The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean country that occupies the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. The western one-third of Hispaniola is occupied by the country of Haiti. To the north lies the North Atlantic Ocean, while the Caribbean Sea lies to the south.
;Note : Should not be confused with the Caribbean island country of Dominica.
Regions
; Administrative divisions : 31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Bahoruco, Barahona, Dajabón, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San José de Ocoa San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris,Santo Domingo, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Valverde
Cities
Other destinations
Understand
Climate
Tropical maritime with little seasonal temperature variation There is a seasonal variation in rainfall. The island lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and is subject to severe storms from June to October. It experiences occasional flooding and periodic droughts.
Terrain
Rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed.
; Elevation extremes : lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m
History
Explored and claimed by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland.
In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844.
A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of its subsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when Joaquin Balaguer became president. He maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. The Dominican economy has had one of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere.
Get in
By plane
The main airports (in alphabetical order) are:
You can get flights from Europe via Madrid (MAD) or Paris (CDG). From the US, you can fly from New York, Miami, Philadelphia or Charlotte.Most European and Canadian cities have charter flight connections, which operate seasonally.
You will be charged $10 for a tourist card on arrival. This must be paid in USD or EUROs (€). Local currency, GBP, etc, will not be accepted.A departure tax of $20 cash is payable on most charter and some scheduled flights. Check your airline for details.
Taxi fares to nearby hotels are posted just outside the airports.
Taxi from Airport to Santo Domingo (Ciudad Colonial): it is about $25/30 (maximum), but if you have time to discuss the prices, you can get it for $12-13 (maybe less). There are many taxi touts. They ask you for tips to 'find' you a taxi. Walk outside alone, decline the tout, keep hold of your baggage and save yourself a few dollars tip.
At the airport, you can change your $ and € in Dominican Pesos. But beware! You may not be able to exchange back local money to $ and €, so do it before leaving.
By train
Train networks are currently being developed but travel by rail is not currently available.
By car
Cars may be rented through Hertz or other agencies in Santo Domingo and other major cities. Gasoline, however, is extremely expensive often costing upward of $6/gallon (US). Some roads, especially in remote areas, are fairly dangerous (often without lane divisions) and many people tend not to respect oncoming traffic. However, road conditions on the major highways are roughly similar to road conditions in the United States and western Europe. Highway DR-1, for example, which connects the cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago, is a modern, four-lane, divided expressway, upon which travelers should experience few problems if any. Probably the biggest challenge that an international visitor to the Dominican Republic will face if he or she chooses to rent a car is not so much dealing with automobile traffic, but rather avoiding injuring the many pedestrians who cross poorly-lit streets and highways in the evening and nighttime hours, as well as avoiding injuring scooter drivers, who tend to ignore the existence of automobiles altogether. Other than these relatively minor obstacles though, driving in the Dominican Republic should not be particularly difficult for any experienced driver.
By bus
By boat
Get around
Options for getting around the country include bus service, 'gua-guas' (pronounced "Gwa-Gwas": small battered vans or trucks that serve as a collective taxi running fixed routes that are very cheap but can also very overloaded), domestic air flights and charter air service. There is no rail system in the country. A small company offers domestic air service (with Santo Domingo's Herrera airport as hub). Schedule well in advance, as flights fill up fast. A more expensive option is chartering an air flight. There is typically a minimum of three passengers for charter flights. Most towns and cities have regularly scheduled bus service, if not by one of the big bus companies, than by gua-gua. The bus lines are most often simple, independently run operations, usually only connecting two cities within a region (Southwest, East, North) or between one city and the capital (with stops made for any towns on the route). Because of the geography of the country, to get from one region of the country to another you have to go through the capital.
Caribe Tours , based out of the capital, is the biggest bus company, and has coverage in most regions that are not well-served by the other 'official' bus companies. Unlike taxis and gua-guas, Caribe Tour rates are fixed by destination and are extremely reasonable due to government subsidies. Expect to pay under 250 pesos (Dom) or $10 (US) for even the longest trips. Caribe Tour buses typically run from 7am to 4pm (with departures approx. every two hours) and cover most major cities. On longer trips, expect a short (10 minute) stop for coffee and lunch. Buses are fairly luxurious with movies playing for the entire trip and air conditioning (which can be extremely cold - bring a sweater). The 'unofficial' gua-gua system covers nearly every road on the island for some moderate savings (if you don't mind being packed in).
Taxi services are available but potentially dangerous when dealing with unlicensed drivers. In all cases, it's a good idea to go with a licensed driver and negotiate a price for your destination before you leave. Good drivers are often easy to identify by licenses worn around the neck, uniforms, and clean air conditioned vehicles. When calling a taxi company, you will be given a number to verify your driver. When being picked up, make sure your driver gives you the right number as 'false pickups' are often a prelude to robbery.
Another way to get out and about is to book an excursion or transfers with Cocotours, one of the Dominican Republic's leading inbound tour operators. Cocotours has offices in:
Talk
; Languages : Spanish, Dominican style. Very Caribbean. English understood in the Santo Domingo airport and luxury tourist areas only. Do not expect to be able to get around without understanding and being able to speak some Spanish.
Buy
One of the best spots in the Colonial District of Santo Domingo to shop is the several blocks long outdoor mall, c/ El Conde. It offers everything from street vendors (it is definitely NOT recommended to eat off these) to knock-off name brand clothing for extremely inexpensive prices. There are some very pleasant outdoor restaurants that serve as perfect spots to people watch and drink Presidente (their most popular beer). During the day, there are also several touristy shops where you can buy cheap presents for the family back home including authentic paintings and beautiful jewelry. There is also a very nice cigar shop at the end of the mall across from the cathedral. Crafts are generally not as exciting as in other Latin American countries such as Mexico. Clothes, however, are generally very economical and often of good quality. Most prices can be negotiated. US dollars are accepted in some areas.
