Travel

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a colourful melting pot of Spanish, French, Haitian, and African influences. A land described by Christopher Columbus as “a beautiful island paradise with high forested mountains and large river valleys,” it is a destination like no other - ecotourism adventures that stray off the beaten path, exotic cuisine and a remarkable variety of arts and entertainment options. It is a land where the pulse-pounding thrill of the meringue blends with intriguing relics from centuries past to create a place that will delight even the most experienced traveller.

The Dominican Republic covers the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. The capital city is Santo Domingo, located on the south coast of the island. Though Spanish is the official language, English is widely spoken in major cities and tourist destinations.

The Dominican Republic is hot and tropical, with little seasonal variation in temperatures which average about 25°C. Still, it does have a rainy season, which runs from October to April in the north and May to November in the south. Cooler temperatures and less humidity are generally experienced between November and April, while the mountainous interior is always cooler than the rest of the country. Hurricanes occur on average just once every two years on the island, with most striking the south of the country between August and September.

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