Dominican Republic Guide Getting There Where To Stay Activities Visitor Tips Getting Married Region Guide Weather Maps Information Request Dominican Republic CTW Main	Nestled amid Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico in the heart of the Caribbean archipelago, the island of Hispaniola (Little Spain) is divided between Haiti, on the westernmost third of the island, and the Dominican Republic, which has a lush landmass about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined. In the Dominican interior, the fertile Valley of Cibao (rich sugarcane country) ends its upward sweep at Pico Duarte, the highest mountain peak in the West Indies, which soars to 3,125m (10,417 ft.). What you notice first about the Dominican Republic is its size. This is not just another tiny Caribbean island with a beach and a straw market. Instead, it's a big country with spectacularly varied scenery that includes the tallest mountains in the region, stretches of white sand that run unbroken for miles and the Caribbean's oldest and -- some claim -- most cosmopolitan city, Santo Domingo. The people of the Dominican Republic are among the friendliest in the Caribbean, and the hospitality here seems more genuine than in more commercialized destinations. The weather is nearly perfect year-round. The combination of low prices and beautiful terrain has made the Dominican Republic one of the fastest-growing destinations in the Caribbean. Don't expect the lavish, spectacular resorts (although excellent) that you'll find on Puerto Rico or Jamaica, but do expect your vacation to be that much less expensive. Background Explored and claimed by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of its subsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when Joaquin BALAGUER became president. He maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. The Dominican economy has had one of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere over the past decade.     DR At A Glance - Language: Spanish is the official language of the island. English is widely spoken in tourist's areas as well as German, Italian, and French. Government: Representative democracy Capital: Santo Domingo Size: 48,730 sq km, 1,288 km coastline Location: Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti Climate: Tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall. Average daily temperature of 82°F (25°C) Electricity: 110 volts, the same as in North America Currency: Dominican peso (DOP) Driving: Driving is on the right hand side and the speed limit is 60 kph in the cities and 80 kph or 100 kph on the highways, unless otherwise indicated. Rentals: Major car rental companies have airport and city locations, such as Honda, National, Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar, Nelly Rent-a-Car, Dollar and many others. A valid driver's license and major credit cards are required to rent a car for up to 90 days.
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