Location The Dominican Republic takes the central and eastern parts of the La Hispaniola island, second only to Cuba in size. It abuts Haiti to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the north, Puerto Rico to the east and the Caribbean Sea to the south.

Access The country’s coastlines have several cruise terminals and dozens of well-equipped marinas for sailing passengers. In addition, there are the Las Americas and Herrera international airports in Santo Domingo, the Punta Cana airport (east), the Barahona airport (southwest), the Gregorio Luperon airport in Puerto Plata (north) and the Santiago de los Caballeros airport.

Population Mulattos, Negroes, people of mixed race and a white minority —mostly clustered in Sosua, home to a major Jewish community that settled down there during World War II— are the distinctive racial lines of the Dominican people, with a total population of over 9 million inhabitants.

Weather On the coastal areas the weather is tropically balmy, though slightly milder in the central region. Annual average temperature is 77 ºF. The rainy season stretches out for five months, beginning in May. August is the warmest month of the year.

Language Spanish. (It’s commonplace to find people who speak several foreign languages, like English, French, Italian and German, in all major tourist resorts).

Currency Dominican peso.

Religion Predominantly Catholic, apostolic and Roman. On February 21, the Dominicans pay tribute to their spiritual mother, Our Lady of Altagracia, whose monumental basilica in the city of Higuey is the final destination for thousands and thousands of pilgrims that year after year visit this place also known as the Dominican Holy Land.

National Independence Holiday On February 27, 1844, Juan Pablo Duarte, the Father of the Dominican Homeland, proclaimed the independence and the national tricolor flag was hoisted for the first time. The date is observed with a thanksgiving service at the First Cathedral of Santo Domingo.

Main cities Santo Domingo is the nation’s capital. Other major cities are Montecristi, Mao, Puerto Plata, Santiago de los Caballeros, La Vega, Sabaneta, Bonao, Bani, Barahona, San Pedro de Macoris, Monte Plata, Azua, San Cristobal, Higuey and La Romana.

Accommodation The country’s main tourist centers are outfitted with hotels and resorts run by world-class hotel chains under the all-inclusive or ultra all-inclusive categories —the latter offering far more comfort and top-notch service. Top hotel choices in Santo Domingo are Caribe, Napolitano, V Centenario, Sheraton, Jaragua, Cervantes, Continental, Comodoro, Cervantes and San Jeronimo.

Cuisine Fresh seafood, shellfish, international food and gourmet cuisine mixed with elements from the Mediterranean, Asia and other parts of the world are available in most tourist facilities, featuring vast menu cards and top-of-the-line cooking procedures. Restaurants serving traditional Dominican food cater to patrons with an array of local dishes such as sancocho, roast pork, casaba, longaniza, stewed goat and coconut-dipped fish.

Communications Cutting-edge technology that guarantees high-speed, top-quality connection with the rest of the world from any nook and cranny of the national territory and from any of the more than 70 telecommunication centers scattered across the nation. Superb networks hook up the different regions of the country and allow voice mail, as well as the sending of data and video feeds. Visitors may use fax machines, conduct video conferences, buy cell phones and surf the Internet, among other options

Tips Drop by the San Felipe Fort in Puerto Plata; the Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia in Higuey; the so-called Heart City (Santiago de los Caballeros). Do some scuba-diving on the north coast. Watch the humpbacked whales mate in Samana. Climb the Duarte Peak. Fish trout in the Enriquillo Lake, at 131 feet under sea level. Practice canyoning in one of the Jarabacoa rivers. Watch parrots and other birds in the laidback and lavish scenery of the Haitises Park. Tee off from any of the fancy golf courses across the Dominican Republic as you keep the sea in sights. Wait for daybreak under the coconut palm trees at Bavaro Beach or Punta Cana, when the first sunrays of the day leak through.

Sports Scuba diving in a variety of modalities, sailing, windsurfing (Cabarete Beach is part of the world’s grand prix circuit), ecotourism, adventure tourism, tennis and golf. There are eighteen golf courses in the Dominican Republic, like Playa Dorada and Cajuiles in Puerto Plata and Casa de Campo, respectively, that were designed by major boldface names in the industry like Robert Trent Jones and Pete Dye, two of the world’s greatest golf course designers.

Traffic Traffic is on the right side of the road. Visitors who carry valid driving licenses are entitled to drive vehicles for 90 days without the need for additional permits. Speed limits are 49 mph in highways and rural areas; 37 mph in suburban areas, and 25 mph in the cities.

Transportation Roads are generally in good shape. There are three main highways: Duarte, hooking up Santo Domingo with the north; Sanchez, connecting the southern and western regions, and Mella, that goes down to the south. There are commuter vehicles in a variety of forms, plus tourist buses in all major resorts and facilities. Airports, hotels, resorts and main cities feature a good deal of car rentals.

Shopping tips Woodcarvings, wooden utensils and the traditional rocking chairs Motley canvasses from self-taught painters Rum and cigars Carnival masks Amber silver-and-gold pieces. Amber is abundant in the northern region, an area that features deposits of this semiprecious gem, especially in the vicinity of Puerto Plata.