Culture

Known for professional baseball, handcrafted cigars and annual music festivals, the culture of the Dominican Republic is always reinventing itself. The carnival in February is famed for being the largest, boldest, most colourful celebration in the Caribbean.

Cuisine

Food in the Dominican Republic is as colourful as the landscape, drawing inspiration from native Antillean cuisine and hearty Creole recipes. Common ingredients include rice, seafood and vegetables.

Beaches

More than 1,000 miles of smooth coral-white beachfront graces the coastline of the Dominican Republic, touched by warm waters so clear and blue you have to see to believe. Some areas are populated with resorts featuring a full array of water sports, while others feel private, primal and untouched by the modern world. Whichever you pick, holidays to the Dominican Republic are never quite like any other.

Climate

Warm Caribbean temperatures touch the Dominican Republic year round, with January - February as the cooler months and August - September the hottest. The summer months May - October herald hotter and dryer days, with occasional short, sharp bursts of rain that add reprieves from the humid climate.

Dining & Nightlife

Entertainment is central to the Dominican Republic's identity, bringing together trendy drinking establishments, bars, casinos and restaurants. There's something to do at any hour of the day, feeding into a vibrant nightlife culture.

Shopping

Santo Domingo, the capital city, is filled with shops and boutiques, many offering international brands. On-trend fashion, cosmetics, jewellery, books, electronics and more are all on-hand for retail therapy. Upscale open-air markets and well-known shopping centres are spread throughout the Dominican Republic, allowing you to shop at your convenience.

Adventure & Ecotourism

Nine distinct ecological zones in the Dominican Republic encapsulates the ecological diversity of the island, each with its own activity profile. Jarabacoa and Constanza offer undulating landscapes where mountain climbing, hiking, horseback riding and rafting thrive. Pedernales, Bahoruco, Bani, Azua and Barahona all stay true to the image of the pre-colonial identity of the island, accented with untouched beaches, lagoons and rock formations. Venture northeast into Puerto Plata and you discover coastal pockets like Samaná where diving, windsurfing, kite boarding, Jeep safaris, waterfalls and whale-watching can be found in abundance. With all of this and more on offer, Dominican Republic holidays offer a world of adventure with something for every type of traveller.