorcycle that came to us from France. And immediately a tip: if you go outside the hotel, dress more simply, do not carry bags full of money and do not show your wealth to everyone around you.
7. Continuing about safety ... There are no deadly snakes, spiders or fish in the Dominican Republic. NOT AT ALL! You can swim at night or walk in the jungle;) But we do not advise you to do this, since the main evil here is rum;)
8. The Dominican Republic is home to a huge number of people from Russia, America, Europe and Asia, who adore this country for its simple rules for obtaining permanent residence, for its climate and kind happy people. By the way, it is more difficult to obtain permanent residence now than 6 years ago, when we received it, but it is still quite possible. If you are not going to look for a job here, but just want to live a year or two, earning money on the Internet or having a remote business, then you can do it without any problems. Live as long as you want, and on the road you will have to pay a small fine (about $ 50).
9. The favorite drink among the Dominicans is…. No no, not rum, but beer. Beer brand "Presidente" is a real beer monopoly. And the price of this beer is about $ 1.5 per bottle 0.33. Also beer of the same brand is sold here in a 1 liter glass bottle !!!
10. In the Dominican Republic, everyone dances and sings. And this is not a tourist fairy tale. This country is truly the most singing and dancing country in the world.
11. The Dominican Republic is the reigning world baseball champion. Baseball is the national sport in this country. Along with dominoes and beer consumption.
12. The capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo is the oldest city in the whole new world. Both the Americas and the Caribbean islands are called the New World.
13. In addition, you will be pleasantly surprised to find yourself in a real metropolis with high-rise buildings and huge shopping centers with fashionable boutiques and restaurants.
14. Despite its island location, the Dominican Republic cannot boast of an abundance of seafood. And locals prefer pork and chicken as their main protein dishes.
15. Dominican men consider XXL women to be the sexiest and most delicious women in the world.

Now seriously! Basic rules for rest in the Dominican Republic and our famous tourist guide

Documents and airport

• Officially, you can stay in the Dominican Republic for 1 month.
• To travel to the Dominican Republic, your passport must be valid for at least one month.
• Upon arrival in the Dominican Republic, you will need to fill out a migration card.
• If you don't want to ride with other tourists around all the hotels, you can take a taxi from the airport. A taxi from Punta Cana airport to Bavaro costs an average of $ 40 or order a taxi with us. We will meet you and take you with love!
• Bring money in dollars. It is very difficult to exchange rubles and it is insanely unprofitable! Euro is also not held in high esteem. You can take your card with you. There are ATM machines everywhere where you can withdraw money in local currency.
• Do not change money at the airport. It is better to exchange dollars for local currency at banks or exchange offices. At the hotel and at the airport, the course is very unprofitable.

In a hotel

• So that your vacation is successful and without unnecessary nerves, we invite you to relax and become a slow Dominican) Do not stress about their relaxation and forgetfulness. They don't want to offend you. These are the kindest people all over the world (according to statistics), and their calm attitude to life is part of their culture. Embrace this culture and relax))
• Check-in to the rooms in all hotels begins no earlier than 14-15 hours of the day. If you arrived early in the morning, do not sit at the reception waiting for a room. Nobody will give it before time. Put your swimsuit and flip flops on top of your suitcase, and change to the beach. You can start your vacation without a number. Bracelets and a card for towels will be given to you immediately.
• Friends, we turn to you with a request ... Due to the great competition and the growing popularity of our company, many tour operators are waging an unfair fight. They intimidate tourists by telling horror stories about us. We give our head to cut off that you will not find a single bad review about us. We work for quality! And we kindly ask you not to anger them by telling us what is cheaper and better with us. Thanks for understanding!
• Most likely, you will run into a small problem with the outlets. Here they have a different look. But this is easily solved. At the hotel you can buy an adapter for a couple of $. Also in the Dominican Republic the voltage is 110 volts. If you're carrying a technician, make sure it works at that voltage.
• Many hotels require their guests to adhere to a dress code for dinner. This only applies to men. Do not forget to bring light trousers and a shirt for your man. Otherwise, you may not be allowed to enter some Alya carte restaurants.
• At the hotel, keep your valuables in the safe. Do not leave anything of value on the bed or it may be considered a tip.
• You have arrived at an all-inclusive hotel, but if you want special treatment from bartenders, waiters and cleaners, prepare a couple of dollars for a tip.

