Weather today: click here for intellicast weather forecast. Overview: the Dominican Republic is a lower middle-income developing country. It is the Caribbean's most popular tourist destination. There are plenty long stretches of white beach on the island. The Domenican Republic has a fair number of sights of historical interest, including La Vega Vieja, one of the oldest settlements in the New World. The number of things you can do in the Dominican Republic is simply endless. Accommodations: all inclusive resorts, hotels, guest houses, camping. Sleep: in some areas cocks and dogs can disturb your sleep. Sports: swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, kite boarding, deep sea fishing, whale watching, tennis, golf, mountain biking, horseback riding, and trekking. Time: UTC-4. Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti. Geographic coordinates: 19 00 N, 70 40 W. Highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m. Currency: Dominican peso (DOP, RD$), divided into 100 centavos. Dominican pesos per US dollar is 33.113 (2007). Many of the hotels and restaurants in the main tourist destinations display their prices in US dollars as well as in Dominican Pesos, as US dollars are widely accepted and some places will also accept Euros. Credit cards: Major credit cards are accepted everywhere, but a commission is usually charged and it is recommended that you only use your credit card at your hotel as fraud incidents have been reported. The best exchange rates are paid on US travellers cheques and secondly on US dollars cash and are best exchanged at exchange bureaux (casas de cambio). Banking hours are Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm; some banks also open on Saturday. ATMs are widespread. . Costs: The Domenican Republic is a poor country and one of the cheaper Caribbean islands. But in the tourist centers like Puerto Plata and Punta Cana costs are relative hight. Many locals sheat tourists where they can, even bus conductors. Entry Requirements: Citizens and permanent residents of the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and all EU countries don't need a visa when visiting the Dominican Republic, but must obtain a ninety-day Dominican Republic tourist card for US$ 10 (US dollars only) at the airport on arrival. Extension of stay: extensions are possible; you need to visit the Migration Department in Santo Domingo to request an extension. You will need to pay from about RD$ 150 to RD$ 5,000 depending on the extension. The fee can also be paid at the airport upon departure. Airport: Puerto Plata Gregorio Luperon Airport. The airport is located in the Silver Port province, 18km (11 miles) to the east of Puerto Plata. To get to the airport from Puerto Plata, take Hwy-5 towards the west and follow the signs to the airport. The driving distance is about 18km (11 miles). Public Buses and minibuses run frequently between the airport and the city. Departure Tax: There is a US$ 10 Tourist Card fee some people will have to pay on entry and a US$ 20 Departure Tax that must be paid before leaving the Dominican Republic. Ports and harbors: Boca Chica, Caucedo, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo. Ferry Terminal: Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60 cycles. Outlets will also come in the standard U.S. two and three pin plugs. Travelers coming from Europe or the Pacific will need to bring voltage converters and plug adapters in order to be able to use their appliances. Telephone: relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network. The international country code is 1-809. Government type: democratic republic. Legal system: based on French civil codes; Criminal Procedures Code modified in 2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction. Ethnic groups: mixed 73 %, white 16 %, black 11 %. Religions: Roman Catholic 95 %, other 5 %. Literacy: 87 % (male: 86.8 %, female: 87.2 %). Industries: tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco. Agriculture-products: sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs. Natural resources: nickel, bauxite, gold, silver. GDP - per capita: US$ 9,200 (2007 est.). Unemployment rate: 15.5% (2007 est.). |
