The Dominican Republic is located in the West Indies and occupies two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the nation of Haiti. To the north, it is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean; to the east, by the Mona Passage, which separates it from Puerto Rico; to the south, by the Caribbean Sea; and to the west, it borders Haiti. Its closest neighbors are Cuba to the northwest, Jamaica to the west, and Puerto Rico to the east.
The climate of the West Indies is quite balanced. The hot and humid season, spring, begins in May; in the middle of the month, the first periodic refreshing rain falls, usually around noon. After 14 days of rain, the tropical summer begins; the heat is tempered by pleasant sea breezes and the trade winds that blow year-round. Despite the hot weather, the climate is humid. Purer and fresher air can be found in the mountains. In winter, the temperature in the interior drops to as low as -5 degrees at night. In the tourist areas of the eastern, northern, and southern zones, the temperature does not drop below +23 °C all year round. The average annual temperature on the islands is 26–28 °C. The time difference from Kyiv is minus 6 hours in winter and minus 7 hours in summer.
About 8 million people live in the Dominican Republic. About 50% of the population are young people under 20, who predominantly belong to the country’s urban population. The Dominican diaspora numbers about 1.5 million people, two-thirds of whom live in the USA and one-third in Puerto Rico and other islands of the Antilles archipelago.
The local population is very friendly and benevolent; their roots go back to Spanish and African settlers. Keep in mind that the pace of life of Dominicans differs from the European one. If someone says to you, “Momentito” (a moment), it by no means means that someone intends to fulfill your request immediately. Perhaps no one intends to do so at all. It is better to accept it as a national characteristic of the Dominicans and try to live at their pace. The entire life of the Dominicans takes place in dance. It seems as if there are no soulful songs, only dance rhythms.
The most popular holiday destination in the Dominican Republic is considered to be the eastern part of the island – the coastal resorts of Bavaro and Punta Cana. This is exactly where the best hotels operating on an all-inclusive basis are concentrated. The east of the island gained great popularity thanks to its coastline. Its length is hundreds of kilometers. And thanks to the coral reef that surrounds the eastern part and blocks the strong waves of the Atlantic, the sand on the beach has taken on an amazing color and consistency. The name Punta Cana is derived from the “Cana” palm, whose leaves are used for the famous roofs of Indian huts. Punta Cana is a headland where these palms grow in large numbers. Punta Cana and Bavaro are the most visited tourist zone in the Caribbean after Cancun. Punta Cana Airport has become the third most important after Cancun and Miami. Hotels from the world’s leading hotel chains are represented at the resort. The most common are Sol Meliá, Paradisus, Barceló, Princess, and Iberostar. The hotels generally consist of two- or three-story buildings and bungalows scattered among lush tropical vegetation and palm trees. The majority of these hotels, regardless of whether they have three or five stars, operate on an all-inclusive system.
Nightlife takes place mainly in the hotels, where you can visit evening shows, discos, and casinos. But even outside the hotels, you can immerse yourself in the nightlife of shows and discos such as Mangu, Imagine, Luna del Caribe, Areito, Pacha, Sazino Tower, Oro Hard Rock Hotel, or visit typical Dominican, loud and crowded parties until the morning, where merengue, bachata, and salsa run non-stop on Saturdays, or sit in excellent restaurants and bars like Pulpo Cojo, Captain Cook, Jelly Fish.
Lovers of active holidays will likely enjoy fun buggies. These are small sports cars that tourists drive themselves. An unforgettable experience is also an excursion by catamaran. You can see the whole variety of life on the coral reefs and observe tropical fish. A jeep safari offers an unforgettable ride along the island’s roads to see its beautiful landscapes and observe the everyday life of the very cheerful and friendly locals.
The most famous sight in Punta Cana is the Manatí zoological park. What and who isn’t there! Hundreds of bird species, sea turtles, iguanas, crocodiles, sea lions. Here you can also experience beautiful shows with dolphins, fur seals, horse and parrot performances.