Health

• When buying a tour package, you also buy insurance. If something hurts you, call the number indicated in the insurance policy and a Russian-speaking consultant will direct you to the clinic. The clinic can be reached by taxi. The hospitals here are very good and the quality of service is on par. For any problem, you can contact us for help or advice!
• You can call the hotel doctor, it will cost you from $ 30 for a consultation.
• In the Dominican Republic, the water from the tap is not the cleanest. Use only bottled water to drink and brush your teeth.
• Fruits and vegetables must first be thoroughly rinsed with regular tap water, and then rinsed with water from a bottle.
• Guys, watch out for the sun! Remember to apply cream on yourself before going to the beach. And spend the first days in the shade. Remember that the sun in the Dominican Republic is very insidious! Even if it's cloudy outside, you can still get burned.
• Bring the medications you need from home. From indigestion, fever, headache ... actually everything that you use at home. Do not overdo it! Each hotel has a pharmacy that sells good medicines. If you are going to go fishing and do not tolerate rolling, grab an anti-motion sickness pill from home.
• After returning from vacation, leave a few days for adaptation!
• If you consider yourself one of “easily freezing people”, then take a light blouse with you for the evening. Sometimes a strong wind blows from the ocean.

Outside the hotel

• In restaurants and cafes outside the hotel, you can pay in local currency and in dollars (this will be slightly more expensive). And also in all shops and for excursions you can pay in dollars.
• The cost of a SIM CARD is about $ 5. Internet 1GB for about $ 10. The cost of 1 minute of conversation with Russia from the Claro mobile operator is about 10 rubles. You can buy a SIM card on any day except Sunday. Write us the name of your hotel, and we will show you the easiest place to buy a SIM card.
• Where can you go for a walk outside the hotel? Unfortunately, Bavaro is a tourist village with only hotels. Almost all hotels have a huge territory and you just can't get anywhere. You need to take a taxi. The question is where? There are no interesting sights or squares here. The history of Bavaro began not so long ago. You can only walk in large shopping centers, which will be discussed below. If you like city walks and architecture, we recommend that you go to Santo Domingo. You can go there on your own or with a guided tour.

The shops

• There are two large shopping centers in Bavaro: San Juan and Palma Real. And one more supermarket Iberia (like our "five")
  • There is a free shuttle bus to San Juan from every hotel. There are branded clothing stores, souvenirs, a cinema, a large supermarket, cafes, cell phone stores, banks.
  • Palma Real can be reached by taxi. Here you will find cafes, restaurants, branded clothing stores, souvenirs and a grocery store with a good selection of products. But there are a lot of branded clothing stores.
  • Iberia is the cheapest store. Here you can find local fashion at low prices and a large selection of good and inexpensive alcohol. You can also take a taxi or rent a car. On average, the price for a taxi to the above shops will be $ 20 (depending on the location of the hotel).
• There are two types of taxis in Bavaro - air-conditioned cars (can be ordered at the hotel reception or at Dva Banana) or motorcycle taxis (if you leave the hotel territory, they will find you themselves). In any case, negotiate the price with the taxi drivers BEFORE the trip and make sure that the taxi driver understands the agreed price exactly. You can write on something and clarify.
• When buying souvenirs in tourist markets, do not forget to bargain, because the prices were initially grossly overpriced. Expect to lose approximately 40% of the original cost. If you do not like to bargain, then you are in stores with fixed prices. For example, our favorite store is the Colonial. We can organize a free transfer for you to this store, where very nice Russian guys work, where there is free Wi-Fi and tasting :)

Way back

• When leaving the Dominican Republic, you do not need to pay anything or anyone (unless, of course, you have exceeded the period of stay in the country - 1 month).
• Duty free in the Dominican Republic is very expensive. Perhaps even in the hotel the prices are more democratic! It is better to buy everything in advance in stores.
• Upon departure, you will need to fill out a customs declaration. It will be given to you at the airport.
• Russia is a unique country where you can import free of duty at the same time 50 cigars, 100 cigarillos, 200 cigarettes, 0.25 kg of tobacco (or your choice of 100 cigars, or 200 cigarillos, or 400 cigarettes, or 0.5 kg of tobacco). So you don't have to skimp on the amount of tobacco you buy. And remember that a drop of nicotine kills a horse;))
• With alcohol, the situation is like this: 2 liters per person. You can take out more. The main thing is not to show the sight and go straight to the green corridor (this is already in Russia). Most of our dear tourists take out 10 liters of rum for two. They haven't stopped anyone yet;)
• To successfully export and import fruits, buy them still firm (unripe). Pack in containers and send in a suitcase. At home, you can put them on the table to ripen.

