Infos

Money/Business Guide: Getting Around: Siesta: Holidays: Currency: Tourist Ethics:

Entry Requirements

US and Canadian citizens will need a valid passport or an original birth certificate along with a valid photo-bearing official document (driver's license or voter's registration). Minors may enter with their passport or an original birth certificate. A tourist card ($10.00 U.S.) must be purchased prior to arrival to the country at select Dominican consulates, at airline counters abroad, or at the airport upon arrival. Citizens of other countries should contact their closest Dominican Consulate or with the Dominican Tourism Office.

Money/Business Guide

Government offices, as well as foreign consulates and embassies, open at 8:00 am and close at 2 pm, Monday through Friday. Some offices stay open for meetings by appointment until later in the afternoon. Businesses typically work from 9 to 5 pm, five days a week. Shops open on weekdays at 9 am and usually stay open until 7 pm. Major stores remain open on Saturdays and Sunday, some through 2 pm.

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Getting Around

Numerous forms of transportation are available to help visitors navigate around the city of Puerto Plata and explore other regions of the Dominican Republic. Small motorcycles called motoconchos are common on the city streets and, for a fee of about $5 R.D. ($10 R.D. at night), will take visitors to the destination of their choice - hold on tight! Taxis are also another alternative, albeit much more expensive. For visitors travelling between Puerto Plata and Sosua, public cars (publicos) and mini-van buses (guaguas) are available throughout the day for about $15 R.D. For those who wish to visit Santiago and Santo Domingo (about 1 hour and 4 hours, respectively) the Metro Tour Company features a fleet of large, comfortable, buses.

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Siesta

The Latin tradition of a long lunch, which is the major meal of the day, is generally observed, and many shops and businesses still close from 12:30 to 2:30 pm.

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Holidays

Stores, banks, and most businesses close on:

January 1	New Year's Day
January 21	Our Lady of Altagracia Day
February 27	Independence Day
September 24	Our Lady of Mercedes Day
December 25	Christmas Day

The following holidays will be celebrated on the closest Monday to the actual date:

January 6	Epiphany
January 26	Juan Pablo Duarte's Birthday
May 1	Labour Day
August 16	Dominican Restoration Day
November 6	Constitution Day

Please note that "Good Friday" and "Corpus Christi Day" do not have fixed dates.

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Currency

Foreign currency can be changed into Dominican pesos at exchange booths at airports, major hotels, commercial banks, or local "cambios." Banking hours are 8:30 to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. Some banking branches remain open through 9 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Airport booths remain open to service all incoming flights, up to 24 hours if necessary. Travellers checks and major credit cards are widely accepted. Cash advances are available at some commercial banks.

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Tourist Ethics

In addition to being a tourist in a foreign country, travelers may unwittingly serve as an ambassador to his or her homeland. Longstanding attitudes and judgments about your country may be formed based upon your behavior in the Dominican Republic - thus it is of the utmost importance that tourists conduct themselves in a manner which will not negatively affect those around them or future travelers from their homeland. Printed below is the North American Center for Responsible Tourism's code of ethics for tourists.

Travel with a spirit of humility and a genuine desire to meet and talk with local people.

Be aware of the feelings of others. Act respectfully and avoid offensive behavior, particularly when taking photographs.

Cultivate the habit of active listening and observing rather than merely hearing and seeing. Avoid the temptation to "know all the answers."

Realize that others may have concepts of time and attitudes which are different - not inferior - to those you inherited from your own culture.

Instead of looking only for the exotic, discover the richness of another culture and way of life.

Learn local customs and respect them.

Remember that you are only one of many visitors. Do not expect special privileges or treatment.

When bargaining with merchants, remember that the poorest one may give up a profit rather than his or her personal dignity. Don't take advantage of the desperately poor. Pay a fair price.

Keep your promises to people you meet. If you cannot, do not make the promise.

Spend time each day reflecting on your experiences in order deepen your understanding. Is your enrichment beneficial for all involved?

Be aware of why you are travelling in the first place. If you truly want a "home away from home," why travel?

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Dominican Tourism Office