A Solo Traveller's Guide To The Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic has the highest concentration of visitors of any Caribbean country and with a diverse culture, made from a mixture of Spanish, Creole, and Taíno, it has a vast amount of activities to offer that’s hard to find anywhere else in the world. Here are some of the best things the Dominican Republic has to offer.

What to Do & See

Zona Colonial

This area has tremendous historical importance to Santo Domingo and the Dominican Republic. Filled with the oldest colonial buildings of the New World, this area is also home to some of the best restaurants and shops in the entire country.

The capital city of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, is the most-visited city in the entire Caribbean. Here, visitors will be able to experience the island’s diverse culture as well as top-class restaurants, beautiful beaches, waterfalls, and indigenous wildlife that are hard to find elsewhere.

Humpback Whales in Samana

Every year between December and March, about 2,000 humpback whales come to mate and give birth in Samana’s waters. Known as the Sanctuary of the Humpback Whales, it is believed that at least 85% of Atlantic humpback whales were born in these waters. They then return here to mate and give birth, making it the greatest collection of humpback whales in the world.

Where to eat

Passion

A AAA 4-Diamond restaurant found at the Paradisus Palma Real Resort, internationally-acclaimed chef Martin Berasateguithis runs this restaurant. Known for serving seafood-heavy Spanish cuisine, Berasategui’s goal is to make it an unparalleled dining experience. This restaurant serves only dinner, so plan accordingly.

Eze Bar & Restaurant

Found in Cabarete—the windsurfing town of the Dominican Republic—Eze Bar & Restaurant is an Italian-owned, beach-side restaurant and bar set under open palm tree. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and their menu ranges from fruit smoothies and green-veggie drinks to Italian cuisine.

Where to stay

Paradisus Palma Real Resort

Paradisus Palm Real Resort Golf & Spa Resort is a five-star resort located in Punta Cunta, Dominican Republic. Located on the beachfront of Bavaro Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, this resort offers an all-inclusive hotel with a Wellness Center, Royal Service, fine dining, three pools, a casino, and more.

Tortuga Bay Resort & Club

Tortuga Bay is the only AAA Five Diamond-awarded resort in the Dominican Republic. Tortuga has miles of white-sand beaches, two seaside championship golf courses, the only Six Senses Spa in the Americas, natural springs, 11 tennis courts, and several water sports. Tortuga also offers several island excursions that allow tourists to explore the island. Lastly, Tortuga offers a VIP service that will escort visitors through customs, drive them to the resort in a private car, get them checked in, and provide them with a golf cart for travel throughout the resort.

Practical Tips

When visiting the Dominican Republic, make sure to take the temperature into consideration. The Dominican Republic has an average temperature 28°C in the summer and 25°C in the winter. Bring cool clothing, wear adequate sunscreen, and carry water around to ensure you stay cool and hydrated.

When travelling in such a busy tourist center, make sure to take tours and only do business with reputable companies. With so many unfamiliar visitors, there are bound to be people trying to take advantage of tourists’ ignorance of the country and terrain. Doing a quick Google search of the company name may save visitors from a lot of hassles, so be sure to double check who you plan on touring with, the cabs you may take, and the places you may book to stay in.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.