10 Essential Travel Tips to Explore the Dominican Republic

Planning a trip to the Dominican Republic? You’re in for an unforgettable adventure. As someone who has explored this Caribbean paradise extensively, I’ve gathered the best travel tips to help you make the most of your visit.

From stunning beaches and vibrant cities to hidden gems that most tourists miss, this guide covers everything you need to know.

First, let’s talk about the essentials. The Dominican Republic currency is the Dominican peso (DOP), but U.S. dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas. If you plan on exploring local markets or taking public transport, having some pesos on hand is a good idea. Speaking of transport, while Punta Cana and Santo Domingo are well-connected by taxis and private shuttles, renting a car is the best way to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations like Bahía de las Águilas and Samaná.

Safety-wise, the Dominican Republic is generally safe for tourists, but like anywhere, it’s important to stay alert. Avoid flashing valuables, be cautious in Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone at night, and always use official taxis or rideshare apps like Uber.

Finally, if you want to experience the real Dominican culture, don’t just stick to all-inclusive resorts. Use this Dominican Republic travel guide to venture out and try authentic Dominican food, dance to live merengue and bachata, and visit local towns like Jarabacoa for a taste of the country’s stunning natural beauty.

Essential Tips for traveling to the Dominican Republic

In this article I will explain everything you need to know to organize a perfect trip. You will find out which is the ideal season to visit the country, as well as the best way to get around, the entry requirements and I will tell you about safety.

I will also tell you which cities and places are essential, I will propose an itinerary so you can get to know the best of the country and I will tell you how many days would be necessary to get to know it and take a little piece of the Dominican Republic with you in your heart.

As the icing on the cake, at the end of the article you will find some final practical tips for traveling to the Dominican Republic that will help you enjoy your trip to the island to the fullest. Take note.

1. Best time to travel to the Dominican Republic

Generally speaking, the ideal time to travel is between December and April . These are the months with the best weather, less rain, but obviously it is the high season. This means that prices will be higher and the availability of hotel rooms, transport or tours will be lower.

May to November is the rainy season and the likelihood of experiencing storms, tropical storms and even hurricanes increases. Does this mean that you can't travel to the Dominican Republic during this time? No, you will still enjoy the country, but keep in mind that temperatures and humidity will be higher and you will experience a few showers.

The good thing about traveling at this time is that there is much less tourism and you will be able to enjoy the beautiful places in the Dominican Republic without being overcrowded. In addition, prices are lower and this will be reflected in the final budget.

Whatever time of year you travel, remember that the climate in the Dominican Republic is tropical , so it is very likely that you will get wet from time to time. It is the price you have to pay to have such green landscapes.

Annual climate charts in the Dominican Republic — *Source: weatherspark.com*

2. Visa to enter the Dominican Republic

Good news! Citizens of Spain, Europe and any other Latin American country (except Cuba and Venezuela) will NOT need a visa to enter as tourists. But you will need to fill out an online form both before arriving and before leaving. It is free and you can do it on this website . This requirement is the one requested at the time of writing this guide, however we recommend that you check the updated information on official sites.

Beyond this form, the only requirement is to have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months during your stay and departure from the country. Upon arrival, you will be granted a 30-day permit, which can be extended by paying a fee through the foreign affairs office.

→ You can check the list of countries that require a visa on the website of the Dominican Republic consulate or check it directly based on your nationality on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

3. How to get there?

The most common way to get there is by plane, as the country has several international airports with connections to other destinations in America and Europe. For example, from Spain there are direct flights to Punta Cana and Santo Domingo for only €500-600 round trip.

Previously, tourists were charged an entrance fee of $10, however since 2018 it is included in the plane ticket, just so you know 😉

→ If you are interested in knowing how much a trip to the Dominican Republic could cost you, I recommend that you take a look at Skyscanner (it's where I always find the best deals).