The second most popular resorts in the Dominican Republic are located 140 kilometers from Santo Domingo (the capital of the Dominican Republic) and 100 kilometers from Punta Cana. While in Bavaro vacationers swim in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea prevails here. The south coast of the Dominican Republic is not as long as the east coast. It consists of a rocky coast and numerous coral reefs. But in between, there are small sandy sections where the resort hotels in the La Romana and Bayahibe zone are located. East of La Romana stretches one of the most picturesque agricultural regions of the island: valleys with sugar cane and citrus plantations. Here, above deep gorges on the Chavón River, lie the artist village of Altos de Chavón, built in the style of a medieval Italian town, and a unique amphitheater. The beach of Bayahibe is the calling card of the resort, which is characterized by picturesque shores with fine, soft sand. Holidays with children, quiet beach holidays, the relaxed carelessness of a secluded holiday – these are all advantages of La Romana.
Every Saturday, you should definitely visit the local attraction – the colorful town market. Sea lovers can rent a motorboat and go to the nearby island of Saona. Or visit the East National Park – a nature reserve that is home to numerous species of endangered plants and animals (over 112 bird species, sea turtles, pelicans, dolphins, flying fish, mammals). The park will impress you with its dense plants reaching down to the sea, grottoes, and caves where, as chroniclers report, the sailors of Christopher Columbus found shelter during his second voyage. The nature of this region is diverse, unique, and amazing. You can also visit the Brugal rum distillery and witness the miracle of the transformation of sugar cane into the famous Caribbean rum. The hotels in the region are excellent for a quiet holiday for families and for lovers of diving, golf, underwater hunting, horse riding, and tennis.
Many think that Latin American or Caribbean cuisine does not differ from country to country. However, the preparation methods of dishes in the Dominican Republic are truly unique. Dominican cuisine is simple to prepare and very healthy, as only natural ingredients are used. Its main feature is the widespread use of legumes, bananas, and other vegetables (including exotic ones) in an original combination with meat and fish. For frying, only a certain type of banana is used – “Plátano” – which is green and quite firm; they are not eaten raw. The most traditional dishes include: “La Bandera” – rice, meat, beans, vegetables, and fried green bananas; “Sancocho” – a broth made from various types of meat with tropical vegetables; “Mangú” – puree made from green bananas, usually served for breakfast or as a side dish; “Piñonate” – a dessert made from milk and coconut, as well as sweet bananas prepared in syrup. Fish and seafood are almost completely absent in traditional Dominican cuisine despite their richness and variety, but recently they have been appearing increasingly on the menus of cafes and restaurants. The most popular are fish fried on a skewer or on the grill, fish fried with coconut flakes, fish in coconut milk sauce (“Pescado con Coco”), various seafood (“Mariscos”), crab in sauce (“Cangrejo Guisado”), and more. As a side dish, rice and red beans are used in various combinations, cassava, banana puree with onions (“Mangú”), and various salads. And of course, there is a large selection of tropical fruits – bananas, coconuts, pineapples, guavas, mangoes, passion fruits, green limes, and other exotic fruits. They are enjoyed as juices and fruit cocktails. Good coffee is brewed everywhere, especially the “Santo Domingo” variety is excellent. Rum is the national alcoholic drink of the Dominican Republic, without which no celebration in the country is complete. Rum is very popular among the population of the Dominican Republic, alongside the local beer brands “Presidente” and “Bohemia”. Rum in various qualities and bottlings is available in every shop and stall. Of the 15 types of rum produced in the country, “Barceló”, “Brugal”, and “Bermúdez” take the top positions. Dark rum (with a classic golden hue) and light rum (white, often with added lemon, which gives the drink a noble taste) are produced. Rum is drunk neat or used in cocktails. For example, “Piña Colada” (three types of rum, coconut milk, pineapple juice, and ice), “Daiquiri” (rum, lemon juice, ice), and of course the famous and most widespread “Cuba Libre” (rum with cola and ice).
The island of Hispaniola occupies first place among the Antilles islands in terms of biological diversity and third place in terms of species density per unit area. The island has the greatest geomorphological diversity (reliefs), represented by three mountain ranges, five mountain massifs, three karst regions, four coastal valleys, four plains, as well as fifteen highland plateaus and a tectonic depression or basin. On the island, there are the most climatic natural zones, which differ by their height above sea level, ranging from Lake Enriquillo, which is 45 meters below sea level, to the 3,175-meter-high Pico Duarte.