Dominican Republic ... What kind of sea is there? What is the best time to rest? What is the airport in the Dominican Republic? What money, sockets, language and much more further in the article

Dominican Republic

It was necessary to start everything with this article, but it so happened that it did not become the first in our useful. However, it had to happen. In this article I will try to cover the most popular questions about the Dominican Republic and answer them briefly. Let's start from the very beginning ...

The Dominican Republic is a presidential republic that is located on the island of Haiti, which is also home to the republic of Haiti of the same name. Santo Domingo is the capital and is also said to be the first city in Latin America. “Have you been to Santo Domingo? It means that I have visited all of Latin America. " The current president is Danilo Medina. The state language is Spanish. Gosreligion is Catholicism. Population - 10 million. The national currency is the Dominican peso. In the past, the country fell under the influence of Spain, France, Great Britain and the United States, and in the end came under the influence of the Republic of Haiti. In 1844, the Dominican Republic became independent.

What is the airport in the Dominican Republic?

There are as many as 8 international airports in the republic, 2 of which are located in the capital - Santo Domingo. However, the busiest are those through which tourist destinations are directed: Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, La Romana, Samana and the less popular Santiago and Barahona.

What is the time in the Dominican Republic?

The time zone Moscow - St. Petersburg - Krasnodar is GMT + 3, and in the Dominican Republic it is GMT-4. Accordingly, our time is in a hurry for 7 hours from the Dominican.

FOR EXAMPLE:

If we have 9 o'clock in the morning, then there is 2 o'clock in the morning.

When we have 17 o'clock, then there is 10 o'clock in the morning, etc.

What is the language in the Dominican Republic?

The vast majority of the local population speaks Spanish. Of course it has Latin American notes and is not entirely pure, but it is Spanish. The reason for this lies deep in history, back in 1492 the great navigator Columbus found this island and named Hispaniola. Subsequently, the name changed to Santo Domingo and the current Dominican Republic.

The island came under the influence of Spain, Great Britain, France and the United States. However, it was Spain that occupied the territory most of the time and made certain contributions. Therefore, the language in the Dominican Republic took root Spanish.

What is the currency / money in the Dominican Republic?

The republic has its own money of the same name - Dominican pesos. The back side of the banknotes is decorated with famous places, and the front side is decorated with famous figures. The peso exchange rate is very stable and in recent years has been kept in the region of 40-50 Dominican pesos per dollar.

What currency to take to the Dominican Republic? Due to its proximity to America, of course the dollar is valued most of all here.

Dominican Republic on the map

Where is this heavenly land located? Between the Americas - North and South. However, it refers specifically to North America. It is part of the Antilles, which are washed by the waters of the Atlantic and the Caribbean.

What is the sea in the Dominican Republic?

The island is washed by two great bodies of water, one is the sea and the other is the ocean. Everyone knows their name: the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Based on this, you can dispel a pleasant, but not entirely true, myth that having gone to the Dominican Republic, you go to the Caribbean Sea. Not quite so ... If you are going to visit the south of the country, then you will surely get to the sea. However, heading north or east, you will find yourself on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Including the popular area of ​​hotels in Punta Cana and Bavaro, it is washed by the waters of the Atlantic.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to find clear boundaries where the Caribbean Sea merges with the Atlantic Ocean. Nevertheless, I came across a couple of interesting photos from Eleuthera Island, Bahamas.

What are the beaches in the Dominican Republic?

The beaches here are wonderful! Moreover, there are excellent beaches on the shores of the Atlantic and the Caribbean.

Southeast

In this article, I reviewed the most popular coastlines on the southeast coast. First of all, it is with golden sand and very tall palm trees, as well as the private beach of Amor (other names: Cabeza del Torro, Coast of Love) with white sand and well-groomed territory. I would also like to mention the popular Bavaro beach among tourists.

