Dominican Republic Holidays

from £508 per person

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DOP: Dominican peso

The Dominican Republic is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Caribbean, its culture as rich and diverse as its landscapes.

Holidays in the Dominican Republic, or the DR as it’s often known, start with a choice between the sun-kissed beaches on the country’s Atlantic or Caribbean coasts. You’ll find both isolated bays and luxurious resorts, while inland waterfalls plunge from forested peaks and rural life carries on much as it has for centuries. The capital, Santo Domingo, is one of the Caribbean's oldest cities.

The History of the Dominican Republic

Covering the eatern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, the Dominican Republic has a history that long predates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. Dominican Republic holidays offer the chance to delve deeper into the culture of the Taíno, the indigenous people of the Caribbean, whose heritage is preserved through museums and archeological sites.

Overview
Resorts
Things to do
Places to stay

Why book Dominican Republic holidays

Discover the best beaches

White-sand beaches and stunning lagoons

Lush natural wonders

Stunning waterfalls, tropical forests & flocks of flamingos

Stay active

Perfect for climbing, hiking, mountain-biking, windsurfing & more

Amazing all inclusive resorts

The Dominican Republic is a top spot for all inclusive holidays

Hit the nightlife & bar scene

Santo Domingo is your party hotspot

Must-visit historical sites

Visit Alcazar de Colon: the oldest European city in the New World

Top resorts in Dominican Republic

Boca Chica

If you want a great way to experience the Dominican Republic, why not check out this fantastic beach spot. You'll …

From £615 per person

Juan Dolio

Holidays to Juan Dolio offer the perfect escape for couples, families and groups longing for anything from palm-studded golden beaches …

From £611 per person

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo is the capital city of the Dominican Republic. Its fascinating history can be traced back to 1496, when …

From £577 per person

Samana

Tread pearlescent sands and discover lush landscapes , Samana is a shimmering beach resort of the Dominican Republic’s northeast coast. …

From £589 per person

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Your guide to Dominican Republic holidays

At a glance

Top adventure activities in the Dominican Republic

There are plenty of opportunities to leave your hotel for adrenaline kicks on Dominican Republic breaks. Clip yourself onto a zip-line, lace up your hiking boots or squeeze into a wetsuit.

Hiking to the summit of Pico Duarte – the highest peak in the Caribbean at more than 10,000 feet – is an epic journey taking two to three days. Hiring a local guide is mandatory and they can help you arrange camping equipment.
Cabarete is renowned for its perfect windsurfing conditions. Join locals and international pros alike in the surf on “Kite Beach”.
The Dominican Republic has a glut of zip-lining courses that will get your pulse racing. The longest is at Samaná, where you can even whiz upside-down beneath the treetops.
Thrills and spills aplenty await from September to December, when you can raft down the Río Grande de Añasco.
Those unperturbed by crawling through small spaces can explore some 400 caves in Cotubanamá National Park. As well as stalactites and stalagmites, some preserve Taíno pictographs and petroglyphs.

Top 5 things to do in the Dominican Republic

There’s a reason the DR is known as the country that has it all. You can spend your mornings surfing or sunbathing, the afternoon wildlife-spotting in a national park, and the evenings dancing bachata under the stars.

Start your holiday to the Dominican Republic exploring Santo Domingo, where you can walk the first paved road in the Americas in the UNESCO-listed Zona Colonial.
Cool down in Constanza, in the Dominican Republic’s so-called “enchanted valley”. Surrounded by a bucolic landscape of mountains and fields, it’s the highest-altitude town in the Caribbean.
Lago Enriquillo in the southwest of the country is a haven for wildlife. You’ll be able to spot crocs, flamingos and iguana.
If you can time your trip with the Carnaval de la Vega before lent, you’ll be treated to one of the Caribbean’s most colourful and riotous celebrations. Some of the elaborate costumes take months to make and around 500,000 people attend every year.
The Dominican Republic is known for its waterfalls. Trek to the El Limón waterfall on horseback, laze in the lagoon beneath the triple cascades at Salto Alto or camp by the falls at Salto Socoa.

