Know before you go – The Dominican Republic

The best time to travel to the Dominican Republic is between December and May, but thanks to the island’s tropical climate you can expect warm temperatures throughout the year with averages of about 28˚C around the coastline. The warmest month is August with temperatures up to 35˚C and the “coolest” are January and February with temperature up to 30˚C.

Thanks to the island’s rich and varied landscape, the wet season lasts from November to January along the Northern coastline and from May to November for the rest of the island. Hurricane season is in August on the Caribbean side and September-October on the Atlantic side.

A direct flight from London or Manchester to the Dominican Republic will take just over 9 hours. Flights from Scotland will require a connecting flight and can take around 14 hours total travel time.
The island has multiple airports, but most international flights arrive via Punta Cana International Airport. If you’re travelling to a resort, you should book your airport transfers with them. Otherwise you can hire a car or get a taxi to your hotel.

The currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso (DOP or RD$), but most tourist sites also accept US Dollars, Euros, Canadian Dollars and Swiss Francs. You can generally get 60 - 70RD$ to the pound and the cost of living is slightly lower than in the UK. For example, a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant in the Dominican Republic will cost about 1,730 RD$ or £26.

Away from the resorts, take a tour around the historical buildings of Santo Domingo. At over 500 years old, this is the oldest colonial city in the world and a great place to learn about Dominican history. Explore 16th century fortresses and churches along the cobblestone streets of the Zona Colonial for a real taste of what life was like hundreds of years ago.

Take a tour out onto the beautiful blue waters off the Samana Peninsula and you could catch sight of Humpback Whales. These graceful giants come to the Dominican Republic in the winter months to mate and rear their calves, and can often be seen waving their flippers, lobbing their tails or even breaching up into the air in Samana Bay.

Jump, splash and slide along 27 beautiful waterfalls for the ultimate adventure in the Dominican jungle. This natural limestone canyon was carved by river water running down the hillside, creating stunning waterfalls and crystal clear pools perfect for thrills, laughs or simply floating on your back and enjoying a view of the trees.

To celebrate carnaval, Cabarete hosts beachside fun and games throughout February, including the Dominican Republic Kite Festival. Extreme sport stars come to kitesurf on the beautiful blue waves and show off new tricks. Have a go at kitesurfing or enjoying the simple joys of flying a kite on the beach with your family.

In the Dominican Republic, baseball isn’t just a game; it’s way of life. Easily the most popular sport on the island, no trip is complete without catching a game at Estadio Quisqueya. See the locals proudly wearing their teams colours, watch the cheerleaders rally the players, and savour some rum under the floodlights as you cheer on the game.

This hypersaline lake is home to the Dominican Republic’s most flamboyant inhabitant. Pink flocks of flamingos can be spotted close to Isla Cabritos and the east side of the lake between April and July. You’ll also spot saltwater crocodiles between January and June, and friendly iguanas sunbathing on the rocks all year round.

From cathedral-esque limestone caves to water-lined mangrove forests to rolling jungles, Los Haitises National Park is a world-class ecoadventure. Discover ancient cave paintings, learn about the different medicinal trees of the park, and kayak along the mangrove channels in this natural wonderland.

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