The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Haiti, which is located in the west of the Republic of Haiti. This country has an area of ??48,198 square meters. km is the second largest in the Caribbean region. The Dominican Republic is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south. 

The population of the Dominican Republic is just over 8.5 million inhabitants. 

In the Dominican Republic all year round climate prevails vlazhnyytropichesky. Depending on where you stay the weather tends to be sunny or with variable cloudiness. Average temperatures vary from 19 ° to 34 ° C. The coldest season - November-April and the hottest - May-October. The hottest month - August. Average daily temperatures range from +25 ° C in winter to +33 ° C 

Sea breezes and trade winds blowing from the northeast, soften zharu.Sezon rains from May to September and is characterized by frequent but short showers. Also available are short rains in November and December. In the rest of the time is kept dry warm pogoda.V the summer tides minor. 

Local time is measured by the Eastern Caribbean zone (GMT -04: 00). Winter time by one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the United States. The Dominican Republic does not go on daylight saving time, as is traditionally done in the United States.

The capital of the Dominican Republic is the city of Santo Domingo - the oldest city in the New World. The capital is almost 2.5 million residents.

The main resorts - Punta Cana (PuntaCana), Puerto Plata (PuertoPlata), Boca Chica (BocaChica), Juan Dolio (JuanDolio), Bayahibe (Bayahibe), Samana (Samana). Also, a separate, albeit small resort can be considered a small town of La Romana with a large hotel complex, and a newcomer to the field of the Dominican tourism - Cap Cana (CapCana).

political Structure

The political structure of the Dominican Republic based on democratic principles. Every four years, residents elect the president, vice president and members of parliament. 

The official currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican peso (RD $). Exchange rate can be found on the website www.xe.com/ucc. In many tourist areas of the country accept credit cards and traveler's checks, ATMs installed in almost all cities and resort areas of the Dominican Republic. 

Foreign currency can be exchanged at the airport, in a hotel or in commercial banks (banks are open from 8: 00-8: 30 to 15: 00-18: 00 Monday to Friday). Return exchange is possible if there is a certificate of the initial exchange, but usually exchange no more than 30% of the original amount. In the tourist areas of course greatly underestimated. In private institutions dollars are accepted everywhere, but the change may give in pesos. If prices are displayed in dollars, the rate of conversion is always to be specified in advance.

In the capital and major tourist areas to accept credit cards all major payment systems. In the interior of the country to pay them almost impossible. Some banks accept travelers checks. To avoid additional costs due to fluctuations in the exchange rate, it is necessary to use checks in USD.

Tipping is partially included in the cost of service in hotels, in restaurants also decided to leave the waiter about 10% of the order value. Maids and porters usually relies 1-2 USD. 

The official language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish. But you will be surprised how many employees of hotels and entertainment venues in English, French, German and Italian. If visitors want to travel outside the main tourist areas, it would be useful to learn a few phrases in Spanish. 

Of the country can bring all sorts of little things made ??of wood, bone, amber and Larimar (Dominican turquoise), ceramics and leather, as well as cigars, coffee and rum. Popular souvenirs are considered figures parrot "seal" ceramic dolls without faces "LeMay" and colorful paintings in the style of "gaityanskiynaiv": you can buy them on the beach and in the markets.

Shops are open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 to 19:30, private souvenir shops are open "until the last customer."

The capital of the Dominican Republic city of Santo Domingo is located on the beach, however, the nearest beach is only thirty kilometers away from him.

Tourist areas of the country offer the services of tourist many boutiques and souvenir shops. In Santo Domingo, are the largest commercial centers, where you can buy clothes, shoes and other products of domestic and foreign production of good quality and at affordable prices

Bargain can be almost anywhere other than supermarkets. Most often, the prices for tourists initially inflated, so it is usually possible to come to an agreement on the part of the original cost of the goods. Unlike many other countries, from the Dominican Republic is not forbidden to take seashells and corals. 

unusual but tasty mix of European, African and local recipes. It is based on extensive use of legumes, bananas and vegetables (including exotic) in the original combinations of meat and fish. Traditional dishes are, for example, "bandera" - stew of meat, fried plantains, beans, rice and salad, chowder "asopao" and roast pork "Puerco en puya". But the fish and seafood, despite the status of the island of the Dominican Republic, do not use the country's very popular.

"National drink" of the Dominican Republic - rum, it is producing more than 15 varieties. The most popular "Brugal", "Barcelo" and "Bermudez." Local brand of beer "Quisqueya", "Senise", "President" and "Bohemia" differ quite decent quality. The original flavor is a traditional local drink "pru" - the result of fermentation of the juice of the same name of the plant. 

In Santo Domingo, worth seeing the Alcázar de Colón, the forts of San Diego and Concepcion, Captain's Palace and the Tower of celebration, the fortress of La Fortaleza Ozama and, Columbus House, the Palace of the Hostal Nicolas Nader, Sundial on Calle des -las-Damas, complex Casa del la Moneda, and Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor. Well, the lighthouse Faro Colon is about a phallic symbol of the city - it is a museum, there is a mausoleum containing the remains of Columbus. The most interesting museums in the city - and the Museum of the Dominican Las Casas Reales, where you can learn about the Spanish culture and the New World Columbus travel. Also worth visiting is the museum of La Caleta Underwater Park, and the Museum del Reskato-Submarine exhibited splendid collection of weapons, utensils, jewelery and old coins

Throughout the year, the country held a variety of festivals. Carnival in Santo Domingo begins in February before Lent, and lasts about a week. Next carnival begins on 15 August and coincides with the Day of the Restoration (the beginning of the war with Spain). In the last week of July - first week of August in the Dominican Republic, a festival of meringue. Week festival of Caribbean culture celebrated in Puerto Plata in June concerts of jazz, blues and folk music, as well as dance shows. And in Cabarete in February every weekend pass any competition: bicycle races, the championship on a throwing knife, sand sculpture contest.