FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Santo Domingo

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Santo Domingo each year. The main ones are listed below.

The feast day of Our Lady of Altagracia, a name for Mary, the mother of Jesus and the patron saint and protector of the Dominican people, is the most important religious holiday in the country after Christmas. Every year nearly 1 million faithful make the pilgrimage to the cathedral in the southeastern town of Higüey, where Our Lady of Altagracia is believed to have performed a miracle. Those remaining in Santo Domingo fill the city's churches reciting prayers, singing hymns and dancing with great fervour.

Celebrates the birth on this day in 1813 of Juan Pablo Duarte, one of the three founders of the Dominican Republic, revered as the “father” of Dominican independence from Haiti in 1844. The day is marked with ceremonies at the national pantheon, the Altar de la Patria, where Duarte is buried, profusely decorated with flowers for the occasion.

Held in Santiago, the country's second largest city, known as the “Cigar Capital of the World”, in the eastern city of La Romana and at the resort destination of Punta Cana, this six-day festival attracts cigar aficionados from around the world every year. The programme includes educational seminars and presentations on the industry, tours of tobacco factories, entertainment and leisure activities, plus plenty of opportunities to enjoy some of the world's top-rated cigars.

On this day in 1844, the Dominican Republic gained independence from Haiti, its neighbour, making it the only Latin American country whose commemorations do not mark a break from European colonial rule. Celebrations include not only street parties and military parades, but carnival festivities as well since the day always falls close to the beginning of Lent.

Celebrates the Dominican Republic's second patron saint, the Virgen de la Mercedes, who represents the country and the island of Hispaniola as a whole. Numerous religious processions mark this feast every year.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Santo Domingo

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	18/64	28/82	62/2.4	Good period to go
February	19/66	28/82	55/2.2	Good period to go
March	20/68	29/84	52/2.0	Good period to go
April	22/72	30/86	65/2.6	Good period to go
May	23/72	30/86	185/7.3	Not the best period to go
June	23/73	31/88	140/5.5	Not the best period to go
July	24/75	32/90	145/5.7	Not the best period to go
August	24/75	32/90	178/7.0	Not the best period to go
September	23/73	32/90	180/7.1	Not the best period to go
October	22/72	31/88	182/7.2	Not the best period to go
November	21/70	30/86	100/3.9	Not the best period to go
December	20/68	20/68	70/2.8	Good period to go

Santo Domingo Las Américas International Airport

Santo Domingo's Las Américas International Airport is located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) east of the city centre.

• Two terminals:
  • Terminal A (Air France)
  • Terminal B

• By car
  • Accessible via Autopista Las Américas.
  • Both short- and long-term parking are available in the parking area opposite the terminals (DOP 40 for up to 30 minutes, DOP 960 per day).
  • Several car rental companies have counters in the arrivals hall.
• By taxi
  • Taxis are available at the ranks outside the arrivals hall, and the official ones have a brown sticker on the windshield. The trip to the city centre costs around DOP 3,000.

• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
• Telephone: : +1 809 947 2225 / +1 809 947 2297
• Website: www.aerodom.com

GETTING AROUND Santo Domingo

Getting around Santo Domingo is rather complicated. It is true that the networks of bus and guagua (minibus) routes serve the entire metropolitan area, but they can often be dangerously packed at rush hours. As for the city's Metro, it only travels along a few of the major thoroughfares.

By minibus

Santo Domingo's guaguas can be very useful, especially for short distances. Most of the routes start near the parks in the centre of Santo Domingo, but drivers stop all along their routes to pick up and drop off passengers. You just need to wave to be picked up and call out to the driver in order to request a stop. Most short hops within the city cost less than DOP 10.

By bus

Apart from the guaguas, there are also many modern, air-conditioned buses operated by private companies circulating throughout the city. Fares range from about DOP 10 to DOP 15, but the buses are often unpleasantly crowded.

By rail

Opened in 2009, Santo Domingo's Metro currently has only two lines running along the city's two main thoroughfares. The first line runs from north to south along Avenida Máximo Gómez and the second runs from east to west along Avenida Correa y Cidrón. A single ticket costs DOP 20. A rechargeable fare card, the Boleto Viajero, may be purchased for DOP 30, and must be reloaded with a minimum travel value of DOP 20. Discounts are offered for reloads of 10 or 20 rides.

By taxi

Due to the rather high fares charged, taxis are not necessarily the best mode of transport in Santo Domingo. When choosing this solution, make sure to negotiate the price before the driver sets off. All taxis in Santo Domingo are unmetered. Also make sure it is understood that the price negotiated is for all passengers in your group!

By car

Renting a car is an interesting option for getting around Santo Domingo easily. Pay close attention to motorbikes and bicycles, whether in the city or on country roads. National driving licences are valid for the duration of a tourist visa, i.e. three months. The international driving license is valid for 1 year.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Santo Domingo, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.

The official website maintained by the Dominican Ministry of Tourism provides a wealth of information on Santo Domingo.

• Website: www.godominicanrepublic.com

Medical information

See your doctor before you travel. It is recommended that you obtain insurance covering health care expenses as well as medical evacuation or repatriation before you leave home. Santo Domingo counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to the Dominican Republic.

However, the following vaccines are recommended:

• booster doses for protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio
• typhoid, hepatitis A and B

For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38, quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
• Website: https://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

It is recommended to:

• avoid eating uncooked food
• avoid eating raw fruits and vegetables on markets

Drinking tap water in Santo Domingo is not recommended. It is prudent to drink bottled mineral water instead.

Administrative formalities

Entry requirements for the Dominican Republic

As a general rule, foreign nationals must apply for visas before travelling to the Dominican Republic. However, the Dominican Republic has entered into visa exemption agreements with a number of countries.

To find out if you will need a visa for travel to the Dominican Republic, visit the Consular Services website of the Dominican Ministry of Foreign Affairs: www.dominica.gov.dm/services/passports-and-travel-documents-non-nationals/124-do-i-need-a-visa-to-enter-into-dominica

Useful addresses

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Santo Domingo, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

+1

+ phone number (without 0)

-11 : 00
of time difference with
Ho Chi Minh City

Banks
Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Government Offices
Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

120 V / 60 Hz

Tipping
In Santo Domingo, tipping is not necessarily required, although always appreciated if you are satisfied with the service. It is customary to tip about 10% of the bill in restaurants, bars and cafés.