Dominican Republic Local Customs

 
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Most Viewed Local Customs in Dominican Republic

1.

Dominican food   Santo Domingo

Dominican food, Santo Domingo

 6 Reviews  Dominicans love stew Goat meat and Michelangelo Restaurant is consider the best places to eat this exotic dish. Goats in some providance are fed oregano plants so the Goat would absorb the oregano... 

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2.

Jugo de caña - Sugar cane juice   Santo Domingo

Jugo de caña - Sugar cane juice, Santo Domingo

 2 Reviews  Jugo de caña means sugar cane juice and it's delicious! The way to get the juice is to grind the sugar cane, and they usually do it in front of you when you order your juice. The juice is sweet and... 

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THE FLAG OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

by DAO

The Dominican Republic flag is comprised of:* A centre white cross dividing the flag into 4 rectangles. This white cross symbolises faith.* 4 rectangles. The top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue. The blue and red are from the flag of Haiti. Haiti had occupied the Dominican Republic starting just 3 months after they originally declared independence from Spain. The occupation lasted from early 1822 until 1844.* In the middle is the coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch (below left) and a palm branch (below right). Above the shield there is a blue ribbon with the words “Dios, Patria, Libertad” which translates as “God, the Fatherland, Liberty. Below the shield is a red ribbon with the words “Republica Dominicana”. This coat of arms is pictured separately. The Dominican Republic Flag was adopted on November 6, 1844...

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Taxes - entering and leaving the country

by marielexoteria

Edit: The prices changed (Dec 2008).On entering the DR you pay 10US$ - which you do when you buy your tourist card. On leaving, you pay 20US$.It's easier for them and quicker for you if you pay with the exact money (as in 10US for 1 person, 20US for 2 and so on) but if you have big bills they do give you your change. You can buy the tourist card from your nearest DR embassy also. And always double check with your airline/travel agency because some include the leaving tax on their flight ticket price.Nowadays the tourist card is good for up to 29 days (as opposed to 90 like it was before), so if you overstay there's a small fee you pay on leaving. Please observe that the fee is paid in Dominican pesos. The fees are (American dollar cost based on 1 US = 33 pesos):30 Days - 3 Months: $800 Pesos (24.24 US)3 Months - 9 Months: $1000 Pesos (30.30 US)9 Months - 1 Year: $2500 Pesos (75.75 US)1...

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Knowing the Basics of a Spanish is a Must!

by jasonfromduluth

Although you may not know how to speak Spanish, try and learn the basics. Unlike Mexico where mostly everyone knows English, mostly everyone in the Dominican Republic only sticks to Spanish. Not only that, the people that you speak Spanish to will greatly appreciate that you are trying. Think of someone coming to you own town and speaking their own language and not even trying to speak your language. It's more frustrating than if someone tries to speak the local language very poorly and completely broken.

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Dancing

by Arial_27

The locals love to dance! Bachata, salsa, merenge, all of it. They don't listen to a lot of hiphop or other music that is popular in America. You will hear a lot of songs on the radio, and playing in nightclubs by Spanish singers, such as Zacharias and Franky Reyes. (Their music is great, very latin carribean. It's available for download on Ares and torrent if you want to check it out.) If you go to a nightclub in the Dominican, try to stick with your friends as much as possible. Dress much less suggestive than you would at home, because the extent of the male's voyeurism is taken to a MUCH higher extent here than in most Western countries.Me gusta la musica = I like the musicTengo un novio = I have a boyfriendVamos a bailar = Lets dance!

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Espanol por favor

by Arial_27

Of course, many people who work in the resort areas know some English, but you will come across many locals who do not know any. In any case, knowing a few words and phrases in Spanish can't hurt! Here are a few you may want to remember.1. Hola (HOE-LA): Hello2. Como esta (COE-MOE ES-TA): How are you?3. Nosotros queremos cambiar el dinero (NOS-OTROS KEH-REH-MOS CAM-BEE-AR ELLE DEEN-ERO): We would like to change money4. Quiero (KYAY-ROH): I would like..5. Porque (POOR KAY): Why?5. Donde esta.. (DON-DAY ES-TA): Where is..6. Hace mucho calor (HA-SAY MOOCH-O CA-LORE): It's very hot outside!7. Quanto cuesta (KWAN-TOE KWES-TA): How much does this cost?8. Muchas gracias (MOOCH-OSS GRAT-SIAS): Thank you very much9. Lo siento (LOE SEE-EN-TOE): I'm sorry10. Perdonneme (PER-DON-EH-MEH): Excuse me, forgive me11. Adios (AD-IOS): Goodbye12. Hasta lluego (HAS-TA LOO-AY-GO): See you later13. Puedo...