Another much less common option to visit a specific area of the Dominican Republic is to arrive on a Caribbean cruise , which usually stops in cities such as Santo Domingo and La Romana. There are many companies that include this country in their routes, so if you have plenty of time and want to combine several countries in your trip, it can be a very interesting option.

Being on an island that shares territory only with Haiti , it is strongly discouraged to arrive by land since the border can be very dangerous and unsafe.

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4. How to get around the Dominican Republic?

Once you have arrived in the country, you will have several options to move around it:

✓ Public transport

Buses are the cheapest option to travel around the country as they connect the main cities and towns in the Dominican Republic. However, it is also the slowest option as the schedules tend to be a bit random and a lot of time is wasted on transfers and matching buses with each other. Keep in mind that the country has more than 48,000km2, so the distances will be long. The companies that operate the most are Caribe Tours and Expreso Bávaro .

To move between smaller towns there are vans or guaguas . And if you want to move within the same area, in addition to guaguas you also have motoconchos , which are taxi-type motorcycles that take you from one place to another in a more flexible way.

✓ Car rental

If you have a larger budget, the best option for getting around the Dominican Republic is to rent a car . This way, you can make the most of your time and stop whenever and wherever you want. The rental price depends on the season, but you can expect to pay around €35 per day in the low season and €50 per day in the high season.

If you are interested, I recommend you look at Auto Europe to compare rentals with different providers and book them at the best price.

✓ Motorcycle rental

Another very interesting alternative is to take long journeys by public transport and then rent a moped to move around at your own pace. This is the option I chose, and although I would have loved to rent a car to have absolute freedom, I admit that I really like doing it this way.

✓ Uber and Cabify

You can use Uber to order a taxi in Santiago, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo. In addition, in the latter you will also have the option of using Cabify.

5. What to see and do in the Dominican Republic

When choosing what to see in the country and what not to, it is very important to keep in mind what kind of trip you want to take and what you expect from a destination like this. For me, there are two completely different Dominicans : the one with the bracelet and all-inclusive, and the one with wild beaches and more modest hotels.

⭐ Here we tell you which are the 10 essential visits in the Dominican Republic

These are the most interesting places to visit in the Dominican Republic and I will explain more about each of them:

✓ Punta Cana

If you are looking for a destination with luxury resorts where you can stay in an all-inclusive, Punta Cana is your place. It is perfect if you want to go on vacation and disconnect for a few days, but do not come here for the beaches, as you will find many more spectacular ones in other parts of the country.

✓ Bayahibe

Although you will also have the option of staying at all-inclusive resorts in the Dominicus area, it is not as famous as Punta Cana, so it can be a good alternative . Luckily, you will have the beach of Bayahibe , which is much quieter. It is also an interesting destination because boats leave from here to the spectacular Saona Island and Catalina Island .

✓ Santo Domingo

It is the capital of the country and, although many avoid it due to its reputation for being unsafe, it is a city with a lot of history that I believe deserves the oena. Here you will find the Colonial City , declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, where you can walk through its cobbled streets, visit the Cathedral Primada de América and explore the museums and monuments where you can learn about the colonial history of the country.

✓ Eagles Bay

It belongs to the Jaragua National Park and is said to have the most crystalline waters in the world . Being protected by the national park, there are no hotels or services, which makes it a unique, unspoiled and non-touristy place . If dream beaches come to mind when you think of the Dominican Republic, this is the place.

✓ Samana Peninsula

A very authentic little corner with jungle, waterfalls, paradisiacal beaches and even humpback whale watching . That's what you'll find on the Samaná Peninsula. The best places to visit in the country are concentrated in this area. If in 17 days that I spent traveling from top to bottom it managed to make a place in my heart forever, I assure you that the same will happen to you.

✓ Punta Rucia

This small town, despite being very far away, is another paradise worth visiting, since, among other things, from here you can go to Cayo Arena . Being so far away, it is not too touristy, which makes it an ideal option if you want to visit authentic places.

