Sunmaster.co.uk Offers Cheap Holidays to Dominican Republic

Top things to do in Dominican Republic

• Sail to the coral reefs for spectacular swimming and snorkelling on a luxurious Catamaran
  
  
• Enjoy breathtaking views across Puerto Plata and the coastline from Mount Isabella.
  
  
• Take an outback jeep safari to explore the beautiful Dominican countryside
  
  
• Visit idyllic Saona Island and swim with dolphins at Ocean World, near Puerto Plata.
  
  

Dominican Republic Information
This island is boasts to some of the most beautiful beaches on the east coasts, with their beautiful crystal clear waters gently shelving on the golden sands; you'll find it hard not to relax. There is something for everyone here whether you like to explore or just lay back and soak up the sun. If you are fond of the water then why not take a swim in the warm ocean amongst many colorful fish.

If you looking for something to take back home to remind you of this amazing place then there are several of souvenirs such as wood carvings, leather goods and vibrant paintings which you can purchase locally, also beautiful jewellery which include amber and larimar.

At night, if you're looking for something with a lively atmosphere then Playa Dorada is the place to be as it has a few casinos if you're feeling lucky! But if you're not in to any of that then there is always the bars and local hotel discos where you can dance the night away!

The Dominican Republic appeals to all ages as it has something for everyone, for the younger ones there is an unforgettable experience when swimming with dolphins at ocean world near Puerto Plata.

If you want to go for the hottest time of the year then the best time to go would be June thought to October as the temperature is just below 32 C, but if you're wanting something a bit cooler then November through to May would be the better months for you.

Beaches - Dominican Republic

The Beaches of the Dominican Republic. A special place where nature's treasures remain unspoiled and the simple joys of easy living are still easy to find.
Here, in the heard of the Caribbean, you will discover more than 1,288 km of Coast line with the most beautiful beaches of the Caribbean in all different styles. Find white sandy beaches, diving attractions and unspoiled nature all around the island.

Arts - Dominican Republic

While visiting the art galleries, you can appreciate and discover authentic native art which is not the pseudo-primitive art that abounds in other Caribbean islands but more akin to Dominican's innermost nature. The exportation of works of art is not prohibited.

Crafts - Dominican Republic

In both rural and urban areas, our people's collective artistic expression is usually manifested in the production of crafts. A variety of native crafts can be found scattered throughout the city's business areas and shopping centers.

Places of special interest are: Mercado Modelo, Plaza Criolla, El Conde Street, Las Atarazanas, and Casa de Bastidas, where a wide choice of crafts made by local artists are sold: horn, wood, leather, snail, shell, amber and larimar articles; pottery, ceramics, basketry, embroidery and locally manufactured cotton fabrics. But, don't leave the country without a typical mahogany and guano (dried leaf from a palm tree variety) rocking chair, already packed for easy shipping.

National Theater - Dominican Republic

If your stay in Santo Domingo coincides with the theater season, try to attend a performance. The Teatro Nacional is a modern building constructed in the heart of Plaza de la Cultura.

The main auditorium has capacity for 1700 persons accommodated in comfortable seats designed with an imperceptible difference in size and placed in such a way that the spectator may view the stage from any position. Its modern modulated acoustics system is capable of faithfully transmitting to the entire auditorium a whisper uttered on stage.

Enjoy Dominican and International spectacles in this fascinating theater and be part of the Dominican and International art transmitted through these modern and comfortable facilities.

Music - Dominican Republic

Dominicans have a great liking for dance. A French observer, Father Labat, who arrived in 1795 when Spain ceded the island to France by the Treaty of Basle, commented in this respect: "Dance is in Santo Domingo, the favorite passion, and I don't believe that there is a anywhere in the world a people more attracted to dance".

Here, to this day, it is customary to rock and sing lullabies to children before they fall asleep. The child grows up amidst singing games, and the practice of singing before starting school work continues. The adolescent peasant sings tunes, plenas, and cantos de hacha (axe songs) in the conuco (plot of land for cultivation). He sings while praying and when he falls in love; hence the custom of singing serenades to profess his love to his beloved. And when in the countryside a child dies, they sing the baquiní.

Of all the rhythms that enrich our folklore, the merengue is the people's expression; and, as a popular expression, it varies from generation to generation in the same measure our lifestyle changes.

We are happy people that vibrate to the rhythm of its vernacular music; and that, as the ditty from a carnival song says: "…dance in the street by day, dance in the street by night". Everyone who hears a merengue vibrates with us to the contagious rhythm of the güira, the tambora (small drum),and the accordion.

The güira is a typical Dominican instrument that consists of a grater made of latten brass in the shape of a hollow cylinder that when rubbed with a scraper, emits a buzzing rhythmic sound. Our Indian population used it in the areíto, (Indian ceremonial song and dance). They made it from the attractive fruit of the gourd, from which they extracted the pulb and then scraped it to later rhythmically rasp it with a forked stick. There are still pericos ripiaos that use this type of güira.

The perico ripiao, minimal music expression, is composed of a three man group that interprets vernacular music. The Dominican tambora owes its peculiar sound to having on one side, the skin of an old male goat, tempered with native rum, and on the other, the skin of a young female goat that has not given birth.

Month	Temp (°C)	Sunshine	Rainfall
January	29°C	8hrs	6.7cm
February	29°C	8hrs	6.5cm
March	29°C	8hrs	5.7cm
April	29°C	8hrs	6.8cm
May	30°C	7hrs	14.8cm
June	31°C	8hrs	13.5cm
July	31°C	9hrs	14.6cm
August	31°C	9hrs	19.3cm
September	31°C	8hrs	18.6cm
October	31°C	8hrs	18.3cm
November	30°C	7hrs	12.1cm
December	29°C	7hrs	8.1cm

  9:15 hrs          Dominican Republic Peso

Dominican Republic Passport and Visa Information
You will require a full 10-year British passport valid for at least 6 months after your return to the UK.

No visa required. Tourist cards must be completed on the plane before arrival.

Other Information about Dominican Republic
Departure Tax: For holidays departing before 30 Apr 2007, departure tax (approx. £11) is payable locally (including children 2 years and over). For holidays departing on or after 01 May 2007, a compulsory overseas departure tax (approx. £17) will be added at the time of booking (including children 2 years and over). You will no longer be required to pay your departure tax at check-in at your overseas airport.

NOTE: All charges, passport and visa requirements are subject to change. It is the responsibility of all guests to ensure they have the correct travel documents, we advise you to contact the appropriate consulate.

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