what to do in the caribbean: Charter a yacht - or take a daysail Golf in Jamaica, Barbados or the Cayman Islands Check out our Caribbean Calendar of events Take a Walking tour of historic Zona Colonial

Tourist Information:

In the US: Dominican Republic Dept of Tourism Dominican Consulate 1 Times Square New York, NY 10036 Tel: 212-768-2480 Dominican Republic Dept of Tourism 2355 Salzedo Avenue, Suite 305 Coral Gables, FL 33134 Tel: 305-444-4592 In Canada: Dominican Republic Dept of Tourism 1464 Crescent Street Montreal, Quebec Canada H3A 2B6 Tel: 514-933-6126

In the Dominican Republic: Secretary of Tourism Avenues Mexico and 30 de Marzo Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Tel: 809-221-4660 Tel: 800-752-1151 Tourist Information Avenue Hermanas Mirabel Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic Tel: 809-586-3676

Currency:

The official currency of the Dominican Republic is the peso (RD$). The United Nations offers exchange rate information.

These events have a tendency to change venue and date rapidly. We strongly suggest calling or writing the Tourist Board to get exact information.

• New Years Day, January 1
• Our Lady of La Altagracia, January 21
• Duarte's Birthday, January 26
• Carnival, February
• National Independence Day, February 27
• Merengue Week, Late July
• Restoration Day, August 16
• Our Lady of Las Mercedes, September 24

The official language is Spanish. Many shopkeepers and people in popular tourist spots also speak English and other languages.

The 1992 census estimated the population to be 7,515,000.

The area code is 809, followed by a seven digit local number.

Taxis:
Taxis are readily available in the streets, but fares are not preset and there are no meters. If you speak Spanish, negotiate a price before you begin. The minimum fare within Santo Domingo seems to be about $6.

Car Rentals:
Renting a car seems to be the best way to get around the Dominican Republic. The main car rental agencies are:

• Avis - 800-331-1084
• Budget - 800-527-0700
• Hertz - 800-654-3001

General:
See our car rental, airline, cruise line and tour operator listings for more information.

The average temperature is about 80 degrees, but it can range from 70 to 90 degrees depending on the time of year. Please visit our Caribbean Weather Page for the latest forecasts and weather news.

dominican republic   guide books

The Hedonist: World Travel Guide by Dr. Brett Tate (Paperback) - Usually ships in 24 hours

Lonely Planet Dominican Republic (Country Guide) by Gary Chandler, Liza Prado (Paperback) - Usually ships in 24 hours