Moving closer to the south, it is worth noting the beaches of the elite complex of Cap Cana, such as Juanilo, which is one of the 30 best beaches in the world. Further south is the legendary Bounty Island with its stunning paradise landscapes - in a word.

Northeast

Here tourism is a little less developed and there are not so many beaches that have been ennobled for the guests of the island. The most famous and popular swimming spots are the beaches of the Samana Peninsula. By the way, it is here that those who want to see the incredible sight - humpback whales come here.

You can also note the cozy Arriba beach, located near the village of Miches, the El Valle beach, which is located a little further north of Samana, as well as the wild coastal beaches near Las Terrenas.

North and South

In the north and south, there are less touristy places and I will omit these territories, just say that in the south there is an incredible place - the Bay of Eagles, there are wonderful beaches on the shores of the Caribbean Sea.

What are the sockets in the Dominican Republic?

A question that exists, but is lost in a heap of more important tasks. This is often forgotten by the newly arrived guests of Latin America, or rather the Dominican Republic. However, our irreplaceable phones and tablets need to be charged! Therefore, closer to the point.

The difference between outlets in the Dominican Republic and Russia is expressed in two things:

• Voltage
• Fork shape

The voltage here is half that of ours. The network supports only 110 volts, instead of the usual 220 volts. Adapters can be bought at any store with goods of a similar theme. They can also be purchased at the hotels themselves. Such a necessary thing will cost 1-3 dollars.

If you take care of this issue earlier, you can look for a transformer adapter that converts Dominican 110 volts into 220 volts. Why is such a low voltage worse than ours? Because charging electrical appliances will be an order of magnitude slower. So when planning your day, allow for a longer charge.

Dominican Republic now

This is not to say that this country has an incredible pace of development, nevertheless, new high-speed roads are being built, immigration is growing, and the business sector is also developing rapidly. In any case, there is movement here, albeit not as fast. Of course, many locals continue to dance and have fun, but on the other hand, why not? After all, the ultimate goal of our wanderings is to find happiness, and it definitely is there. By the way, if you are interested in the Dominican Republic, then go to the Vkontakte group -

The Dominican Republic is more famous for its white beaches, which stretch for many hundreds of kilometers. Travelers from all over the world come here to enjoy a magnificent measured vacation, warm sun and gentle sea. Few know the answer to the question of what to do in the Dominican Republic for a tourist. Here are examples of possible pastime in this country, in addition to the usual visits to famous beach resorts.

Excursions

Excursion programs in the Dominican Republic are very diverse and traditionally include:

• Whale watching in Samana Bay

• Participation in the carnival in the city of La Vega

• Visits to tobacco factories and coffee plantations

• Scuba diving and swimming with stingrays and nurse sharks

• Sightseeing tours of Santa Domingo.

Windsurfing

In the Dominican Republic, there is one of the most visited places for windsurfing - Cabarete, namely Kite Beach. Northeastern winds, the speed of which reaches 10-15 m / s, blow here throughout the year, but still distinguish the most favorable periods - from June to September and from December to April. Surf stations are located along the coast of the resort, offering the services of windsurfing instructors and rental of the necessary equipment.

Surfing

In the period from December to March, the waves on the northern coast of the country reach 4 m in height, so this place is considered the most suitable for practicing this sport.

Paragliding

There are many paragliding launch sites in the Dominican Republic. The southeast wind from the sea, which is typical for the southern coast of the republic, makes it possible to soar on a paraglider throughout the day. The most visited place among fans of this extreme pastime is the town of Matua.

In the central part of the country, paragliding is possible on the mountainous plains, where the movement of air is provided by "thermal" currents formed due to the heating of the earth's surface by the sun.

Fishing

Best fishing spots are Boca Chica, home to barracuda, wahoo and sailfish, and Punto Cana, where you can catch red snappers, marlins and tuna.

Ecotourism

The Dominican Republic is home to numerous National Conservation Parks. Rare animal and bird species, uninhabited islands, ancient caves, lakes and lagoons are all integral to the country's popular hiking trails.

So, the choice of leisure and entertainment in the Dominican Republic is huge, it all depends on the hobbies and preferences of each traveler. But nobody will be bored for sure.

Where can I find cheap tours?

It is better to search for profitable tours through a service that compares prices of more than 120 tour operators and allows you to find the cheapest deals. We do it ourselves and are extremely happy 🙂