Our trips in Dominican Republic

How to choose your trip in the Dominican Republic?

The choice depends first on duration. Over one week, we concentrate the itinerary on a single region: South-East with Santo Domingo and Bayahibe, or North with Samaná and Las Terrenas. To enjoy the country's diversity, we recommend a 8 to 12 days format that allows you to combine two regions and include the Central Cordillera. Travelers who want to venture to the South-West and the Bay of Eagles typically opt for 13 to 17 days, with longer stops and rest days.

Our tip: don't underestimate driving times in the Cordillera, where 100 km can take 3 hours on winding roads.

Different types of trips

We design three main families of itineraries. Cultural trips around Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone, patron saint festivals, merengue in Santiago and Taíno traditions in the Higüey region. Adventure trips featuring the ascent of Pico Duarte (3-day trek), rafting on the Yaque del Norte river in Jarabacoa, the descent of the 27 pools of Damajagua and diving in Bayahibe. Family formats alternate between beaches, whale watching in Samaná, swimming in cenotes and stays in eco-lodges suited for children.

What is the best season?

The dry season, from December to April, remains ideal for exploring all regions. Coastal temperatures around 28°C, low humidity, pleasant trade winds. This is the window for humpback whales in Samaná Bay, from mid-January to mid-March, a highlight of our North-East itineraries. May and June remain pleasant despite some late afternoon showers. The cyclone season runs from June to November, with a peak in September that we avoid. For the Central Cordillera, February and March offer the clearest skies.

Our quality commitment

Joy and the Dominican Republic team, based in Santo Domingo, design each itinerary based on direct knowledge of the terrain: English-speaking drivers whom we train, accommodations personally visited, long-standing partner providers in Samaná, Bayahibe or Jarabacoa. Our trips are guaranteed by APST and our business is registered with Atout France, so you benefit from 24/7 assistance during your stay and a single point of contact from planning to your return.