The Dominican Republic is a Central American country that occupies the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. The western one-third of Hispaniola is occupied by the country of Haiti. To the north lies the North Atlantic Ocean, while the Caribbean Sea lies to the south.
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Other destinationsUnderstandClimateTropical maritime with little seasonal temperature variation There is a seasonal variation in rainfall. The island lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and is subject to severe storms from June to October. It experiences occasional flooding and periodic droughts. TerrainRugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed.
HistoryExplored and claimed by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of its subsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when Joaquin Balaguer became president. He maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. The Dominican economy has had one of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere. Get inBy planeThe main airports are Punta Cana in the east and Las Americas (SDQ), in Santo Domingo, the capital. You can get flights from Europe via Madrid MAD or Paris CDG. From the US, you can fly from New York or Miami. You will be charged $10 for a tourist card on arrival. This must be paid in USD or EUROs (€). Local currency, GBP, etc, not accepted. Taxi fares to nearby hotels are posted just ouside the airports. Taxi from Airport to Santo Domingo (Ciudad Colonial): it is about $25/30 (maximum), but if you have time to discuss the prices, you can get it for $12-13 (maybe less). There are many taxi touts. They ask you for tips to 'find' you a taxi. Walk outside alone, decline the tout, keep hold of your baggage and save yourself a few dollars tip. At the airport, you can change your $ and € in Dominican Pesos. But beware! You may not be able to exchange back local money to $ and €, so do it before leaving. By trainThere is no train network for public transport in the DR. By carDriving in the DR is a memorable experience. There are few major highways, borrowing from the U.S. Interstate. They are often pretty reliable. Highway #5 which goes from Santiago to Santo Domingo is filled with crazy drivers. Since the electricity service comes and goes in the residential areas, drivers are conditioned not to rely on the traffic lights, and will often ignore them if they are functioning. When there is no electricity, exercise caution when driving. By busBy boatGet aroundFor getting around the country one can take buses (Buses: 'gua-guas' pronounced, "Gwa-Gwas"). There is no rail in the country, and it is too small for inter-city air traffic. Most towns and cities have regularly schedule bus lines. The lines are most often independently run and simple, usually only connecting two cities within a region (SouthWest, Este, North) or between one city and the capital (with stops made for any towns on the route). Because of the geography of the country, to get from one region of the country to another you have to go through the capital. Caribe Tours, based out of the capital, is the biggest bus company, and the only one to service serval different regions (SW and the North). Talk
BuyOne of the best spots in the Colonial District of Santo Domingo to shop is the several blocks long outdoor mall, c/ El Conde. It offers everything from street vendors (it is definitely NOT recommended to eat off these) to knock-off name brand clothing for extremely inexpensive prices. There are some very pleasant outdoor restaurants that serve as perfect spots to people watch and drink Presidente (their most popular beer). During the day, there are also several touristy shops where you can buy cheap presents for the family back home including authentic paintings and beautiful jewelry. There is also a very nice cigar shop at the end of the mall across from the cathedral. Crafts are generally not as exciting as in other Latin American countries such as Mexico. Clothes, however, are generally very economical and often of good quality. DrinkPresidente Beer, Barcelo Anejo Rum, Brugal Rum Sleep
LearnWorkStay safeStay healthyMalaria has been an issue, especially in the rainforests. Be sure to consult with a physician before departure. There is a risk of dengue fever which is contracted through mosquitos that bite during the day. No vaccine is available, so using mosquito repellent is advisable. Additionally, many of the local foods are safe to eat including the meats, fruits, and vegetables. Visitors, however, should not drink any of the local water and should stay with bottled water or other beverages. RespectContact
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