Things to see & do

The majority of the Dominican Republic enjoys beautiful tropical weather all year round, with the average annual temperature hovering around 25°C (77°F). Some call the Dominican Republic’s climate, ‘the endless summer’, due to warm and sunny conditions experienced pretty much everywhere in the country, all year round.

There are slight variations between the summer and winter months. The so-called ‘cool’ or winter season, runs from November to April. The humidity is relatively low during these months and it tends to cool down in the evenings much more than in the summer months. The coastal/beach regions generally experience highs of around 28°C (83°F) during the day and lows of about 20°C (68°F) in the evening. The mountainous interior of the country is considerably cooler, and on the highest mountain peaks thermometer can sometimes drop below freezing point. On rare occasions frost can even be seen on the top of these peaks. The summer season in the Dominican Republic runs from May to October. Average daily highs for the coastal/beach regions rise to around 31°C (87°F) during the day, dropping down to about 22°C (72°F) at night. It is the higher humidity during this period that can make it feel much hotter during this season.

Regardless of season, the coolest areas of the country is the Cordillera Central mountain region, around Jarabacoa and Constanza, where the average highs can hover around 16°C (61°F). The desert regions in the southwest of the country experience the highest average temperatures, at times soaring to over 40°C (104°F). The northern areas of the Dominican Republic tend to see the greatest amount of rainfall and do so predominantly between October and April. The southern areas of the Dominican Republic experience their greatest rainfall between May and November. Torrential downpour-like conditions can certainly occur in all areas of the Dominican Republic but the majority of this type of rainfall occurs in short bursts. Other than major storms that may move through a particular region, most showers are short-lived and have the sun shining brightly within a half hour.

The differences between the summer and winter seasons are not always consistent. Regardless of what is ‘typical’, the Dominican Republic, like anywhere, can experience abnormal weather patterns – weeks without any rain at all, while other times there are patches of rainy and overcast weather for a several days at a time. But more often than not, visitors to the Dominican Republic can generally expect long periods of sunshine and blue skies, at any time of the year.

Hurricanes:

Transfers:

When you need transportation to and from ports and airports, try to agree on a fare in advance to avoid problems and ask the chauffeur’s identification before entering the car; since not all vehicles that serve these routes use meters, and the fares set by syndicates vary, based on distance and the number of passengers occupying the car.

Most hotels and tour operators have transportation to and from airports for their clients. Additionally, all airports have car rental offices that facilitate this service. Car rental agencies formalize rental contracts only on presentation of a credit card. Minimum age required is 21 years, and you must present a valid driving license fro your country of origin, or an international license.

How safe is Cabarete ?

Families live here, people happily co exist, and it is a fun safe place.  It is the ability for things to escalate that is the real concern.   Just as in any town, use common sense.

We at eXtreme Cabarete believe that standard precautions and common sense reduce the probability of incidents to a minimum.  There are surveillance cameras, armed guards and the hotel is strategically designed with locking gates on all access points to ensure the well being of our guests.  eXtreme Cabarete hotel also maintains a strict ‘no guests’ policy.

What does no guests mean?

It means that you can’t invite someone up to your room.  We do this to maintain security.  Your guest can wait for you at the bar or in the lobby.

Thank you for respecting the hotel and it’s guests.

Custom Regulations

Articles classified as personal baggage have no problem clearing Customs. You are allowed to bring two liters of alcoholic liquor, 200 cigarettes, and gift articles to the value of US$ 1,000.

However, depending on where your flight originated and the tourist sensibility of the customs inspector welcoming you, he/she will either let you go through with a pleasant smile hardly inspecting your bags; will ask you to show him/her its contents, or, he/she will inspect them silently, under the protection of Dominican law.

If you are traveling on a business trip, for health purposes or on vacation, everything will undoubtedly turn out well. If, on the contrary, you are part of a group smuggling firearms, explosives, or illegal drugs, you will probably find yourself face to face with an Interpol agent.

In the Dominican Republic, the traffic, possession and consumption of illegal drugs is penalized by law.

Law No. 50-88 on Drugs, in force in the Dominican Republic, states the following:

1.
Opium in all its forms;
2.
All derivatives (alkaloids, salts, compounds, preparations or synthetic substitution);
3.
Coca (Erthoxilon Coca);
4.
Cocaine, its derivatives or synthetic substitutes or any compound in which it is used as a base;
5.
All plants of the Cannabinaceas family and products derived from them containing narcotic or stimulant properties such as Cannabis Indica, Cannabi Sativa, Marihuana and other herbs with similar properties”.

Sanctions

The sanctions applicable to infractors of the aforementioned legal provisions are:

1.
For simple possession, there is a fine of RD$ 500.00 to RD$ 2,000 or imprisonment from six months to two years, or both. There is no bail.
2.
When the drug confiscated or involved in the operation falls under the Dealer or Seller category, the penalty is RD$ 10,000 to RD$ 50,000 and imprisonment from three to ten years. There is no bail.
3.
When the drugs confiscated or implicated in the operation fall under the Smuggler (Trafficker) category, the penalty is RD$ 50,000 to RD$ 250,000, and imprisonment from five to twenty years with forced labor. There is no bail.

Tourist Code

Article X

Tourist should, by their behavior, foster understanding and friendly relations among peoples, at both the national and international levels, and thus, contribute to lasting peace.

