The Dominican Republic is considered to be the most visited travel destination in the Caribbean. This is mainly due to the seemingly endless white sandy beaches and palm trees as well as the large selection of beautiful places. The country has built a reputation for offering quality vacations at reasonable prices.
With its long beaches and clear, blue sea, the region around Punta Cana on the east coast is particularly popular. The Dominican Republic forms half of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti in the west. The country is one of the most geographically diverse parts of the Caribbean and offers everything from tropical rainforests and high mountains to mangrove swamps and semi-deserts. Mountain bikers, windsurfers, hikers and climbers get their money’s worth here.
According to physicscat, the country has a long history. A visit to the capital, Santo Domingo, is still one of the most popular starting points for culture-loving travelers. The oldest Fortaleza Ozama fortress was built in 1502 and you can still find churches from the colonial days. In the cities you will find night clubs and lively bars where you can dance.
Best travel time
With an average temperature of 26 ° C, the Dominican Republic has only slight temperature fluctuations and a very constant climate all year round. You can therefore not separate the travel times according to cool and hot weather, but rather depend on the precipitation. The rainy season in summer is between May and October. Most of the rain falls in May and June. At this time of the year the number of tourists is also decreasing. The best time to visit the Dominican Republic is during the dry winter months from December to March . This is the time when you have the best chance of good weather, but you have to keep in mind that the prices for flights and hotels are also the highest.
In the winter months it is still possible that it rains, but it comes less often and only in shorter spurts. It’s not uncommon for dark clouds to open up with light rain for 5-15 minutes before the sun shines and everything is dry again.
Hurricanes pose a real threat in the Dominican Republic that vacationers rarely worry about. The hurricane season is between early June and late November , although smaller cyclones can also in the months before and after occur. Meteorologists are developing better and better forecasts so that vacationers can find out days in advance that a hurricane is about to come. So you have the opportunity to prepare for it and, if necessary, to switch to other travel destinations.
Optimal travel time after months
December – February
Many tourists visit the Dominican Republic at this time of year to enjoy the warm weather (average temperatures are between 20-28 ° C). Because of this, the prices are relatively high in the time. Around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the rush increases and the prices are even higher. So reserve a few months in advance if you plan to travel during this time.
March May
The months of March, April and May form the transition to the low season and compared to the winter months there are fewer tourists. This has the pleasant effect that the prices for accommodation are much more pleasant. The weather is sunny and pleasantly warm at 28 ° C.
June – November
The hurricane season falls fully into the off-season. When it rains the beaches and golf courses cannot be used and there are few activities. If you take the risk anyway, you will find very good prices. In September and October in particular, when the number of tourists is lowest and the risk of hurricanes is highest, you can find real bargains.
Climate in Santo Domingo
The maximum temperature in Dominican Republic is 31 ° C. In January, February and March the thermometer rises to a maximum of 28 ° C. The summer (June to September) with average 31 ° C hot . In the winter months it is around 29 ° C very warm . During the day, the average annual temperature in Dominican Republic is a warm 29.7 ° C.
At night it gets coldest at 19 ° C in February. While the nights in summer are averages of pleasantly warm 23 ° C, the thermometer drops to a pleasantly warm 20 ° C between November and March. The temperature at night is on average a pleasant 21.7 ° C throughout the year.
The water temperature is up to 28 ° C, in February and March the sea has a maximum of 26 ° C. In the summer months from June to September the water is very warm with an average of 28 ° C. Between November and March the values are a very warm 27 ° C. Over the year, the sea has an average temperature of 27.2 ° C.
With 12 rainy days, June is the rainiest month of the year. The March is the driest month of the year . From June to September the Dominican Republic is relatively humid with an average of around 11 rainy days, the winter (November to March) is quite dry with 7 rainy days. Every month there is an annual average of 9.2 days of rain.
Money
The currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican Peso. US dollars and travelers checks can be exchanged easily. Exchange money only at banks or official exchange offices (Casas de Cambio). Most credit and debit cards usually work fine at ATMs. It is best to only withdraw cash from ATMs in beacons or shopping centers and not on the street.
Credit card copying and identity theft continue to be a risk in the Dominican Republic. So don’t lose sight of your credit card when paying, or pay in cash instead.
