Overview

The Dominican Republic is a captivating place, both culturally and naturally. It's beautiful colonial-style cities punctuate a landscape of dense jungle, pine forests, rising mountains, glorious beaches, and translucent waters. Escape to the white shores of paradise with a luxury holiday in the Dominican Republic.

An abundance of beaches, grandiose mountain ranges and historical architecture characterise the Dominican Republic. Mountain springs feed into fishing villages, waterfalls, jungle rivers, mangrove lagoons and other natural wonderlands, giving this Caribbean nation a rich and diverse topography. The capital, Santo Domingo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it's considered to be one of the oldest cities in region. Take the time to tour its fantastic colonial architecture, like the Columbus Palace and Ozama Fort.

Outside of this city though, to the east, is where you'll find dreamy Punta Cana. This seaside resort town is famed throughout the Caribbean for its stretches of pristine beaches and manicured golf courses. Nicknamed the Coconut Coast, you'll find that upscale hotels gather here to make the most of this singular region and with excellent surfing opportunities, quaint fishing villages and a buzzing nightlife, it's easy to see why.

When To Visit

The two popular times to visit the Dominican Republic fall between the summer months of July and August, and the winter season which takes place from December to February. The temperature sits at an average of 25 degrees across all seasons.

Food & Drink

Dominican cuisine is a varied affair incorporating Spanish, African and indigenous flavours. You might expect seafood to be the main staple here, but beef, chicken and pork play a bigger role. Traditional dishes include pollo guisado (braised chicken), sancocho (7-meat stew) and mangú (plantain mash).

International menus include Mediterranean, Mexican and Pan-Asian cuisine. Creole fusion cuisine is also popular - a combination of Creole style and traditional Latin American dishes. Private beach dining is a must in the Dominican Republic, as is trying the rum cocktails.

Passport & Visas

Be sure to keep hold of your identification at all times. It's a good idea to have a photocopy of your passport just in case. British Citizens travelling to the Dominican Republic for tourism don't need a visa. Find more advice at GOV.UK with information on passports, visas and travel.

Currency
Dominican Peso
Flight Time
~9 hours
Timezone
GMT-4