Beaches

The best beaches in the Dominican Republic

The DR’s coastline is world renowned. There’s a huge choice of all-inclusive Dominican Republic hotels to choose from right on the sand, plus plenty more beaches to explore on day-trips.

Paradise probably looks something like Playa Rincón, the Dominican Republic’s most famous beach where swaying coconut palms back 3km of undeveloped white sands.
Some of the beaches on Isla Saona, protected as part of Parque Nacional del Este, are important turtle-nesting sites, others are blissful sunbathing coves lapped by translucent turquoise waters.
Surfers flock to ride the waves at Playa Grande on the north coast, where virgin rainforest leads down to the sand.
As well as lazing on the beach, you can snorkel out to a coral reef just offshore from Playa Punta Rucia or go bird-watching in the mangroves and lagoon behind.
Sosúa’s Playa Alicia only formed in the last twenty years due to shifting currents. It’s sometimes known as the DR’s “miracle” beach and offers gorgeous sunsets over the Atlantic.

The best quiet beaches in the Dominican Republic

In search of nature and seclusion? Many of the Dominican Republic’s most beautiful stretches of coastline are protected as part of national parks or private resorts.

The astonishing 8km-long swathe of sand at Bahía de las Águilas is set against the karst scenery of Jaragua National Park. Look for starfish as you paddle through the shallows.
Dominican Republic breaks aren’t complete without discovering at least one beach that can only be reached by boat or on foot. Cliff-backed Playa Frontón, often visited from Las Galeras, is one of the most striking.
Playa Lanza del Norte’s pristine sands remain relatively undiscovered, accessed by unmanned sandy roads leading north from El Limon.
One of the DR’s few pebble beaches, Playa Bahoruco on the south coast attracts surfers with its powerful waves. There might not be any white sand to laze on, but that means you’re much more likely to have the bay all to yourself.
If it’s all-inclusive luxury you’re after, the pristine beaches on the private island of Cayo Levantado are a playground for guests of the island’s only hotel, the Bahia Principe Resort.

Food & Drink

Food and drink in the Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic breaks can just as easily centre on food as they can on beaches. The country has a rich culinary culture and produces some of the Caribbean’s finest rum.

Dominician comida criolla blends influences from Spanish, African and Taíno cuisines. The country’s most famous dish is the bandera dominicana, or Dominican flag: rice and beans served with meat, salad and avocado.
On the coast, look for grilled red snapper and sea bass or take locals’ recommendations for the best pescado frito, whole fried fish.
The DR’s best-known dessert is habichuelas con dulce. A thick, almost soup-like sweet, it’s made from red beans creamed with evaporated milk and spices. It’s traditionally served during lent.
Visit the Brugal Rum Distillery in Puerto Plata to learn more about the DR’s largest rum producer. Tours include a tasting and lots of information on the art of rum-making.
Think of yourself as an adventurous drinker? Look for the Dominican speciality mamajuana, a mix of rum and red wine infused with herbs.

The best street foods to try in the Dominican Republic

If you’re watching your budget on a cheap holiday to the Dominican Republic, search out some of the country’s superb street food.

Chicharrones, or chicharrón de cerdo, are often sold roadside. Crunch through the crispy skin of these fried pork rinds and you’ll find tender, fatty meat beneath.
The chimichurri is the DR’s delicious spin on a classic hamburger, the patty heavily seasoned and topped with shredded cabbage and lashings of mayo and ketchup. Prepare to get messy as you eat one.
You’re sure to try tostones, twice-fried unripe plantains, at least once on your holiday. They’re served as a side dish and a street-food snack.
Fried chicken, or pica pollo, is taken seriously in the DR. It’s often marinated in lemon or lime and garlic before being breaded and deep fried.
Cool off on the beach with a glass of iced morir soñando, a uniquely Dominican drink made with evaporated milk and orange juice.

Holiday types

Dominican Republic family holidays

There are scores of activities on offer to make a family holiday to the Dominican Republic absolutely unforgettable.

