Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia
Modern basilica in Higüey with a tall concrete arch, finished in the 1970s. It is the country's most important pilgrimage church, so visitors should dress and behave respectfully.
Punta Cana
Along the Caribbean coast, this main beach resort area of the country is known for golf, all-inclusive hotels and white sand.
Attractive locations
Macao Beach
Public beach north of the resorts with golden sand, waves and little development. It is popular with surfers and locals.
Cabo Engaño
Windswept cape at the eastern tip of the island of Hispaniola, south of Punta Cana. A lighthouse and rocky shoreline make it a quiet, scenic stop away from the resort beaches.
Bávaro Beach
Broad stretch of white sand backed by palms, running for many kilometres along the east coast. Swimming, watersports and beach walks are easy here, and most of the area's resorts sit behind it.
Hoyo Azul
Freshwater sinkhole pool with strikingly blue water at the foot of a cliff, reached by a path through a nature park near Cap Cana. Visitors swim in it and can jump from the rocks.
Airports
Punta Cana International Airport PUJ
It is about 1 km in a straight line from Punta Cana.
Casa De Campo International Airport LRM
It is about 58 km in a straight line from Punta Cana.
Las Américas International Airport SDQ
It is about 138 km in a straight line from Punta Cana.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Dominican Republic page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan25.9 °C38 mm
- Feb25.7 °C26 mm
- Mar25.6 °C26 mm
- Apr26.2 °C46 mm
- May27.0 °C75 mm
- Jun27.9 °C50 mm
- Jul28.2 °C55 mm
- Aug28.5 °C67 mm
- Sep28.6 °C74 mm
- Oct28.4 °C68 mm
- Nov27.6 °C79 mm
- Dec26.7 °C46 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Mar. Wettest months: May, Sep, Nov.
Costs
Prices here are about 39% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
911 for all emergencies.
local government
Tourist Police (POLITUR), Dominican National Police
Helps with: The central office of the Dominican tourist police, listed in the National Police directory. Its tourist assistance and protection work covers visitors in tourist areas.
Who qualifies: Tourists and other visitors in the Dominican Republic.
Phone: (809) 222-2123
Email: info@politur.gob.do
Address: Ave. Gustavo Mejía Ricart esq. Teodoro Chasseriau, Santo Domingo, D.N.
ngo
Cruz Roja Dominicana (Dominican Red Cross)
Helps with: The Dominican national Red Cross society, a non-profit. Its services include a blood bank, clinical laboratories, training, and ambulance transport. It also lists disaster response and pre-hospital care as areas of work.
Who qualifies: People in the Dominican Republic who need its health, ambulance or disaster services.
Phone: 809-334-4545
Address: C/ Juan E. Dunant No. 51, Ensanche Miraflores, Santo Domingo
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Dominican Republic
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in the Dominican Republic since 1968. It responds to the humanitarian needs of migrants, displaced people and returnees, and supports migration management.
Who qualifies: Migrants, displaced people and returnees in the Dominican Republic. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +1 809 688 81 74
Address: Av. César Nicolás Penson 102, Santo Domingo
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches the police, ambulance and fire services in the Dominican Republic. UK government travel advice says 911 does not have full coverage across the country.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 911
local government
Tourist police emergency line outside Santo Domingo
Helps with: Tourist police line for emergencies outside Santo Domingo, as given by UK government travel advice. That advice says the 911 number does not cover the whole country.
Who qualifies: Visitors who are outside Santo Domingo and need the tourist police in an emergency.
Phone: +1 809 200 3500