- Let's take a look at the map
- How New Year is celebrated in the Dominican Republic
- Useful information for travelers
Caribbean resorts, despite their geographical remoteness from Russia, are very popular with compatriots when they want to fly away from winter to summer. Therefore, it is not surprising that a Russian tourist flies much more willingly to celebrate the New Year in the Dominican Republic than to Finland or Norway: there is enough winter and cold weather at home, and to bask in the hot sun and bring a bronze tan in the middle of January as the best New Year's gift is possible only from the tropics. …
The only disadvantage of resting on the islands of the Caribbean Sea, according to tradition, is the duration and cost of flights, but with a competent approach to travel planning, these inconveniences can be minimized.
Let's take a look at the map
The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern half of the island of Haiti, which was once named by Christopher Columbus Hispaniola in honor of his homeland left for many years. The island lies in a tropical climate zone and the formation of the weather here is entirely dependent on the ocean and trade winds:
- In winter, the air temperature on the beaches of the Dominican Republic is usually + 26 ° С during the day and + 23 ° С at night. The water warms up in January to + 25 ° С and you can swim in the sea even on New Year's Eve.
- Precipitation for the winter period is not typical, but even if it rains, at this time of the year it falls in the form of short night showers.
- The absence of strong winds and rough seas in winter allows the water to remain transparent. This circumstance is used by divers, for whom the New Year in the Dominican Republic is, first of all, diving into one of the most beautiful underwater worlds on the planet.
Surfers also prefer the beaches of the Dominican Republic during the winter. On the northern coast of the island, washed by the Atlantic Ocean, waves can reach five meters in height from November to February. It is during the New Year holidays on the northern beaches of the Dominican Republic in the resort of Cabarete that competitions of various levels are held. If you are a beginner and just decided to master windsurfing, use the services of Russian-speaking instructors at the school in the town of Rio San Juan on the northern coast of the island.
Weather forecast for the resorts of the Dominican Republic in January
How New Year is celebrated in the Dominican Republic
The Spaniards, who discovered the island and stayed on it over the next few centuries, brought many of their own traditions and customs into the life of the indigenous population. The celebration of Christmas and New Year has firmly taken its place in the list of the most favorite events in the life of the inhabitants of the Dominican Republic.
Preparations for the New Year begins long before its onset. Christmas trees are the first signs of the upcoming holidays. They are played by artificial Christmas trees and living palms. Both are decorated with many lanterns and colored bulbs, seashells, corals and tropical flowers.
On the evening of December 31, the Dominican housewives set the tables. The New Year's menu certainly includes fried pork, Creole dishes made from beans and rice, bananas of all kinds and, of course, rum. The national drink of the Dominican Republic flows like a river for the New Year, and all fifteen of its varieties are very popular these days both among tourists and locals.
At the New Year's table, it is customary to follow special customs that came to the Caribbean island from Spain. For example, at the moment the clock strikes, all the inhabitants of the Dominican Republic begin to eat grapes quickly. A dozen berries and as many made wishes are the goal of the Dominican. If you manage to do everything right while the clock is counting down the last seconds of the old year, life in the new one will be full, and all your plans will come true.
Travel lovers try to get around on New Year's Eve as many houses and neighborhoods as possible, carrying a suitcase in their hand. This is considered by the Dominicans to be a surefire way to attract tourist luck. Those who dream of a career takeoff put on a brown suit or dress on the evening of December 31, and those who want to find their love - red underwear.
Useful information for travelers
You can get to the beaches of the Dominican Republic both on charter flights as part of tour packages purchased from travel agencies, and on regular flights of several airlines:
- Regular direct flights to the Dominican resort of Punta Cana are operated by Rossiya Airlines. The travel time is about 12 hours, the boards take off from the Moscow Vnukovo airport, but the cost of tickets looks not at all humane - from 2,000 euros in both directions.
- Several airlines will help you get to the capital of the country, Santo Domingo, but with many connections. For 850 euros, you will fly on board Air France, but at the same time you are guaranteed to have to: make two transfers - in Paris and on the Martinique island, spend 17 hours in the air and change the Charles de Gaulle airport to Orly in the French capital. To do this, you will need to have an open Schengen passport in your passport.
- Single-dock options include flights across the States. On board Aeroflot, you can get to New York, where you can change to a local airline and get to the Dominican Republic. This method of transfer looks the cheapest - from 700 euros in both directions, but even for a transit connection, you will need a US visa, since there are no transit zones at the airports of this country.
<! - AV1 Code Flights to the Dominican Republic can be inexpensive and comfortable. Book flights at the best price: Find Flights to Dominican Republic <! - AV1 Code End
Shopping takes up a considerable part of the time spent in the Dominican Republic, because on New Year's Eve the time for discounts and sales begins here, and there is something to bring from the Caribbean island! The best prices and big discounts can be found in the shopping centers of the capital of the country, but in the resorts the cost of souvenirs, cigars, rum and ceramics is usually greatly overpriced.
What to bring from the Dominican Republic
In mid-January, the migration season for humpback whales begins in the waters off the island. If you can stay in the Dominican Republic for a couple of weeks after the New Year's celebrations, you will have a unique opportunity to see the ocean giants and take great pictures in memory of a wonderful trip.
