What the Dominican Republic Is Known For

Dominican Republic: Highlights

Tourism

Beaches, clear waters, rainforests, historic sites. Top Caribbean destination.

History

First New World Spanish colony (1492). Taino indigenous heritage. Independence 1821/1844.

Culture

African-European-Taino blend. Music: merengue, bachata, salsa. Stars: Juan Luis Guerra, Romeo Santos.

Economy

Tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, growing tech. CARICOM & CACM member.

Geography

Hispaniola (shared with Haiti). Pico Duarte (3,087 m)—Caribbean's highest peak.

People

~10.5M. Majority African descent. Spanish official; English/French spoken.

Sports

Baseball passion. MLB stars: Ortiz, Pedro Martínez, Sosa, Tatis Jr., many more.

Food/Drink

Sancocho, la Bandera, mangú. Rum is national drink.

Festivals

Carnival, Merengue Festival, Bachata Festival.