Practical information Dominican Republic

For French, Belgian, Swiss and Canadian nationals, no visa is required for a tourist stay. You will receive a tourist card valid for 30 days, now included in the price of your airline ticket for most carriers (verify at the time of booking). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date. If you wish to extend beyond 30 days, an extension can be requested from the Dirección General de Migración in Santo Domingo, subject to a progressive tax depending on the length of the extension, generally paid at the time of departure from the airport. Our team will assist you with this process if needed.

No vaccine is mandatory upon entry, except yellow fever if you arrive from a country where the disease is endemic. We recommend being up-to-date on DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, polio), and considering hepatitis A and B as well as typhoid, especially if you venture outside tourist areas. Dengue circulates throughout the territory, with outbreaks during the rainy season (May to November): anti-mosquito protection at all times, covering clothing in the evening. No malaria in the areas we typically propose, though residual cases exist near the Haitian border. A consultation at an international vaccination center 4 to 6 weeks before departure remains the best approach.

Excluding international flights, plan for 90 to 150 euros per day and per person for a comfortable trip with charming accommodations, varied meals, private transfers and activities. A Dominican meal in a local comedor costs 350 to 500 DOP (6 to 8 euros), dinner at a good restaurant in Las Terrenas or Santo Domingo around 1,500 DOP (25 euros). A night in a boutique hotel ranges from 70 to 180 euros for a double room. Flagship activities (whale watching excursion in Samaná, diving in Bayahibe, climbing Pico Duarte with a guide) are between 60 and 200 euros. The customary tip is 10%, often already included at restaurants.

The dry season, from December to April, remains our preferred period: temperatures around 28°C, low humidity, pleasant trade winds on the coasts. It's also the window for humpback whales in Samaná Bay, from mid-January to mid-March. May and June remain pleasant with a few short showers in the late afternoon. The cyclone season runs from June to November, with a statistical peak in September, a month we avoid for combined trips. October and November still see some storms. For the Central Cordillera, February and March offer the clearest skies and cool nights around 10°C in Constanza.

The country can be crossed in 5 to 6 hours of driving at most from east to west. For the itineraries we design, we favor English-speaking private drivers, which allows you to stop in villages, navigate the winding roads of the Cordillera, and optimize your time. Car rental remains possible on the north coast and southeast, to be avoided for a first visit to Santo Domingo (heavy traffic). Air Century domestic flights connect Santo Domingo to Punta Cana, Samaná, or Puerto Plata in 30 minutes, useful for saving time on a long itinerary. Guaguas (collective minibuses) are a local experience but not well-suited for luggage.

Overall yes, it's one of the most visited destinations in the Caribbean with over 8 million travelers per year. Tourist areas (Punta Cana, Bayahibe, Samaná, Las Terrenas, Cordillera) are calm and well-managed. In Santo Domingo, the Colonial Zone can be explored without concern during the day, with more caution advised after 10 pm in certain outlying neighborhoods. We recommend standard precautions: no ostentatious jewelry, official taxis or apps like Uber, cash distributed across several locations. The border area with Haiti requires more attention, and we adjust our itineraries accordingly. Our team in Santo Domingo remains available 24/7 during your stay.