Dominican Republic

 

If all you want is a stretch of powdery sand studded with palm trees, a full choice of watersports and the chance to be waited on hand, foot and finger,
you can’t do much better than to visit the Dominican Republic.
Soak up the Latin rhythms of the Caribbean in the Dominican Republic, the capital of merengue and bachata music. Here you’ll find the remnants of Spanish colonialism alongside modern resorts that offer every indulgence and convenience. Whether purchasing crafts from artisans, playing golf, walking the beach, or even whale watching, you’ll find the Dominican Republic
one of the best kept secrets of the Caribbean.
 
 
Capital:            Santo Domingo
 
Currency:         Dominican Peso; US$1=DoP30.50          US$ widely accepted
 
Population:      9,000,000
 
Area:                30,000 square miles (77,700 square kilometres).
 
Language:       Spanish but English also widely spoken
 
Economy:         Tourism, salt production.
 
Religion:          Mainly Roman Catholic but some Protestant churches.
 
Government:    Independent Nation
 
Telephone Codes:       - 1 - 809
 
Airport Departure Tax: US$10.00
 
Entry requirements: Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not require visas 
 
Banking Hours: Banks are open 8.30am-3pm, Mondays to Fridays, and for foreign exchange between 8am-noon on Saturdays.
 
Shopping Hours: Shops open Monday to Saturday 8.30am-noon and 2.30-6.30pm. There are  duty-free areas.
 
Electricity:        110 volts 
 
Time Zone:      14 hours behind Sydney (EST)
 
Weather:
Luckily for visitors, there is little variation in temperature between summer and winter. In July, the warmest month, the average temperature is about 82F (28C) and it falls to 73F (23C) in January.
 
Transportation:
Taxis are plentiful at the airports and in the tourist destinations. However, there are no meters, so be prepared to discuss the fare in advance. And only use clearly marked taxis, avoiding unmarked or unofficial vehicles. Public buses, or guaguas, operate in urban areas; they are usually crowded, but fares are cheap. Unmetered, semi-official vans, or publicos, also operate; look for cars with white seals on the side doors.
 
 
History:
The Columbus family--Christopher, his brother Bartolomeo and his son Diego--controlled Hispaniola in the years after European contact. As the capital of Spain's New World possessions, it was here the Admiral reigned briefly over his domains. Diego followed his father as viceroy, and his palace became the seat of the Audencia, or high council of the Indies. It is now a museum.
The Spanish and French vied for control of the island until 1821, when Dominicans declared themselves independent. Soon afterword, the Haitians, having gained emancipation from the French on their third of the island, seized the other two-thirds. In 1844, the Dominicans again declared independence. This time, it stuck. Today, the Dominican Republic has free elections every four years.
 
 
For the more adventurous, the Dominican Republic has plenty to offer. It has a great variety of terrain – rainforests, lowlands, coastal swamps, desert and the highest mountains in the Caribbean, rising to more than 10,000ft (3,000m).
The warmth of the water attracts many birds and marine animals and has made Bahia de Samanå, set by one of the most beautiful parts of the island, world-famous as a breeding ground. The most spectacular of these regular visitors are 3,000 humpback whales, who come to mate, give birth and play with their young not far offshore.
The Dominican Republic is about the size of Scotland but contains no less than seven international airports. It shares Hispaniola, the second largest island in the Caribbean, with its smaller neighbour, Haiti.
Its capital, Santo Domingo, is the oldest city in the Americas. There, you will find the monumental Faro a Colón, or Columbus lighthouse, with its laser capable of throwing a giant cross on to the clouds and its series of museums and libraries. It is a breathtaking sight.