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Holidayco.co.uk specialises in cheap dominican republic holidays, package holidays and late deals to a huge number of destinations. Find out more about the Dominican Republic in our guide below.

Holidays in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic lies on the Caribbean island of Santo Domingo between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The Republic takes up two-thirds of the island. The other third is Haiti.

Hispaniola, as the island was then called, was explored by the Spanish starting in 1492 and was an important Spanish base in the region for many years. The neighbouring state of Haiti was settled by the French, and for a time ruled by Haiti and, after some troubled times, became independent as the Dominican Republic in 1844 and again in 1865. The Dominican Republic is today a democratic country with a fast-growing economy.

The climate is excellent. It only gets cold in the mountains, though in the cooler months (December to March) it is not always possible to sit out in shirtsleeves at night. At the coast the summer days can be very hot. Rain, in the form of short showers in the afternoon, is not uncommon but rarely prolonged. It rains more in April, May, September and October than other times of year, though hurricanes elsewhere can bring heavy cloud cover to the island.

The capital of the Dominican Republic is Santo Domingo, with a population of over 2 million. The city dates back to the colonial period and has many historic buildings as well as other tourist attractions including botanical gardens and an aquarium.

Dominican Republic Facts At A Glance

Area: 48,730 square km.

Climate: Tropical maritime. There is little seasonal variation in temperature but rainfall varies between seasons

Terrain: Fertile valleys located between highland and mountainous areas

Population: 8.95 Million

Languages: Spanish

Currency: Peso

Time Zone: 4 Hours behind GMT

International Dialling Code: +1 809

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Places to visit

Juan Dolio is a tourist town with several all-inclusive resorts along the beach front. The town has two casinos which are open to non-residents. A little further along the coast is La Romana, which has the world’s largest sugar mill but few tourist attractions in the town itself. There are good golf courses nearby, an artists’ village and Casa de Campo, on of the best-known resorts in the region.

In the flatter east of the island there are few population centres but there are some excellent beaches. Over 45km of beaches stretch along the coast in the Punta Cana – Bavaro region. The largest town in the region is Higuey which has an impressive cathedral but few other attractions. The region in general is being developed with new resorts. Already there are facilities for golf and deep sea fishing.

There are three main tourist areas in the Dominican Republic; the northern, southern and eastern regions.

The north coast region centres on Puerto Plata, with a population of about 100,000, and the resort complex at Playa Dorada. The region is hilly with a good golf course and several casinos. It is within day-trip range of the capital. You can also get from Puerto Plata to the town of Sosua for a day trip. On the bus this costs about a dollar.

The town of Cabarete, a little further along the coast, is popular with windsurfers and has an excellent beach. Rio San Juan, a little further along the coast, is being developed as a tourist destination. There are some good beaches in the far north of the island near Samana , located close to small resorts that are well suited to families or couples seeking a quiet relaxing holiday.

In the south of the island, the town of Boca Chica is a good base from which to visit the capital. Boca Chica has three all-inclusive resorts and several small hotels as well as a good beach. The nightlife is fairly busy, making Boca Chica a popular place to visit even for those staying elsewhere.

Things to do

Most of the resorts in the Dominican Republic have a range of tours on offer. These include bus, jeep and horseback tours, and also boat trips. Sometimes reps at the resorts push these tours hard, often suggesting that it can be hazardous to venture out of the resort without a guide or organised group. In truth it is quite safe to explore on your own but the tours are still good fun.

If you want to get around on your own, renting a car is an option. However, it is worth knowing that driving in the Dominican Republic can be very exciting. It is possible that there are traffic laws in a book somewhere, but in practice the roads are virtually ungoverned. Car rental is expensive. Motorcycles are cheaper but obviously more hazardous. Many resorts provide free bicycles, but riding on the roads is something of an experience. 

The Dominicans are a friendly and easy-going lot who tend not to recognise social or age barriers. This means that visitors are likely to be welcome at local events and festivals, and are often treated more as visiting friends than paying holidaymakers.

The republic has a number of casinos offering the usual range of gambling opportunities and, in some cases, entertainment.

If you like to shop, local handicrafts and very good and make excellent gifts to bring home. Pottery dolls, amber and larimar jewellery and paintings or wooden sculpture are all widely available. You can get black coral in some places, but exporting it is prohibited by international law so buying is not a good idea. Other favourite gifts to bring home include coffee, rum and cigars.

The Manati Park at Bávaro-Punta Cana is popular with visitors. The park has gardens with tropical plants and a variety of wildlife as well as shops, restaurants and entertainment. The park is most famous for the opportunity to swim with dolphins.