USEFUL TIPS
The Dominican Republic is a country of records:
- America’s oldest city, Santo Domingo
- The highest mountain in the Caribbean – Peak Duarte
- the largest salt water lake in the world inhabited by crocodiles – Lake Enricio
(!) Spoken languages in the tourism sector: English, French, German, Italian. (!) Summer time is 8 hours behind Kyiv time, and 7 hours behind in winter. (!) When visiting the country, yellow fever vaccination is recommended. (!) Drinking water is recommended to use only mineral or purified bottled water. (!) Tips are partly included in the cost of service in hotels. In restaurants, it is customary to leave a tip of 10% of the order value. (!) Local residents still use the old Spanish measurement system and other systems that existed in the country. For example, ounce and pound are used for weighing. Gasoline, engine oil and most liquids are measured in US gallons. In local bazaars, sellers very often use “their” a measure of weight and length – it can be cans, the length of an outstretched arm, etc., fruits are sold in pieces, the price depends on the size. (!) Almost all hotels are club hotels and work on the “All Inclusive” principle. And this means that, having paid for the ticket, the tourist will not pay more. All food and entertainment, from light fruit cocktails on the beach and tennis courts to candlelit dinners and the bridge lounge, is already paid for.
Sights of the Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo. The main attraction is the city’s cathedral Basilica Higway, unusual in architecture, which is, as it were, arched arches strung on top of each other. Of the natural beauties of the island, you can’t get around Lemon Falls: after swimming in it, according to local residents, you will live comfortably until the end of your days, and a boat trip along the Gris Gris lagoon, an intricate labyrinth of mangroves, lianas and palm trees in the river delta. Climbers and just mountain lovers sometimes climb Duarte Peak: routes of varying difficulty lead to the top, and everyone can choose their own path according to their strength. In Santo Domingo, you will get a great idea of the life of colonial times if you visit the restored El Alcazar, the palace of the son of Columbus Diego or Columbus Park, where the Great himself is immortalized in bronze, overlooking the Cathedral of St. Mary the Younger (Santa Maria la Menor), the oldest church in America. Be sure to visit the Amber Coast, which stretches along the northern coast of the island from Cofresi to Cabarete and is the main tourist center of the country.
According to Paradisdachat, this coast is also called the “ambergris coast” because of the so-called black amber that is found here. Sea water sparkles and shimmers with all shades of turquoise – small coves, coral reefs, gentle coastal lagoons with clear water, lush tropical vegetation. Charming Puerto Plata beach – “Bride of the Atlantic”, where beautiful colonial-style wooden houses, bright flowers, multi-colored tropical plants give the city an exotic and elegant look. This center of the coast is full of its own street life, gingerbread architecture and tree-lined plazas, and is famous for its ship-in and out-of-town resorts that emphasize its individuality. In Sosua, 25 km east of Puerto Plata, there are three wonderful beaches where there is an opportunity for scuba diving. The Charm of Samana Peninsula (bays on the northeast coast of the island) nestled in a sea dotted with small islands where humpback whales can be seen between January and March. If you’re looking for a place to pull up your hammock and laze around on the beach, then Las Terrenas on the north coast of the peninsula is just the place to put up lots of hammocks. Taking a tour of Samana Bay, you can explore the rugged limestone terrain of the National Park. Here you can find wonderful birds, as well as caves, the walls of which are decorated with ancient drawings. An interesting long hiking trip can be made to the Aguas Blancas waterfall, which is located 10 kilometers south of the city of Constanta. To Juan Dolio – the white sand of an excellent beach, the turquoise waters of the lagoon protected by coral reefs, you will find a great place for relaxation and sports. In Baoruco, the capital of the Dominican turquoise, it is a good idea to stroll along the sandy white beaches, where, after quite a bit of work, you can find pebbles of this mineral. Have you dreamed of immersing yourself in the scent of coconut trees? A wonderful coconut coast, stretching for 40 km on the southeast coast, is framed by coconut palms (the tourist villages of Punta Cana and Playa Macao). A whole forest of coconut palms stretches for many kilometers and further along the coast with beautiful beaches. (!) Dominican guides claim that Captain Morgan himself buried his treasures on the island. Other robbers of the Spanish galleons also used the caves and soil of the Dominican coast as a safe of natural origin. So today, another favorite sport for tourists is treasure hunting. In any souvenir kiosk of the hotel, a map is sold, on which the alleged places of burial of pirate treasures are marked. A shovel is attached to it for a purely symbolic price. The probability of finding something worthy is small, but every third foreigner who has visited the Dominican Republic has tried himself as a treasure hunter.
Dominican Republic: Culture of the Dominican Republic
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS The main population of the Dominican Republic is mulattoes, Creoles and blacks. Holidays and non-working days: January 1, 6, 21 and 26, February 27, April 14, May 1, July 10-12, July 16, July 24, August 16, September 24, October 12 and 24, November 1, December 25, religious (Catholic) holidays.
Dominican Republic: Money and currency of the Dominican Republic
Money, CURRENCY EXCHANGE The national currency is the Dominican peso, divided into 100 centavos. It is recommended to have dollars, they are used for cash payments along with the local currency. Foreign currency can be exchanged at hotels or commercial banks. Major credit cards are used.
Dominican Republic: Dominican Cuisine
Cuisine Traditional Creole cuisine is a combination of European, African and Caribbean culinary traditions using local products. Typical dishes: “la bandera” – rice, meat, beans, vegetables and green fried bananas; “san kocho” in Dominican style – cooked on a broth of various meats with vegetables; fish with coconut; “mangu” – mashed green bananas, prepared for breakfast; Piñonate is a dessert made from milk and coconuts. Typical drinks: fruit juices (papaya, coconut milk, orange, pineapple, passion fruit, etc.), seniza beer, rum and piña collada, as well as a large selection of exotic cocktails.