Here is the highest point of the Antilles – Pico Duarte at 3,175 meters above sea level. On the island lies the deepest tectonic depression of the Antilles, the Hoya de Enriquillo, 45 meters below sea level. In this region is the largest waterfall of the Caribbean islands, the Aguas Blancas de Constanza, with two cascades 83 m high, which is also the waterfall located at the highest altitude above sea level, about 1800 meters. In the Dominican Republic, the lowest temperatures of all Antilles islands were measured: 0–8 degrees Celsius in the area of Pico Duarte and on the Bao plateau. It is the only island among the Antilles that experienced glaciation, traces of which were found on the highland plateaus of Bao and Macutico in the Cordillera Central. The highest plateau of the Antilles, Baile Nuevo, lies at 2200 meters above sea level and is also located here. The Bao highland plateau is the highest of all the Antilles and lies at 1800 meters above sea level. Here is also the largest salt lake of the Antilles (Lake Enriquillo), whose surface area is 240–260 km².
Practically every day, various festivals take place in sunny Dominicana, and the streets of the cities fill with festive carnival processions. Every traveler will find a festive event to their taste, be it a dance festival, religious festivals, or secular carnivals.
Carnival – State Holiday: Every year at the end of February, the “Carnival” festival takes place. It starts in Santo Domingo and is one of the most outstanding events in the Dominican Republic. Parallel to the carnival, the festival with the beautiful name “Cabarete Alegría” usually takes place. It is held in the lively city of Alegría, where dancing is as natural as breathing. On the eve of the Independence Day celebrations, similar carnivals take place every Sunday in all large or well-known cities of the Dominican Republic: in Santo Domingo, Monte Cristi, Santiago, San Pedro de Macorís, Samaná, and La Vega. The traditions of this festival date back to the 15th century, when the first carnival was celebrated in 1510 by the first colonizers on this island. Gradually, the carnival traditions of Europe mixed closely with the folklore of the local population – the Indians – and the teachings of the African slaves who were actively brought to this region to the plantations. It is interesting that in every city of the Dominican Republic, specific colors are worn for this festival, representing a specific region. Practically everything is used as materials for the carnival costumes: colorful, diverse fabrics, live flowers and fruits, gifts of the sea and nature.
Merengue Festival: This event takes place annually on an international scale and attracts a large number of lovers of passionate dances from different countries of the world. In the last week of July, numerous performances by dancers and local Dominican music groups take place on the Malecón in Santo Domingo. This festival of movement and music attracts up to 300,000 visitors annually. The festival is opened by a colorful, loud procession. Guests of the city can visit numerous souvenir markets or enjoy the free street shows that take place in large numbers at this time. If the desire to dance is strong at other times of the year, you will always find a Dominican city where a dance festival or another loud celebration is taking place. In October, for example, you can dance merengue in Puerto Plata.
Other significant annual festivals of the Dominican Republic: Immediately after the long carnival celebrations, which take up almost the entire month of February, guests and locals celebrate the popular historical event “Fiestas Patrias”. This festival takes place in March. In June, it is time for the cultural festival in Puerto Plata. At the end of August, the founding day of the beautiful and mysterious Santo Domingo is celebrated. Vacationers staying in the Dominican Republic in the autumn can visit the “Puerto Plata Festival” held in October. Also noteworthy is the large number of religious festivals. Events in honor of the patron saints take place in all cities and villages of the Dominican Republic. The June festival in Sosúa and the July festival in Santiago are recommended. During the entire Holy Week, carnivals take place in the country; to visit them, one should travel to Cabral, Barahona, Cotuí, and other cities and settlements of the Dominican Republic.
January – Day of the Patron Saint of the Dominican Republic, Our Lady of Altagracia;
January – National patriotic holiday – Birthday of Juan Pablo Duarte;
February – Dominicana celebrates Independence Day with pomp, which often falls at the height of the carnival movement;
May – International Workers’ Day does not pass Dominicana by either;
September – Festival of another local saint – Our Lady of las Mercedes;
December – Catholic Christmas.