6. How many days are needed to visit the Dominican Republic?

Personally, I think you can visit the country's must-sees in about 21 days . Of course, you'll have to take into account that you'll be rushing a bit since the distances are a bit long.

Dominican Republic travel itinerary

A good route could be this one (keep in mind that you would then have to add the days you lose making the journeys):

Punta Cana (3 days)
Bayahibe (1 or 2 days)
Santo Domingo (1 or 2 days)
Eagles Bay (2 days)
Punta Rucia (2 days)
Samaná Peninsula (7 days)

This is a feasible proposal to travel around the country in 3 weeks, but my personal experience tells me that it is not a bad idea to focus on one or two areas and explore them well . As I have already told you, I spent more than two weeks only on the Samaná Peninsula and it was not enough for me.

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Other tips for planning your route:

› If you don't have that many days but still want to travel around the country, you can take a day trip to Saona Island from Punta Cana to save an extra day.

› Are you not a big fan of resorts but want to experience a few days in one? Then choose between Punta Cana or Bayahibe , don't go to both.

› If you're not into the resort thing, skip Punta Cana and Bayahibe from your itinerary and focus on exploring the other areas of the island. I spent 3 days in Punta Cana and would have loved to have spent them on the Samaná Peninsula or somewhere else.

› If you have less than 15 days and you are not interested in resorts, focus on exploring the entire Samaná Peninsula . You won't regret it, I assure you.

7. Travel budget and reference prices

The budget for a trip is something that depends largely on the tastes and type of traveler , so it is difficult to calculate an average expense. But below I will leave you some approximate prices so that you get an idea of what it could cost you to travel around the Dominican Republic:

› Accommodation : Prices vary depending on the type of accommodation you choose; for example, I stayed in Airbnb apartments for about €30 a night. If you go to all-inclusive resorts, you'll find rooms from €100 a night.

› Transport : If you use public transport you will spend between €6 and €10 per trip and if you decide to rent a car, you will find it for around €35-50 per day (plus the cost of insurance). Buses cost around €1.50 per trip.

› Food : for around €4 or €5 you can have a local daily menu, although the price will depend on how touristy the area is. As for international food, it will depend a lot on the type of food and the restaurant, but for around €10 or so you can get full meals.

8. Travel on your own or book a tour?

The choice between traveling on your own or booking organized packages will basically depend on your preferences and your travel style. In general, the Dominican Republic is a safe and easy country to explore on your own .

Therefore, I only recommend that you book excursions for activities that you cannot do on your own or if you are short on time, since these types of tours help you make the most of your time. For example:

To visit Saona Island without staying overnight, there is this day trip from Punta Cana .
This tour is also interesting to visit Los Haitises National Park , as it is a bit out of the way and may not be so easy to fit into the route.
For example, if you are going to Puerto Plata but you don't have many days, a great option is to book this excursion to Cayo Arena . This way you can make the most of your time instead of wasting it looking for agencies when you arrive.

9. Is it safe to travel to the Dominican Republic?

In general, the Dominican Republic is a safe destination for independent travel, but as everywhere, you will have to take precautions in certain areas or circumstances:

Keep an eye on your belongings
Don't walk alone at night (especially in unfamiliar areas)
Don't draw attention to yourself with valuable things, or as Colombians would say, don't give papaya 😉
Be alert, especially in big cities, find out about the worst neighborhoods and avoid them.

Otherwise, follow your intuition and use common sense. The Dominican people are super warm and friendly , but there are many mistakes everywhere.

→ If you want more detailed information, you can take a look at the government's foreign affairs page .

Travel Insurance

Regardless of safety, I always recommend taking out a good travel insurance policy that will cover any incidents that may occur during your vacation.
Specifically for the Dominican Republic, I recommend IATI Mochilero , which covers up to €500,000 of medical expenses, includes adventure sports (diving, snorkeling, trekking, etc.), lifeguards, and other coverage.