Drink
Beer- Presidente, Brahma, Bohemia
Rum- Brugal, Barcelo, Bermudez (Called the Threee B's of Dominican Rum)
Additionally, other imported drinks are available for purchase (at least in the towns and cities; they might not be as readily available out in the country)
Do not drink tap water! Locals, even in the most rural areas, will either boil their water or purchase bottled water. Eating salads or other food that may be washed in tap water is not advisable. Ice is a bad idea as well, except in luxury hotels and restaurants (which produce ice from bottled water). If you plan on cooking or washing dishes for longer stays, it is a good idea to rinse everything with bottled or boiled water before use.
Sleep
Learn
Many US universities offer study abroad options for the Dominican Repubilc. The two most common cities hosting exchange students are Santo Domingo and Santigo. Check with local universities for programs and prices.
Work
Most companies do not require anything more than a Passport to work. There are a lot of North American companies in the country, especially in Santo Domingo and DN (aka National District). There are good opportunities for English speaking employees. The country has several free zones, lots of them in the Call Center area.
Stay safe
The age of consent is 18. Tourists who have sex with minors may also be prosecuted by their home country.
Using common sense is the best way to stay safe.
Tourists are advised not to travel alone in cities if possible as muggings are fairly common. Streets are largely unlit after dark, even in the captial of Santo Domingo, and are subject to routine power outages. Wild dogs are common throughout the country but largely ignore people (feeding these dogs is not recommended as this may induce aggressive behavior). Western travellers are advised to dress casually and remove rings and other jewelery when away from tourist destinations. However common tourist destinations, in particular the more expensive, luxury hotels and areas are very safe.
Corruption is rampant and the level of professionalism of the National Police is somewhat debatable. To protect income from tourism the government has established the Polit Tour or "tourist police" which is tasked with the safety of foreign tourists. Travellers are advised to contact this agency if any problems are encountered as they will have a much more positive response than with the national police.
Stay healthy
Malaria has been an issue, especially in the rainforests. Be sure to consult with a physician before departure.
There is a risk of dengue fever which is contracted through mosquitos that bite during the day. No vaccine is available, so using mosquito repellent is advisable.
Additionally, many of the local foods are safe to eat including the meats, fruits, and vegetables. Visitors, however, should not drink any of the local water and should stay with bottled water or other beverages. It is important for visitors to stay hydrated in the hot, humid climate.
Sunburn and sun poisoning are a great risk. The sun is very bright here. Use at least SBF30 sunblock. Limit sun exposure.
Respect
Dominicans are kind and peaceful people. Attempts at speaking Spanish are a good sign of respect for the local people. Be polite, show respect and do your best to speak the language and you will be treated with kindness.
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The Dominican Republic (Spanish: República Dominicana, IPA re'puβlika domini'kana) is a Latin American country that occupies the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island called Hispaniola. It shares a border with the Republic of Haiti, making it one of two Caribbean islands that are split by two governments; the other is Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten. Hispaniola is the second-largest of the Greater Antilles islands, and lies west of Puerto Rico and east of Cuba and Jamaica.
For much of the twentieth century, the government of the Dominican Republic was unsettled and mostly non-representative. Since the death of military dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo in 1961, the Dominican Republic has moved toward representative democracy.
History
The Dominican Republic is the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, and became the first point of colonization in the Western Hemisphere by explorers from Europe. Present-day Dominican Republic has the first cathedral
Taínos
Christopher Columbus explored Hispaniola during his first voyage to America in 1492. The inhabitants whom Columbus encountered on his arrival in Hispaniola were Arawak-speaking Taíno people who had previously settled there. The Taíno lived in villages, headed by chiefs, and engaged principally in farming and fishing.
Spanish lieutenant governor José Núñez de Cáceres declared the colony's independence as the state of Spanish Haiti (Haití Español) on November 30, 1821, requesting admission to the Republic of Gran Colombia, but Haitian forces, led by Jean-Pierre Boyer, unified the entire island, ending 300 years of colonial domination and slavery just nine weeks later. In 1838 Juan Pablo Duarte, founded a secret society called La Trinitaria that sought pure and simple independence of the eastern part of the island without any foreign intervention. Ramón Matías Mella and Francisco del Rosario Sánchez (the latter one being a mestizo The only Latin American nation to do so. President Pedro Santana decided to return the Dominican Republic to Spain. Haitian authorities fearful of the reestablishment of Spain as colonial power gave refuge and logistics to Dominican revolutionaries to re-establish the independent nation of Dominincan Republic. (and 3 time President of the Dominican Republic) and Gen. Gregorio Luperón. Restoration War started on August 16, 1863 and, after two years of fighting, Spanish troops abandoned the island.
U.S. Treaty for Control
In 1906, the Dominican Republic and the United States entered into a 50 year treaty. As a result, Ramón Báez Machado, was elected provisional president in the Dominican Republic.) from 1930 until his assassination in 1961. Trujillo ruled with iron hand persecuting anyone who opposed his regime. He also renamed many towns and provinces after himself and his family, including the capital city Santo Domingo. In 1937 Rafael Trujillo, in an event known as the Parsley Massacre ordered the Army to kill all Haitians on the Dominican side of the border; an estimated 17,000 to 35,000 Haitians were killed for approximately five days, from October 2, 1937 through October 8, 1937, Haitians were cut down with machetes,
See also
External links and sources
[[sh:Dominikanska Repub