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Glorietas

by marielexoteria

In every "central" or big park in any given town you'll find them. A glorieta is an open space, circle shaped and with a roof and it's usually located at the center of the park. In the glorietas, the local music band gives free concerts or people, for ex. from the city hall, who want to give a speech can do it and be covered by the inclemency of the sun or the rain.

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Let's talk rum

by marielexoteria

After beers, Dominicans love a good rum. The 3 most popular brands (I don't recall seeing more brands than these) are the 3 B's: Brugal, Barceló and Bermúdez. All of them are distilled and produced there. I particularly don't like rum but if I had to choose one to drink I'd go for Bermúdez. Brugal is usually the one that people like the most.

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En Santo Domingo bailamos merengue*

by marielexoteria

* We dance merengue in Santo Domingo.Indeed we do but not only in Santo Domingo but in the whole island. Merengue is our typical music and one could say that it's a mix of 3 cultures, just like we Dominicans are: Spanish, Taíno and African. From the Taínos we have the güiras and from the Africans we have the tamboras (drums).The "golden era" of Merengue was during Trujillo's dictatorship and Merengue from that time is called "classic". As time went by, more elements were introduced to the dance, making the tempo faster, the lyrics less "cultivated" and more "slang/colloquial". Some of the best performers we have are Juan Luis Guerra, Fernando Villalona, Milly Quezada, Johnny Ventura, Sergio Vargas and Los Hermanos Rosario. They have been doing good merengue for at least 20 years, and they're still as popular as the first day.

Dominican folklore: La Ciguapa

by marielexoteria

According to folk tales, la ciguapa is a woman with very long hair covering her body and with her feet turned backwards. This is believed to be used so that she can send her enemies on the opposite direction she ran to, should they follow her foot prints.There are many myths concerning this creature. Some say she's descendent from the few Taíno indians who survived the massacre by hiding in mountains and caves. Some say that the only way to capture her is with a "perro cinqueño" (a certain kind of dog) and in a Friday night with full moon. Some say that her intentions are to kidnap men to become pregnant, and that she wouldn't release those men until she knew that she was with child (supposedly they can feel whether they're pregnant or not). What apparently everyone agrees on is that she's a benevolent creature. I remember seeing a TV show that tried to catch her in film. They spent the...

National dishes

by marielexoteria

Without a doubt, I'd say the 3 national Dominican dishes are:(1) The "flag" (la bandera): rice, red beans, meat or chicken and salad. *The* dish #1, eaten by rich and poor. Usually with concon (the rice that gets stuck on the pot, that you get by using a silver spoon.)(2) "Mangú": mashed plantain (the green ones), similar in preparation as mashed potatoes. With butter or with oil, and with fried eggs or salami, avocado slices and onion rings (without the bread crumbs) on the side.(3) "Sancocho": it's a stew with meat and vegetables (being plantain, cassava, and corn the ones most used) in it. Specially good after having some cold beers.Other things we consider "ours" (even tho they might exist in other cultures) are fried cassava (first boiled, then fried) and fried plantain slices (both the green and the ripe ones).

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Local traditions and culture in Dominican Republic

Top 3 Hotels in Dominican Republic

Playa Esmeralda Beach Resort  Dominican Republic

 2 Reviews and 41 Opinions  This all-inslusive resort was fabulous, as all-inclusives go. Kinda like being on a cruise. If lying... 

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Hotel Atarazana  Santo Domingo

 1 Review and 132 Opinions  I stayed here on a recent business trip in the Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo. This 6 room hotel... 

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Gran Bahia Principe Punta Cana  Punta Cana

 7 Reviews and 660 Opinions  The only good things about our stay at the Gran Bahia Principe were the beautiful beaches and the... 

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Local Customs: Cities in Dominican Republic
  1. Punta Cana Local Customs
  2. Santo Domingo Local Customs
  3. Puerto Plata Local Customs
  4. La Romana Local Customs
  5. Cabarete Local Customs
  6. Sosúa Local Customs
  7. Santiago de los Caballeros Local Customs
  8. Bayahibe Local Customs
  9. Bávaro Local Customs
  10. Isla Saona Local Customs
  11. Santa Bárbara de Samaná Local Customs
  12. Baní Local Customs
  13. Esperanza Local Customs

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Questions and Answers

fitzy7 profile photo

Q:  Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice of trip ideas from Punta Cana. I have had a tough time finding appropriate information... 

grandmaR profile photo

A: I don't know what time of year you are talking about - I have been to the DR two or three times in January, but not to Punta Cana. I've been twice by cruise ship to... 

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