Article XI

1.
At places of transit and sojourn tourists must respect the established political, social, moral and religious order and regulations in force.
2.
In these places tourists must also:
1.
Show the greatest understanding for the customs, belief and behavior the host communities and the greatest respect for their natural and cultural heritage;
2.
Refrain from accentuating the economic, social and cultural differences between themselves and the local population;
3.
Be receptive to the culture of the host communities, which is an integral part of the common human heritage; and
4.
Refrain from exploiting other for prostitution purposes;
5.
Refrain from trafficking, carrying of the use of narcotics and/or other prohibited drugs.

Article XII

During the travel form one country to another and within the host country tourists should be able, by appropriate government measures, to benefit from; a) relaxation of administrative and financial controls; b) the best possible conditions of transport and sojourn that can be offered by suppliers of tourism services.

Article XIII

1.
Tourists should be afforded free access, both within and outside their countries, to sites and places of tourist interest and, subject to existing regulations and limitations, to move about freely in places of transit and sojourn.
2.
On access to sites and places of tourist interest and throughout their transit and sojourn, tourists should be able to benefit from:
1.
Objective, precise and complete information on conditions and facilities provided during their travel and sojourn by official tourism bodies and suppliers of tourism services;
2.
Safety of their persons, security of their belongings and protection of their rights as costumers;
3.
Satisfactory public hygiene, particularly so far as accommodation, catering and transport are concerned, information on the effective prevention of communicable diseases and accidents and ready access to health services;
4.
Access to swift and efficient public communications, both internal and external; e) administrative and legal procedures and guarantees necessary for the protection of their rights; and f) the practice of their own religion and the use of existing facilities for that purpose.

Article XIV

Everyone is entitled to make his needs known to legislative representatives and public authorities so that he may exercises his right to rest and leisure in order to enjoy the benefits of tourism under the most favorable conditions and, where appropriate and, to the extent consistent with law, associate with others for that purpose.

Cabarete is a surfer town, and as such the dress code is super relaxed.  Most people are in surf shorts and flip flops.  The winter months can get cool at night, so bring a pair of pants, but other wise it’s totally chill.

You won’t need a wet suit, but a rash guard and maybe wet suit top in the winter months.

If you’re travelling to the cities, it’s a different world however.

Due to the climate, it is advisable to bring a wardrobe of natural fibers such as cotton or linen, for comfort and to ease perspiration during the day while touring the country’s urban and rural areas.

Regardless of what thermometer indicates when packing, include a bathing suit, sun protection, sun glasses and a loose, comfortable dress to relax in the evening to the palm trees’ lullaby under a beautiful tropical moon.

When visiting churches, men uncover their heads as a sign of respect. Ladies are not required to cover their heads as in the past, although many continue to wear long sleeves and mantillas during church services. It is considered offensive to enter a temple inebriated or wearing shorts.

Men traveling to attend a conference or for business reasons will need to bring a coat and tie. Some events, according to their nature, may require a tuxedo. On certain formal occasions, a white suit is required.

Weddings and honeymoons set a moment of our lives. With no doubt, real love deserves the frame provided by the colors of the sunset in the Caribbean or the different shades of the blue waters of the ocean. Because of the combination of this beautiful images, is the reason why many couples are choosing to get married in the Dominican Republic or experience their honeymoon.

The resorts of Sosúa, Puerto Plata, Playa Dorada, Playa Grande, Punta Cana, Bavaro, Macao, Juan Dolio, Boca Chica, Samaná, Bayahibe and La Romana have the expert staff to plan and coordinate the perfect wedding for you. The majority of the wedding packages in the resorts include the judge, wedding license, flowers, music, the traditional cake, champagne, and those special details for your room.

A sunny beach is the perfect and exotic scenario for the wedding reception. Exotic flower arrangements are the perfect touch to complete the ambiance of this special event. Your guests will be very grateful to share this unforgettable moment with you.

It is recommendable to start planning your wedding six months in advanced. The hotels prefer that you give them a three months notice in order to make the necessary reservations for the judge and events areas as well as all the details for the occasion.

Start your wedding with the pre-nuptial breakfast. The hotel will be pleased to separate a special area for you and your guests. Later, enjoy a great massage, or spend some time at the spa of the resort and then go to the beauty salon for a nice hair do, manicure and make up. If the hotel does not offer these facilities you can make the arrangements so an stylist can visit you in your own room.

Documents Required to Get Married in the Dominican Republic

1. To Obtain the Marriage License

Passport
Birth certificate (original)
Single certification (in Spanish)
Divorce certificate in Spanish (if previously married)

Two witnesses are required. In case they are foreigners, they should be identified with their passports. If Dominican, personal ID will be sufficient.

2. After the Wedding

The judge will have the marriage certificate ready one day after the wedding. This document has legal validity.

Before Travelling to the Dominican Republic

Please contact your country’s tourist board before travelling outside your country. They can give you any information you are looking for about where you are going and what the local and national laws and regulations are for residence and tourists.

Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory

The Tourism Offices Worldwide Directory is your guide to official tourist information sources: government tourism offices, convention and visitors bureaus, chambers of commerce, and similar organizations that provide free, accurate, and unbiased travel information to the public. Businesses such as travel agents, tour operators, and hotels are not included.