First and foremost, the Dominican Republic is a paradise with hundreds of kilometers of beautiful sandy beaches washed by the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. Tourists mainly come here to relax at the local coastal resorts. The world-famous resort of Punta Cana is located in the Dominican Republic. It stretches for 40 km along the east coast of the country, which is called the Costa de Cocos (Coconut Coast). Punta Cana is a series of holiday resorts with luxurious hotels, shopping centers, restaurants, nightclubs, and beaches with white sand. It consists of 5 long beaches: Bavaro, Cabeza de Toro, El Cortecito, Punta Arena Gorda, and Macao. Bavaro Beach is the most developed for tourism; most of the hotels in Punta Cana are located here. Cabeza de Toro and Punta Arena Gorda beaches have been awarded the “Blue Flag” and are considered the best in the region. El Cortecito beach is known for its restaurants where you can taste seafood, and for windsurfing and kitesurfing schools. The hotel complexes of Punta Cana are small towns with their own infrastructure and operate on an all-inclusive basis. The hotel grounds are so large that tourists have to get around with special buses or golf carts. Punta Cana is the best place for golf in the country. Many hotels have their own golf courses.
The north coast of the country is better suited for surfing. From December to March, the waves here can reach a height of 4 m. You can surf at Playa Encuentro beach in Cabarete, at Playa Grande beach in the east of the country, and at Playa Coson beach near the resort of Las Terrenas on the north coast of the Samaná Peninsula. Playa Caribe beach on the south coast of the Dominican Republic, east of the capital Santo Domingo, is also suitable for surfing.
The best regions for fishing in the Dominican Republic are considered to be the resort of Boca Chica, where the local water sports club organizes international fishing competitions annually in April (wahoo, sailfish, barracudas live in the coastal waters); and Punta Cana, which attracts fans of deep-sea fishing (marlin, wahoo, tuna, and red snapper are found here).
Paragliding is very popular in the Dominican Republic. There are numerous launch sites. On the south coast, the southeasterly sea breeze that blows all day allows for paragliding. The most popular place for paragliding in the Dominican Republic is located here – Matua. It is popular because it is close to the capital, Santo Domingo. Other places on the south coast are El Manaclar near the city of Baní, the city of Azua and the nearby launch site La Playita, as well as the village of La Job near the city of Barahona. The central part of the country with its mountain ranges is also suitable for paragliding. The most favorable conditions for paragliding prevail in the wide mountain valleys, where thermal updrafts occur during the day, caused by the heating of the earth’s surface by the sun. In this region, the launch sites Galván at Lake Enriquillo, Las Aguitas near the city of San Juan, and Alto del Guayabo, La Manaclita, and La Antena near the city of La Vega are popular. The north coast is less popular with paragliders. This part of the coast is under the influence of the northeasterly trade winds, whose speeds are quite high and often not suitable for gliding. Nevertheless, there are some launch sites here: the mountain Loma Isabel de Torres near the coastal city of Puerto Plata and Miches, which is located on the south shore of Samaná Bay.
The excursion program in the Dominican Republic is extremely diverse. The most popular excursions include whale watching in Samaná Bay and along the north and east coast of the country from mid-January to mid-March; visits to coffee plantations, tobacco factories, and rum distilleries; participation in the spectacular February carnival in the city of La Vega; excursions to the “Colonial City” of Santo Domingo, many of whose buildings were erected during the lifetime of Christopher Columbus and are the first buildings of Europeans in the New World; underwater explorations where you can swim with nurse sharks and rays; sightseeing tours on the water along the country’s coast; helicopter tours and jeep safaris.
The largest number of humpback whales that come to the coast of the Antilles annually to give birth to their offspring is registered off the north coast, in the area of the La Plata and La Navidad coral banks, as well as in Samaná Bay. Every year from January to March, over 3,000 whales gather here. This magnificent spectacle attracts about 20,000 tourists to Samaná annually.
