Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is the Caribbean's most visited destination, sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. The country draws millions of visitors annually with its all-inclusive beach resorts, historic colonial architecture, and year-round warm weather.

Punta Cana (PUJ) is the primary gateway for international leisure travelers, handling the majority of resort-bound tourists from North America and Europe. Santo Domingo (SDQ), the capital, serves business travelers and those exploring the country's rich colonial history. The Dominican Republic has become increasingly accessible with the launch of Arajet, the country's new low-cost carrier based in Santo Domingo.

The tourism infrastructure is well-developed, with direct flights from most major US, Canadian, and European cities to multiple airports serving different resort regions.

International Gateways

Airport	City	Role	Major Airlines
PUJ	Punta Cana	Primary resort gateway	JetBlue, American, United, Air Canada
SDQ	Santo Domingo	Capital/business hub	Arajet, JetBlue, Copa
STI	Santiago	Second city hub	JetBlue, Spirit
POP	Puerto Plata	North coast resorts	WestJet, Sunwing

Primary Airports

Punta Cana (PUJ) — The Caribbean's busiest airport and the Dominican Republic's main tourism gateway. Located on the eastern tip of the island, it serves the massive all-inclusive resort corridor stretching from Bavaro to Cap Cana. Handles over 7 million passengers annually with extensive service from the US, Canada, and Europe.

Santo Domingo Las Americas (SDQ) — The capital's main airport, located 20 km east of downtown. Serves as Arajet's hub with growing regional connectivity. Primary choice for business travelers and those visiting the Colonial Zone. Also handles connections to other Caribbean islands and South America.

Santiago Cibao (STI) — Serves the Dominican Republic's second-largest city and the agricultural Cibao Valley. Growing as an alternative to Santo Domingo for travelers to the north. Significant Dominican diaspora traffic to/from New York.

Puerto Plata Gregorio Luperon (POP) — Gateway to the north coast resort area including Sosua and Cabarete. Popular with Canadian charter flights and windsurfing/kiteboarding visitors.

Other Airports

• La Romana (LRM) — Serves Casa de Campo resort and eastern resorts
• Samana El Catey (AZS) — Gateway to Samana Peninsula, whale watching access

Domestic Carrier

Arajet (DM) — The Dominican Republic's new low-cost carrier, launched in 2022. Based at Santo Domingo (SDQ), it operates an all-Boeing 737 MAX fleet with routes to destinations across the Americas including the US, Canada, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Arajet has rapidly expanded to become a significant regional player with ultra-low-cost fares.

International Carriers

Major foreign airlines serving the Dominican Republic:

• US carriers: JetBlue, American, United, Delta, Spirit, Frontier, Southwest
• Canadian: Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, Air Transat
• European: Condor, Edelweiss, TUI, Air Europa, Iberia
• Latin American: Copa, Avianca, Wingo
• Caribbean: interCaribbean Airways

Tourist Card

All visitors require a Tourist Card to enter the Dominican Republic:

• Cost: $10 USD
• Validity: 30 days (extendable)
• Purchase: Usually included in airline ticket price; available at immigration if not
• Who needs it: All nationalities except those with Dominican residency

Visa-Free Entry

Citizens of most countries can enter with just the Tourist Card, including:

• United States, Canada
• European Union countries, United Kingdom
• Australia, New Zealand
• Most Latin American countries

Visa Required

Citizens of some countries require a visa in addition to the Tourist Card. Check with the Dominican consulate.

Passport Requirements

• Valid passport required
• Must be valid for duration of stay
• Proof of onward/return travel may be requested
• Proof of accommodation recommended

Official information: Dominican Republic Immigration

Domestic Flights

Limited domestic flight network due to the country's small size. Most travel is by road.

Route	Duration	Notes
SDQ ↔ PUJ	30 min	Occasionally available
SDQ ↔ STI	35 min	Limited service

For most travelers, ground transportation is more practical.