If you don't have yours yet and want to reserve it, you can get a 5% discount on the final price from this link.

10. Gastronomy in the Dominican Republic

The gastronomic side of travel is becoming increasingly important , and being able to enjoy local flavors is a fundamental part of understanding and feeling the culture of a country. And the Dominican Republic is no exception. In its cuisine you will have a little piece of its history, in which European, African and Caribbean influences are mixed .

My advice is to sit down and eat at local restaurants , as this will give you a much more authentic Dominican experience. The most typical dishes that you should not miss are:

Sancocho : This is a stew prepared with different meats to which various ingredients are added when cooking it, such as yuca, potato, plantain and cilantro.
Mangú : Another very typical dish made with boiled and mashed green plantains. It is usually accompanied with sautéed red onions and served with eggs, fried cheese and fried salami.
Tostones : Their main ingredient is also green plantain and they are served as an accompaniment to meat and fish.
Stewed beans .
Stewed chicken .
And fruit , lots of fruit!

11. How to get cash in the Dominican Republic: Best options & tips

WISE Travel Card — Withdraw & Spend Abroad without Fees

The local currency of the country is the Dominican peso (DOP) . Generally, cash is accepted in shops , especially in local stores and restaurants and in public transport, so it is always a good idea to have some loose change. The options for getting Dominican pesos are the following:

› WISE Travel Card . It's the most reliable and straightforward solution to spend and withdraw money in the Dominican Republic quickly, without exchange rate fees.

› Exchange your money before you leave . You can do this at your bank or ask for foreign currency at exchange offices (both in person and online with delivery to your home), but this is an alternative that involves paying high commissions and I do not recommend it.

› Bring cash from home . Calculate how much you are going to spend during the trip and bring that amount in cash (in euros or dollars) so that, once you are in the country, you can find a good exchange office. At the airport the exchange rate is usually quite bad, so I recommend that you only change enough to last a couple of days and wait to find a good place to get the rest of the pesos. This is not my favorite option since it means carrying large sums of money with you.

› Withdrawing money from an ATM . The best option is to carry cards that do not charge fees, such as the Revolut card or the N26 card . With these, you can withdraw money at the official Mastercard exchange rate and you will only pay the fee of the ATM where you withdraw the money. Look for Scotibank and Jumbo ATMs, as they do not charge fees.

In any case, I recommend that you always carry several cards and some cash just in case.

12. Which SIM cards are recommended?

iRoamly - #1 Travel Sim Card for Dominican Republic (Network Coverage Everywhere)

Although there is Wi-Fi in many places, not all of them work very well. I recommend that you get the iRoamly travel Sim card above (discount through the link). You will get a reliable internet coverage everywhere in the Dominican republic as soon as you get there.

You can also buy a local SIM card so that you can always be connected and look up the information you need: restaurants, hotel location... Whatever.

The most common local companies are Claro , Viva or Altice and you can get their cards in any official store, in a convenience store or at the airport itself. Prices vary depending on the data package contracted and the duration, but calculate around 15-20€.

⭐ Here we provide you with more information on how to have internet in the Dominican Republic

Latest tips for traveling to the Dominican Republic

If these recommendations were not enough, here are some final tips to make your trip even more incredible:

› If you plan to drive a car and you have a Spanish driving license, you do NOT need to present an international driving license. You can drive temporarily with the license you use in Spain.

› The voltage in the country is 120 V and the plugs and sockets are type A/B , so you will have to bring an adapter or buy one there.

› The time zone of the Dominican Republic is UTC -4.

› Wear cool clothes , it is very hot and humid there.

› If you really want to get to know the country, I recommend you get off the beaten track and go exploring. I'm sure you'll have some really cool experiences.

› For more advice, I recommend you look at the Ministry of Tourism website .

And that's it for the article with the best tips for traveling to the Dominican Republic! I hope you find these recommendations useful when organizing your trip to this incredible country. I'm sure you'll love it.

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