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Santo Domingo

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It is only in Santo Domingo that you will find the perfect mix of old world charm with modern day amenities and posh. History buffs will absolutely love it here as it is a place full of records! Being the first English settlement, cathedrals, hospitals, monastery, universities, and courthouses were first to appear here before any other settlement. This colony was first discovered by none other than Christopher Columbus and the city center has now been turned into a UNESCO World Heritage site. The modern day center now also includes many shops, cafes, hotels, and restaurants. With tropical temperatures and fine sights, it's no wonder that this city is one of the top visited locations in the world every year!

Areas

Santo Domingo was once a huge city with a population close to four million people. It was then divided into five different sections: Distrito Nacional, Santo Domingo Este, Santo Domingo Oeste, Santo Domingo Norte and Boca Chica. If you want to check out all that this city has to offer, you'll most likely wish to stay in Distrito Nacional, where you will be close to everything and be especially close to tourist services, such as resorts, shopping, and restaurants.

Weather

Santo Domingo enjoys a consistent climate of consistent temperatures although there is a slight increase in the months of July and August and a slight drop in temperature during December and January. Because it is a tropical climate, the city sees many hurricanes through the months of May to October. May is the worst time of year for hurricanes so come prepared or come in another month. The rest of the year, there is very little rain at all that is seen.

Average Temperatures

F/C	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
F	76	76	77	79	80	81	81	81	81	80	79	77
C	24	24	25	26	27	27	27	27	27	27	26	25

Average Precipitation/Rain

In./CM	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
In.	2.2	1.7	1.9	3	7	6.1	6.1	6.4	6.8	6.5	4.4	2.5
CM	5.6	4.3	4.8	7.6	17.8	15.5	15.5	16.3	17.3	16.5	11.2	6.4

Getting There

By Plane

Travelling by plane is the most common form of transportation to Santo Domingo. Las Americas International Airport, which is the main airport that visitors here usually travel by, is about fifteen minutes away from the outskirts of the city and about another fifteen minutes to get to the city's center. From the airport, tourists can take a public bus, taxi, or a rental car that has been rented directly at the airport. It's recommended however that because rates are much higher at the airport for a rented car that a taxi be taken into the city and a car rented from there.

By Ferry

Because the ferry only travels to and from Puerto Rico, most choose to come by plane. However, the ferry does take passengers to the city twice a week for approximately $250 USD for a round trip. For an additional fee, travelers may bring their car with them.

Getting Around

By Car/Taxi

Getting around Santo Domingo is not especially easy and so a taxi is usually the best way to move around. There are two types of taxis that you can take in the city: a standard taxi or a collective taxi, and both have their own pros and cons. A regular taxi is very convenient and you will most likely ride in comfort however, they are quite expensive and aren't easy to find. If you need a taxi, it's best to ask a shop owner or the hotel to call one for you. The taxi drivers in Santo Domingo can also sometimes be talked into acting as a personal driver and tour guide for you for the entire day. There are also collective taxis available and these will take you, along with up to five more passengers, on a predetermined route where passengers will be picked up and dropped off along the way. These are cheaper than regular taxis but can be quite uncomfortable. It's also good to know that if you're overweight, a collective taxi driver may charge you for two seats, whether you use them or not.

By Rental Car

Because of the taxi situation, it may sound like a good idea to simply rent your own car and drive yourself. However, this is inadvisable due to the fact that the locals in Santo Domingo pay absolutely no attention to road signs, lights, or any other rule of the road. Street signs and addresses are also not clearly marked and often rely on the names of the people that live there rather than actual signs.

On Foot

Walking may then seem like a good choice but the sidewalks, when there are sidewalks to speak of, are often badly damaged, making walking difficult. The Colonial Zone is a good place to choose walking over any other form of transportation as sights are close to each other and the entire area has been designed to cater to tourists. Still beware though of those driving as the locals don't generally concern themselves with pedestrians.

Public Transportation

There are many public transportation buses that run through Santo Domingo however, these can be expensive and the schedules and stops can often become quite confusing. The buses here are actually to serve the locals making their way to and from work rather than serving tourists.

Food & Dining

Santo Domingo offers cuisine from all over the entire world but it is perhaps best known for its Brazilian and Mediterranean flavors. The combination of Chinese food and fried chicken is also often found throughout the Dominican Republic and is especially prevalent in Santo Domingo. Visit one of these take-out restaurants to get many servings of plantains, fried rice, plenty of other Chinese food choices and of course, plenty of fried chicken! Another unique Santo Domingo dining experience is visiting a comodor. These cafeterias offer one meal every day and they only offer one meal. On any given day, you can be given different meats, rice, salads, fish, and soda. This is a great way to travel on a budget but even those not looking for the cheapest meal will find that these are truly an experience!

Beaches

Boca Chica (Sand beach) Location: 15 minutes outside of Santo Domingo It's the great and safe conditions of the water that brings thousands of people to Boca Chica Bach in Santo Domingo year after year. This beach is perfectly suited to anyone whether they are single, visiting as a family, or retirees because everyone loves wading in this shallow water that has been created by a reef that lies just a few feet offshore. With just a few footsteps you can also quickly find yourself at the door of any number of restaurants and shops.

Juan Dolio (Sand beach) Location: 50 minutes outside of Santo Domingo This is the beach water lovers come to as the waters here are much deeper than those of Boca Chica and so are perfect for snorkeling, water skiing, diving, swimming, or just lazing around the beach while occasionally going for a refreshing dip. A popular beach with just about anyone, this is a great way to spend a day in the Dominican Republic!

Sights & Activities

Cathedral of Santa Maria

The beauty of this cathedral's exterior, which is done in Spanish-style architecture, will have you believing that you have never seen anything so beautiful. That is until you walk in and see the beautiful Gothic design that the inside of the church is done in. The cathedral is still used today even though it was built in 1523. In 1586, Sir Francis Drake took the entire city as hostage and used the cathedral as his place to conduct business.

The Colonial City

The Colonial City only comprises one square mile of Santo Domingo however within this small space, you will find treasure upon treasure. Imagine how it feels to place your footsteps inside Christopher Columbus' and Francis Drake's as you walk down these cobblestone streets just as they once did. Christopher Columbus' son, Diego, once lived here in the House of Cord and if that's not enough for the home's bragging rights, it's also one of the oldest homes in the New World. Among this site there are many museums, palaces, and forts that are also worth looking into.

National Aquarium

If you're looking for a place to take the family for a day, head over to the aquarium where you can find all kinds of sea life including sharks, angelfish, and stingrays among many others. Don't leave this attraction before meeting 'Tamaury', the resident manatee that was rescued off the coast of Barahona. This wonderful creature has been here ever since it was born.

Los Tres Ojos National Park

This is truly a park that is unlike any other. The entire area is made up of different caves, all which sit at differing levels from one another and each has a lagoon within it.

Plaza de la Cultura

The plaza is actually a square area, which houses four different museums and one theater, making a day here one very productive day! The museums include the Museum of Modern Art, the Museum of History and Geography, the Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Dominican Man.