Ground Transportation

Private Transfers — The most common option for resort travelers. Pre-booked through hotels or tour operators. Typical times:

• PUJ → Bavaro resorts: 20-45 minutes
• SDQ → Colonial Zone: 30-45 minutes
• POP → Puerto Plata resorts: 15-30 minutes

Buses — Long-distance buses connect major cities:

• Caribe Tours — Main inter-city service
• Metro — Alternative with similar coverage
• SDQ → STI: ~3 hours
• SDQ → PUJ area: ~2.5 hours

Car Rental

Available at all major airports. Useful for:

• Exploring beyond resort areas
• Day trips to waterfalls, beaches
• Multi-destination itineraries

Notes:

• International license accepted
• Drive on the right
• Road conditions variable outside main highways
• Full insurance strongly recommended

Taxis and Ride-hailing

• Uber — Available in Santo Domingo and Santiago
• Taxis — Negotiate fares before departure; no meters
• Resort shuttles — Many hotels offer airport transfers

Peak Season (December-April)

Dry season with ideal beach weather:

• Average temperatures: 25-30°C (77-86°F)
• Lowest humidity and rainfall
• Highest prices and occupancy
• Christmas through Easter is busiest

Shoulder Season (May, November)

Good value with acceptable weather:

• Some rain but usually brief afternoon showers
• Lower prices than peak
• May can be warm

Hurricane Season (June-October)

Wet season with tropical storm risk:

• Higher rainfall, especially afternoon storms
• Hurricane risk peaks August-October
• Lowest prices, significant discounts
• Many resorts remain open and operational
• Travel insurance strongly recommended

Regional Considerations

Region	Best Time	Notes
Punta Cana	Dec-Apr	Year-round destination, brief rain in wet season
Santo Domingo	Dec-Apr	Can be humid year-round
North Coast	Jun-Sep	Paradoxically drier than south in summer
Samana	Jan-Mar	Whale watching season

Cities

City	Airport	Known For
Santo Domingo	SDQ	Colonial Zone (UNESCO), history, nightlife
Santiago	STI	Culture, cigars, carnival
Puerto Plata	POP	Victorian architecture, cable car

Beach Destinations

Destination	Airport	Known For
Punta Cana/Bavaro	PUJ	All-inclusive resorts, white sand beaches
La Romana/Bayahibe	LRM/PUJ	Casa de Campo, Saona Island
Puerto Plata	POP	North coast beaches, waterfall excursions
Samana Peninsula	AZS	Whale watching, Las Terrenas, off-the-beaten-path
Cabarete	POP	Kiteboarding, windsurfing, surfing

Attractions

• Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo — First European settlement in Americas (UNESCO)
• Saona Island — Pristine beaches, day trips from Punta Cana/Bayahibe
• 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua — Adventure tourism, day trip from Puerto Plata
• Whale watching — Samana Bay, January-March
• Los Haitises National Park — Mangroves, caves, accessible from Samana

Money

• Currency: Dominican Peso (DOP), symbol RD$
• USD: Widely accepted in tourist areas but peso gives better rates
• Cards: Accepted at resorts, hotels, restaurants; cash needed for small vendors
• ATMs: Available at airports and in cities — use bank ATMs
• Tipping: 10-15% at restaurants (sometimes included as "propina"); $1-2 USD per day for hotel staff

Electrical

• Voltage: 120V, 60Hz
• Plug type: Type A/B (same as US/Canada)
• Adapters: US/Canadian travelers need no adapter; Europeans/UK/Australians need adapter
• Power outages: Occasional; most resorts have generators

Connectivity

• Mobile carriers: Claro, Altice, Viva
• eSIM: Supported — Airalo, Holafly work well
• WiFi: Available at resorts, hotels, restaurants
• Coverage: Good in tourist areas, limited in rural areas

Safety

Exercise normal precautions:

• Use hotel safes for valuables
• Avoid isolated areas at night
• Use authorized taxis or hotel transportation
• Drink bottled water
• Emergency: 911

Health

• Tap water not safe to drink — use bottled water
• No required vaccinations for most travelers
• Hepatitis A and Typhoid recommended
• Mosquito repellent advised (dengue present)
• Medical facilities adequate in major cities and resorts

Language

Spanish is the official language. English widely spoken in:

• Resort areas
• Tourist-facing businesses
• Major hotels

Basic Spanish helpful outside tourist zones.

All-Inclusive Resorts

The Dominican Republic is known for its all-inclusive resort model:

• Most concentrated in Punta Cana/Bavaro area
• Packages typically include meals, drinks, activities
• Book directly or through tour operators
• Adults-only and family options available
• Day passes sometimes available for non-guests

• Tourism: Go Dominican Republic
• Immigration: Direccion General de Migracion
• US Travel Advisory: travel.state.gov
• UK Travel Advice: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/dominican-republic
• Arajet: arajet.com