Dominican Republic Flag
Why visit the Dominican Republic?
Best known for their baseball games, beautiful beaches, casinos, caves, cigars, colonial architecture, Columbian art, golf courses, historical sites, kiteboarding, latin nightlife, merengue dancing, mountain scenery, national parks, natural beauty, reef and wreck diving, windsurfing and warm tropical waters.
Photo Credit: falco/Pixabay
At a Glance
- Souvenirs to Buy: Amber, art, carnival masks, ceramics, cigars, coffee, larimar jewelry, perfume, soapstone carvings, straw goods, and wood carvings.
- Local Cuisine to Try: Aguají (soup). Almibar de Frutas (dessert). Bandera Dominicana (national). Bizcocho Dominicano (cake). Casabe (flatbread). Chimichurris (burger top). Habichuelas con Dulce (bean dessert). Lambi (conch). Mangu (plantain dish). Mero (grouper). Pan de Coco (coconut bread). Pastelón (casserole). Pescado con Coco (fish dish).
- Local Drink to Try: Mama Juana (cocktail).
Photo Credit: Rita/Pixabay
History
- December 1492, Christopher Columbus came upon the island of Hispaniola.
- In 1493, Christopher Columbus established La Isabela upon his second voyage.
- In 1844, Juan Pablo Duarte led them to the movement as an independent nation.
- In 1877, a box of bone fragments was found marked Columbus' in Santo Domingo. However, DNA tests reveals not to be his DNA.
- In 1916, U.S. Marines were stationed in Santo Domingo.
- In 1930, General Rafael Trujillo seized power.
- In 1961, General Rafael Trujillo was assassinated.
- During the 1970s, a group of investors developed Punta Cana as a beach resort destination.
- In 2003, every fours they hosted the Pan American Games.
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Photo Credit: falco/Pixabay
Fun Facts
- Cordillera Central is the largest mountain, Pico Duarte reaching 10,417 feet.
- Amber Coast derives from the Amber gem known to have rosin of an ancient tree. The tree exuding sap upon injury, spa globules failing to earth over millions of years ago. These rosin chucks collected plans and insect material, hardening to the gem we appreciate today. The islands is transparent with a higher ratio of fossils, Baltic Amber.
- Dictator Trujillo, commanded musical groups to compose merengue (dance music) to praise him.
- Birthplace to major league baseball players: David Ortiz, Sammy Sosa and Pedro Martinez.
- Three sisters: Patria, Minerva and Maria Mirabal were leaders to the movement to overthrow Dictator Trujillo. Said, to have been found, tortured and murdered by Trujillo's secret police. Today, they're honored as national heroes, "Las Mariposas" (The Butterflies).
Las Galeras, Dominican Republic. Photo Credit: Eve/Pixabay
Special Holidays/Occasions
- Annual Events: (February) Carnival, (March) Santo Domingo International Book Fair, (June) Mango Festival, Seafood Festival, (July) Cabarete Kite Festival, Festival del Merengue, (October) Dominican Baseball Tournament, Puerto Plata Festival, Santo Domingo Restaurant Week, and (November) Dominican Jazz Festival.
- Holidays: New Year's Day, Epiphany, Altagracia Day, Duarte Day, Independence Day, Good Friday, Easter, Labour Day, Feast of Corpus Christi, Restoration Day, Our Lady of Mercy Day, Constitution Day, and Christmas.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Photo Credit: Abel Ojeda/Pixabay
- The most tranquil beaches are along the southern coast of the island.
- Not all resorts accept credit cards.
- Celebration & Events: Carnival (Late February-Early March) and Merengue Festival (Late July - Early August).
- You may wish to read: In the Time of the Butterflies (written by Julia Alvarez 1995) and Feast of the Goat (written by Mario Vargas Llosa).
- Movies that may inspire you to visit: In the Time of Butterflies (2001) and Road to the Big Leagues (2008).
- Many travelers consider Dominican Republic cigars to be the best in the world, surpassing even the Cuban cigars.
- Blackouts are frequent, known to last up to 14 hours or more. Most hotels and restaurants have generators.
Hurricane Season is June - November, their impact usually occurs between August - October.
- Coolest Season: November - January
- Humid & Hottest: June - August
- Peak Season: December - April
- Rainy Season: November - January & May - November
- Shoulder Season: May - November
Altos de Chavón, La Romana, Dominican Republic. Photo Credit: photosforyou/Pixabay
Your Must-See & Do
- Activities: Cave exploring, deep-sea fishing, golf, hiking, horse back riding, jeep safaris, parasailing, snorkeling, swimming with dolphins, whale watching and zip lining.
- Historical Sites: Alcazar de Colon, Boca de YumaCasas Reales (Royal Houses), La Isabela and Zona Colonial (Colonial Zone).
- Museums: Amber World Museum, Aromas Museum, Casa Museo Hermanas Mirabal, Cathedral Museum, Larimar Museum, Memorial of Dominican Resistance, Museo Carnaval Vegano, Museo de la Altagracia, Museo de la Porcelna, Mundo King Art Museum, Museo de Arto Moderno, Museum of Dominican Man and Museo Histórico y Arqueológico Doctor Estrada. Torres, Museum of Natural History, Museum of Royal Houses, Natural Museum of Natural History, Trampoline Children's Museum and Wax Museum.
- Popular Attractions: Agua Splash, Brugal Rum Distillery, Cathedral of Santa Maria, Columbus Lighthouse, Gallery of Modern Art, Los Haitises National Park, Macorix House of Rum, Manati Park, Mt Isabel de Torres, National Library, National Theater, Ocean World, Parque Central (Central Park) and Santo Domingo's National Zoo.
Photo Credit: Faustino Medina/Pixabay
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