Ecotours into Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, the only cloud forest in the Caribbean, will captivate young adventurers. If you’re lucky, you might spot the endangered rhinoceros iguana as well as parrots and parakeets.
Evening horse rides along the beach are offered all along the coast. Experienced guides will make sure little ones are carefully kitted up and pro photographers are usually on hand to capture the moment.
You’re never far from twisting slides and wave pools in the DR. The best water parks are near Puerto Plata and Punta Cana.
From January to March, daily humpback whale-watching expeditions depart from Samaná Bay on the northeast coast. Marine mammal specialists on board will be able to answer even the trickiest questions from budding scientists.
E-bike tours make getting into the Dominican countryside a breeze. There’ll be no complaints of tired legs as you whiz up the hills as well as down the slopes.

Dominican Republic couples holidays

The DR is a popular honeymoon destination and hotels in the Dominican Republic go all out when it comes to romance.

Many activities are laid on as part of couples packages. Think kayaking, snorkelling, yoga and tennis.
If you don’t opt for an all-inclusive, or want to spend one day in seclusion, try a night of glamping. Luxe tented camps come with king-size beds and hot tubs, and some are set right on the beach.
Head inland for a dreamy dip in one of the DR’s lush cenotes, limestone sinkholes filled with crystal-clear turquoise water.
If you prefer outdoor activities to poolside relaxation, there are more than twenty golf courses to choose from. Some, such as the ocean-front Teeth of the Dog, are worth playing for the views alone.
Nothing says romance like chocolate. Book a cacao plantation tour and you’ll learn the secrets behind the perfect bar. Sweet.

What our local experts say

Planning a Dominican Republic holiday around hurricane season

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Why we love the Dominican Republic

The Caribbean has always been an attractive holiday location. But how do you decide where to go when there are numerous islands to choose from? Glorious beaches, the laid back atmosphere and tons of culture, all create the typical Caribbean vibe that we have all come to love. When the ...

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas: the most exclusive resort in ...

Imagine this: you’re stretched out in the sun on a white-sand beach, the Caribbean Ocean sparkling before you. Time, perhaps, for a dip? Or maybe the spa is calling. Nope. Too hard to leave this gorgeous private beach right now. Tonight you’re thinking of going to that fantastic ...

Dominican Republic weather

Jan

27°C

Avg. Dry Days 6

Feb

27°C

Avg. Dry Days 5

Mar

27°C

Avg. Dry Days 7

Apr

28°C

Avg. Dry Days 5

Nov

28°C

Avg. Dry Days 3

Dec

27°C

Avg. Dry Days 4

Your Dominican Republic questions answered

What’s the best time to visit the Dominican Republic?

The weather in the DR is warm year round, with an average annual temperature of 25°C. Dry season, from December to April, is generally the best and most popular time to visit. May to mid-November is the rainy season, with hurricanes possible between June and November.

When is the cheapest time to visit the Dominican Republic?

How can I get to the Dominican Republic?

Which area should I stay in?

Is the Dominican Republic family friendly?

Top Dominican Republic destinations

Dreaming of the Dominican Republic but not too sure where to go? Check out our top Dominican Republic destinations below:

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Prices last checked at 07:54 21 January 2021

Dominican Republic Holidays

The History of the Dominican Republic

Why book Dominican Republic holidays

Discover the best beaches

Lush natural wonders

Stay active

Amazing all inclusive resorts

Hit the nightlife & bar scene

Must-visit historical sites

Top resorts in Dominican Republic

Boca Chica

Juan Dolio

Santo Domingo

Samana

Join the millions of customers finding better value holidays

Search your way

Compare deals quickly

Instantly see prices for each day

Your guide to Dominican Republic holidays

Top adventure activities in the Dominican Republic

Top 5 things to do in the Dominican Republic

What our local experts say

Planning a Dominican Republic holiday around hurricane season

Why we love the Dominican Republic

Casa de Campo Resort & Villas: the most exclusive resort in ...

Most popular Dominican Republic hotels

Whala Boca Chica

Be Live Experience Hamaca Beach - All Inclusive

Be Live Experience Hamaca Suites - All Inclusive

Coral Costa Caribe Resort & Spa

Hotel Jade

Bahia Principe Grand El Portillo

Agua Dulce

Dominican Republic weather

Your Dominican Republic questions answered

Top Dominican Republic destinations

What our customers say