Thinking of a good travel get-away? Have a Dominican Republic holiday and experience culture and life in the Caribbean.
Dominican Republic prides itself with its rich culture and tourist destinations. If you’re planning to visit this great traveler’s haven, make your trip more meaningful by knowing the country’s background and profile. Here are some good-to-knows about Dominican Republic that will help you appreciate your travel to this country.
An Overview
Dominican Republic is in the island of Hispaniola, located in the Greater Antilles region in the Caribbean. It is a country influenced by Spanish, French, Haitian, and African cultures. Its population is very diverse, majority of which are Europeans and Africans. You would also see a number of Haitians, Asians and Americans. The official language of the country is Spanish and Castilian. English, Chinese, Italian and French are also used in different transactions especially in their popular tourist destinations. The government is a Representative Democracy and the currency they use is Dominican Peso. Majority of the population is Roman Catholic. Other religions in the country are Protestant, Seventh Day Adventist, Baptist and Mormon.
History
To appreciate a country more, it’s important that you know a few things about its history.
Christopher Columbus reached the area in 1942 and put up the first permanent European settlement in the region. Santo Domingo became the capital of Dominican Republic and the first capital of Spain in the new world. After the Spanish rule, French and the Haitian took over the country.
The country gained independence from Haitian rule in 1844. During this period, Dominican Republic faced numerous political strife and tyranny. Spain took over again in 1861. In 1865, Spain left the country after 2 years of fighting against the United States of America.
Government
The founding fathers of Dominican Republic are Juan Pablo Duarte, Ramon Matias Mella and Francisco Del Rosario Sanchez. The country follows a Representative Democracy type of government with 3 branches, which are the executive, legislative and judicial. The president and vice-president have a 4-year term. Their government’s legislature is bicameral. The senate has 32 members and the Chamber of Deputies has 178 members.
Election is held every 2 years alternating between the presidential elections and the congressional and municipal elections. Today, the president of Dominican Republic is Leonel Fernandez.
Society, Climate and Culture
Dominican Republic is a tropical country. The average temperature is 25 C. The coldest months are January and February while the hottest month is August.
Dominican Republic can be viewed as a melting pot of many cultures because of the mix of population in the country. Visiting the country would let you experience a blend of Spanish, French and African cultures. Dominicans love fast and lively music, which is represented very well by their music known as Merengue. They also excel and are passionate about baseball.
Eco tourism is one of the reasons that people want to visit Dominican Republic. They pride themselves with their lovely beaches and mountain ranges. Some of the most popular places in the country are the towns of Jarabacoa and Constanza, Pico Duarte, Baha de las Aguilas and Puerto Plata.
Have a Dominican Republic holiday and see for yourself what this rich country has to offer.