The Dominican Republic shares the Island of Hispaniola with the Republic of Haiti. Covering an area of 48,400 km2, it is the second largest country in the Caribbean. Thanks to its weather and seemingly endless miles of beach, the Dominican Republic has become a top class vacationer destination connected with the world’s principal cities.
It has an estimated population of 7,600,000 residents, a combination of diverse, mainly urban influences, with around 2,000,000 inhabitants living in the funds, Santo Domingo. The landscape is varied and includes Lake Enriquillo, which, at 144 meters below sea level, is the lowest point in the Caribbean, and Pico Duarte, the highest in the Caribbean, with an altitude of 3,175 meters. The Cibao Valley is the main agricultural area.
CLIMATE: The weather in the coastal region is mainly warm, as is typical in the tropics. The temperatures are cooler in the center of the country. The usual temperature all year long is 25C, or 77F.
CURRENCY: The unit of currency in the Dominican Republic is the Dominican Peso, with an official exchange rate of: DR$15.35 per US dollar; DR$2.38 per French Franc; and DR$17.00 per Euro.
SHOPPING: Bargaining is accepted in markets and small shops, but not in department stores, where prices are fixed. The most interesting items are handicrafts, pottery, typical native paintings, coffee, tobacco and rum. International credit cards (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) are accepted in most of the country’s shopping centers and restaurants.
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