To discuss this topic, one should start with the fact that on January 9, 1998, a decree by President Leonel Fernández Reyna came into force in the Dominican Republic, which lifted all restrictions for foreigners regarding real estate ownership in the country. The government is interested in attracting foreign capital and therefore supports a very liberal tax system for business people. The tax to be paid when purchasing real estate is 3% of the estimated value of the property, which is usually lower than the actual value. Since the government has been pursuing an active policy of attracting foreign investment, prices on the island have risen sharply, especially for coastal properties. While prices for high-quality residential real estate in the tourist zone rose by 30–40% in 2005, the coastline in popular areas more than doubled in the first half of 2006 alone. Both existing properties and properties under construction are becoming more expensive and are being resold at a higher price after completion. On the coasts, there are also several exclusive projects with their own infrastructure and several golf courses. The price for villas is 600,000 dollars and has no upper limit. Due to the year-round holiday season, real estate investments in the Dominican Republic pay for themselves through renting on average three to four times faster than in European holiday resorts. You can rent out practically anything: apartments, houses, or villas. For example, the rent for an apartment worth 150,000–250,000 dollars is on average 100–130 dollars per day or about 700–800 dollars per month for an annual lease. The net rental yield is on average about 1% per month.
The process of acquiring real estate in the Dominican Republic is not complicated. The most important document you must have with you is your passport. The first thing you should do if you are seriously thinking about purchasing a villa or an apartment in this tropical paradise is to open an account at a local bank. For this, you need a recommendation from a person or company that already has an account at this bank. After you have found a suitable property, you must write a letter of intent to the seller. This is done, of course, with the help of an agent (broker) and a lawyer. As a rule, a deposit (reservation fee) is paid as confirmation of intent. The amount of the deposit can vary depending on the value of the property; it usually does not exceed 10% of the purchase price. Then, the seller and buyer sign the “Purchase Agreement” in the office of a notary, who certifies their signatures. The contract must contain a formal description of the subject of the contract, the price, the payment terms, and all other restrictions and contractual conditions. Under Dominican law, the buyer must pay the tax on the transfer of ownership rights at the office of the Ministry of Taxes and Duties. In some cases, the seller must pay a luxury apartment tax and property tax for undeveloped land. After paying the taxes, the seller must hand over the following documents to the state land registry: the original deed of the purchase agreement, the title deed, the original certificate of payment of taxes and duties, copies of the ID cards of the buyer and seller, and, if necessary, a document that gives the land registry the right to cancel a mortgage on the property. In the land registry, all submitted documents are checked and the purchase is completed: the submitted title deed is canceled and a new one is issued in the name of the buyer. The issuance process depends on the current workload of the land registry and usually takes about a month. After that, the buyer can receive the new title deed.
WHERE IS IT BETTER? The value of real estate varies depending on the region. In the north, for example, prices are lower than in the east of the country (Punta Cana region). But it is precisely the east of the country that is chosen by many Hollywood stars and famous personalities as a place for their second home. In Punta Cana, there is the longest strip of snow-white, untouched beaches, where both breathtaking projects and more affordable objects are being built. Another important factor is that this is a world resort visited daily by thousands of tourists from different countries of Europe, North America, and Latin America. The number of hotels is growing annually, which naturally has a positive effect on the return on investment in this region of the island. Punta Cana is a golf mecca in the Caribbean. World golf tournaments take place here. Global golf stars are simply in love with this place. An important factor for the importance of this place is the Punta Cana International Airport, which receives numerous airlines from various countries of the world, including Ukraine. In this region, you can purchase real estate for every taste and budget. Come and see for yourself! We will accompany you and introduce you to objects that are truly interesting to you!
What is a holiday in the Dominican Republic?
Holiday in the Dominican Republic – these are the blue, warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, landscapes that enchant.
Holiday in the Dominican Republic – this is a holiday in a country where your dreams come true.
Holiday in the Dominican Republic – this is an exceptionally comfortable holiday.
Holiday in the Dominican Republic – this is a state-of-the-art hotel service that meets all the financial possibilities of tourists and business people.
Holiday in the Dominican Republic – this is the opportunity to combine holidays with shopping.
Holiday in the Dominican Republic – these are yachts, rafting, diving, windsurfing, skiing, and other water sports.
Holiday in the Dominican Republic – this is the enjoyment of the friendliness and hospitality of the staff.
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