Dominican Republic Holidays
About 2 million visitors make their way to the Dominican Republic every year, all visiting the island for the superb sprawling beaches, great all year round weather and excellent value for money resorts it has on offer. The island is filled with Latin American charm.

The north coast is the Dominicans most popular area providing affordable accommodation, great golden beaches and a lively nightlife. The west coast is quieter, offering more upscale resorts and some stunning white sandy beaches with gentle turquoise waters. The South of the island offers the quietest and most relaxed resorts, and boasts the islands best beaches. It’s also ideal for exploring the capital, Santo Domingo.

If you’re looking to get out and explore the island there is plenty to see, from amazing beaches and arid desserts to magnificent waterfalls, rivers, lakes, lush tropical rainforests and vast mountain ranges. The Dominican boasts seven different vegetation levels, offering more varieties of exotic plants and wildlife than any other Caribbean island. There are also lots of historical gems, which include the gothic cathedral located in Santo Domingo. The old part of Santo Domingo has been given a face lift making strolling it old streets and exploring its rich heritage a real pleasure.

The sports are plentiful, offering all the activities you’d expect from any Caribbean holiday, including white water rafting in the Dominican Alps.

Whether you’re looking to relax on the glorious beaches, party in some of the many resorts or towns, or get out and explore what the Dominican Republic has to offer, it is an island that is sure to please.

Weather
The Dominican Republic has a hot tropical climate, with very little seasonal variation. The average temperature is about 25 C. Along its North East coast the rainy season is between October and April, in the South the wet months are between May and November; the driest area is the West. By Day
The Dominican Republics national sport is baseball but there are many other activities to keep you busy including golf courses, a car race track, horse back riding, tennis, polo, shooting, and cycling. There are plenty of water sports on offer from windsurfing and jet skiing, to scuba diving and white water rafting. There really is something for everyone.By Night
Most hotels and resorts are all-inclusive and have their own entertainment programme so you don’t venture away from the hotel. However Santa Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata and Samana have many lively bars and clubs where you can dance to the meringue beats, and happy hour usually starts early and lasts well in to the night!Top Attractions
• Catedral Basilica Menor de Santa Maria – The cathedral in Santo Domingo
• Caves of La Carito – The Taino leader used these caves to hide when the Spanish landed.
• Fortress of San Felipe – Built in the 16th Century to protect the North of the island from pirates.
• Foralez Ozama – The oldest fortified structure in Santo Domingo
• La Isabela – Remains of the first Spanish settlement in the new world.
• Museo del Hombre Dominicano – Fascinating account of the islands first inhabitants.
• Palicio Presidencial – Built as a show piece in 1944, it is the seat of government (check opening times).
• Pico Duarte – the highest mountain in the Caribbean
• Salto de Jimenoa – a spectacular waterfall, but you’ll need a good head for heights!
• Tobacco museum & factory – Learn about the history and production of Tobacco
Events
Carnival La Vega (Jan/Feb), Santo Domingo Carnival (Feb), Film Festival (Nov).Local Flavours
You will find a wide range of international cuisine on offer in the Dominican but local dishes are primarily influenced by Spanish cooking, with the added touch of Caribbean herbs and spices. ‘Guisado’ or ‘a la criolla’ are very tasty dishes of meat or seafood prepared in a tomato based sauce with onions, garlic and olives. If you want to know what to look out for in the shops, you’ll find some nice hand-knitted articles, locally made ceramics and crafts, and as with any other Caribbean destination their Dominican rum is a must have!History
It is believed that Arawaks were the first to have settlements on the island of Hispaniola but around 600AD the Tainos settled there. In 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered the island and was welcomed with open arms by the Tainos - he named it La Isla Espanola (The Spanish Island). When they were later enslaved by the Spanish they tried to retaliate but were no contest for the Spanish. The first Spanish settlement on the coast was named after the Spanish queen Isabella. Columbus appointed his brother Bartholomew governor and that settlement was later to become the new world’s first capital, the site of the first Catholic Cathedral, the first university, the first hospital and was later to be renamed Santo Domingo. After the French invaded, in 1697 the island was divided in two, Haiti under French rule and Dominican Republic under Spanish rule. In 1844 the declaration of independence for the Dominican Republic was written and the first President was appointed. Size & Location
The island of Hispaniola sits right in the heart of the Caribbean. The Turks and Caicos Islands are to the north, Jamaica and Cuba are to the west, Puerto Rico and the Leeward Islands are to the east and South America is to the south. It has an area just over 47,100 square miles, approximately half the size of Cuba and the Dominican Republic makes up the eastern two thirds of the island, occupying 20,100square miles. The remainder is occupied by the Republic of Haiti. Pica Duarte is the highest point standing at 10,128ft, the highest point in the West Indies. Population 9 millionBy Day
Yours days on Grenada can be as filled as you want them to be but they will definitely have a more laid back feel to them than on other Caribbean islands. The conditions are excellent for diving, take an afternoon relaxing and do a spot of fishing, take a yacht and go sailing around the other islands local to Grenada or play a little golf at the Grenada Golf and Country Club. One-ninth of Grenada is preserved in the way of natural parks, sanctuaries and wildlife reserves so there’s plenty to see and there are many tours available. If you are feeling active there are tennis courts and horse riding is available but most people choose to explore the beautiful towns, laze the days away on the fabulous beaches and spend the evenings trying out the exquisite West Indian and Creole cuisine. It’s also worth watching hashing whilst on the island, witness participants run around the island following flour trails and finishing the day by enjoying locally made rum.