The Dominican Republic occupies 2/3 of the island of Hispaniola. The beauty, diversity, and rich culture of this country make it incomparable to any other Caribbean island. Due to its natural wealth, the Dominican Republic is chosen by many to invest in the Caribbean real estate. So it is important to know certain facts when buying a land to build your dream house or a residential complex, as well as to buy a villa or apartment, and also to start your own business on the north coast.
Official Language: Spanish
Total Population: 10,281,833 (2012 Census)
National Tree: Mahogany Tree
National Currency: Dominican Peso
Did You Know?
- This tropical country is the second-largest Island in the Caribbean. It measures 48,484 km2 (18,719 sq miles), making it approximately 20% larger than Switzerland.
- The Puerto Plata region has not been hit by a Hurricane in over 100 years.
- The capital City of Santo Domingo was the capital of the New World for over 150 years and was the first and last stop for all New World transactions.
- Lake Enriquillo on the southwest side of the island is one of the lowest points in the Caribbean, measuring at 39 meters below sea level.
- The Dominican Republic has a topography so extremely diverse that it consists of white sandy beaches, tropical lush rainforests, desert like expanses, lush mountain ranges and abundant tropical farm lands.
- There are 12 National parks in the Dominican Republic.
- Pico Duarte is located on the central western portion of the island and is the highest mountain peak in the Caribbean. It measures 10,128 feet (3,088 meters) above sea level.
- Popular destinations, such as Sosua, Cabarete, and Las Terrenas, have made the Dominican Republic as one of the top real estate investment opportunities in the world. Reasonably priced villas, condos, and lots appeal to a wide array of investors and budgets.
Dominican Republic Distance Chart from Mayor International Cities:
| City | Hours | KM | Miles | Nautical Miles |
| USA – Miami – FL | 1:52 | 1,349 | 838.3 | 727.9 |
| USA – New York, NY | 3:13 | 2,491 | 1,548 | 1,344 |
| Mexico City – Mexico | 4:00 | 7,162 | 1,930 | 1,676 |
| Paris, France | 9:14 | 23.8 | 4,450 | 3,864 |
| Madrid, Spain | 8:39 | 6,702 | 4,164 | 3,616 |
| UK – London – England | 9:03 | 7,013 | 4,357 | 3,784 |
| Caracas – Venezuela | 1:25 | 945.9 | 588 | 510 |
| Moscow – Russia | 12:04 | 9,358 | 5,815 | 5,050 |
| Canada – Toronto, OT | 3:47 | 2,934 | 1,823 | 1,583 |
Dominican Temperature Chart
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 28.9 (84.0) | 29.6 (85.3) | 29.4 (84.9) | 29.3 (84.7) | 31.2 (88.2) | 32.3 (90.1) | 32.6 (90.7) | 32.6 (90.7) | 32.7 (90.9) | 32.3 (90.1) | 30.6 (87.1) | 29.1 (84.4) | 30.88 (87.59) |
| Daily mean °C \ (°F) | 23.2 (73.8) | 23.1 (73.6) | 23.6 (74.5) | 24.6 (76.3) | 25.6 (78.1) | 26.3 (79.3) | 26.9 (80.4) | 26.8 (80.2) | 26.7 (80.1) | 26.2 (79.2) | 24.9 (76.8) | 23.6 (74.5) | 25.13 (77.23) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 17.5 (63.5) | 17.3 (63.1) | 17.8 (64.0) | 19.9 (67.8) | 20.0 (68.0) | 20.3 (68.5) | 21.1 (70.0) | 20.9 (69.6) | 20.7 (69.3) | 20.1 (68.2) | 19.1 (66.4) | 18.1 (64.6) | 19.40 (66.92) |
| Rainfall mm (inches) | 175.3 (6.902) | 140.0 (5.512) | 128.7 (5.067) | 115.1 (4.531) | 129.0 (5.079) | 51.0 (2.008) | 69.8 (2.748) | 66.7 (2.626) | 63.7 (2.508) | 111.0 (4.37) | 228.5 (8.996) | 231.8 (9.126) | 1,510.6 (59.472) |
| Avg. rainy days | 12 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 116 |
About the Dominican Republic Politics
Much like the United States, the Dominican Republic political has a President and two legislative chambers: the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate has 31 representatives, one for each province in the country and one for the national district. The Chamber of Deputies has 183 members. The president is elected by universal suffrage to a four-year term. Although there are about twenty political parties, only three play any significant role in the political system.
History
The early inhabitants of the island were the Tainos who had a well-structured society when the Europeans first discovered the island in the 15th Century. Since that time, there have been Spanish, French and American settlements and the population has grown to over 10 million inhabitants. To learn a bit more and see a chronological timeline of Dominican History, please press on the links below.
Santo Domingo, Zona Colonial
UNESCO World Heritage City, First City in the New World.
Attractions:
Santo Domingo, UNESCO World Heritage City, First City in the New World.
- Casa de Nicolas de Ovando (First Governor in the New World)
- Alcazar de Colon (Christopher Columbus Son’s House)
- Fortaleza Ozama
- Puerta del Conde
- Museo de las Casas Reales
La Vega, Carnaval Dominicano
- 3 to 4 Day Street Party
- Tribes representing all regions of the DR
- Dance, Music, Tradition and Culture
- Each tribe builds its costume based on regional history and tradition
- Over 100 tribes from throughout the Dominican Republic
Santiago de los Caballeros
Centro Leon – www.centroleon.org.do
- Museum
- Concerts
- Workshops
- Art Collections
- Exhibitions
Jarabacoa, Pico Duarte
- Highest Mountain in the Caribbean
- Named after one of the Founding Fathers; Juan Pablo Duarte
- Trip to Pico Duarte last a weekend via mule, horse and/or hiking.
Barahona, Lago Enriquillo
- Only Lake in the Caribbean below Sea Level (129 ft/39 m below)
- Saltwater Lake inhabited by Crocodile
- The lake contains one island named Isla Cabritos, home to Crocodiles and Flamingos
| Neighboring City | Distance in Time | Distance in KM (est.) | Distance in Miles (est.) |
| Luperon | 48 min | 48.6 | 30 |
| Santiago de Los Caballeros | 1:03 | 60.9 | 37 |
| Imbert | 27 min | 27.5 | 17 |
| Sosua | 22 min | 23.8 | 14 |
| Cabarete | 34 min | 38.6 | 23 |
| Capital: Santo Domingo | 3:00 Hours | 212 | 131 |
