Puerto Rico feels very “Americanized” to us, and its beaches are not even close to Punta Cana’s in terms of beauty. Travel is made simpler and there is more to see in PR, which is an advantage. To get outside and see the area on a PC, there are a number of organized tours available. Snorkeling is not very good on PC.
I’m not sure if snorkeling is any better in PR because we didn’t go there. Although the food in the Dominican Republic won’t be as good as in the US, you will still have some good meals there (depending on where you stay). The Dominican Republic has a much stronger tropical Caribbean vibe. It completely alters everything. tough decision although.
Table of Contents
- What are the unique things to do in the Dominican republic?
- What are the unique things to do in Puerto Rico?
- The comparison of the Dominican Republic Vs Puerto Rico.
- Conclusion.
What are the unique things to do in the Dominican republic?
The Caribbean country of the Dominican Republic is located to the west of Haiti on the island of Hispaniola. It is renowned for its golfing, resorts, and beaches. Its landscape consists of hills, grasslands, and rainforests, including Pico Duarte, the tallest mountain in the Caribbean.
The Gothic Catedral Primada de America in Santo Domingo’s Zona Colonial area is a five-century-old Spanish landmark.
Hike La Plaza.
This breathtaking journey leads you past multiple limestone rock-surrounded, glistening blue lakes in the midst of a jungle. La Plaza and La Cueva, the two segments of the trip, are both quite worthwhile and contain a number of treasures. It is an unpaved, difficult hike because the area is uninhabited.
Punta Cana
Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic’s top vacation spot, is located where an unending stretch of gorgeous white sand beach meets the emerald waters of the Caribbean.
This is the finest area to visit in the Dominican Republic if you’re searching for opulent all-inclusive resorts, a romantic getaway, or family-friendly lodging with an endless variety of water-based entertainment options.
Zona Colonial
The neighborhood of Santo Domingo known as Zona Colonial, Ciudad Colonial, or The Zone is the location of numerous important historical sites.
Some of the landmarks in this significant area of the Dominican capital date back to the late 15th century, when Bartholomew Columbus, Christopher Columbus’ younger brother, established the first town on the east bank of the Ozama River.
Salto Alto
There are numerous breathtaking waterfalls in the Dominican Republic. The Salto Alto is possibly the most picturesque, despite not being the tallest or most dramatic. Additionally, because it is the closest to the capital, Santo Domingo can make a day trip there.
Take a dip in the vast lagoon below the triple cascades, which is surrounded by jungle. Make a day of it by hiring a guide, and ask to stop at a genuine inland eatery on the way back to your hotel.
Waterfalls.
Swimming in waterfalls is one of the most enjoyable activities you can do in the Dominican Republic. There are a ton because this lush nation is covered in jungles and rainforests.
Waterfalls like Salto Socoa, La Rejoya, Salto El Limon, Salto de la Jalda, Saltos de Jima, and others are among the most well-known in the nation.
Nevertheless, visiting the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua is the most well-liked and thrilling waterfall excursion. This group of waterfalls is ideal for swimming, hiking, and taking pictures.
Los Patos
Visit the stunning Los Patos Beach and River while passing through Barahona for a lunch of fresh seafood.
My preferred location is Kathy’s Restaurant, which is located near the beach and in a more private area. Her restaurant, a long-standing woman-owned small business, offers delectable cuisine from a spotless kitchen.
Puerto Plata & Playa Dorada
One of the Dominican Republic’s main tourist attractions is Puerto Plata, a resort town on the north coast that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the lovely Playa Dorada beach.
Luxury resorts line this stretch of beach with golden sand, though they are much less closely spaced than those in Punta Cana.
Is there a lot to do in the Dominican Republic?
Putting aside beaches and historic streets adorned with UNESCO markers, could it be that images of lush forests, sparkling waterfalls, and imposing mountains immediately come to mind? The Dominican Republic is, in fact, all of these things and much more.
What can you not bring to the Dominican Republic?
Animal, horticultural, and agricultural products as well as illegal drugs are prohibited. You should bring your prescription medication in its original container if you intend to use it for personal use.
What are the unique things to do in Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico is an unincorporated U.S. territory in the Caribbean with a landscape that includes mountains, waterfalls, and the tropical El Yunque rainforest.
The Isla Verde neighborhood in San Juan, the country’s capital and largest city, is well-known for its hotel strip, beach bars, and casinos.
Colorful Spanish colonial buildings and the enormous, centuries-old fortresses El Morro and La Fortaleza can be found in the city’s Old San Juan neighborhood.
Live Boricua!
Living the Boricua way entails heeding the call of exploration and discovering joy wherever you are. Dare to enjoy every moment in Puerto Rico, whether you’re swimming in a crystal-clear waterfall, lounging on a tropical beach, munching on a crunchy alcapurria, or dancing salsa in the street.
Flamenco Beach
Nobody takes a plane to Puerto Rico to visit the island’s cool government buildings. You seek outdoor recreation. Flamenco Beach will surpass your expectations, which is good news.
Along with having white sand and horizon-shimmering blue water, it also has restrooms, lifeguards, food stands, volleyball nets, and tourist information centers where you can rent equipment for activities like snorkeling and scuba diving.
Puerto Rico is a tropical paradise where you can pretty much have any kind of vacation you want.
Mosquito bay.
Although it might not seem like much, this south Vieques beach is one of visitors’ top Puerto Rican experiences.
Bioluminescent Mosquito Bay is your stereotypical Caribbean hideaway by day, but at night, the organisms known as dinoflagellates that inhabit the area give off a blue glow in the water.
Each gallon of bay water contains more than 600,000 bioluminescent dinoflagellates, and recent visitors have been astounded by how much visibility these tiny organisms offer.
Old San Juan
One of the top tourist destinations in Puerto Rico is Old San Juan. The vibrant colonial homes, old forts, cobblestone streets, and Spanish-style structures transport visitors back 500 years in time. Walking these streets is a must-do experience, whether you decide to stay in Old San Juan or somewhere else in the city.
EL MORRO
To safeguard their civilization, the Spanish constructed a sizable wall enclosing the colony on three sides and several forts. Both El Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Fort Cristobal are still standing and accessible to the public today.
While taking in breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, you can explore the various rooms in the forts, guerites, and sentry boxes.
The comparison of the Dominican Republic Vs Puerto Rico.
Place | Dominican Republic | Puerto Rico |
---|---|---|
Best time to visit. | The best time of year to travel to the Dominican Republic is between the months of December and April for the best weather. This is the period of time when it is less humid and rainier than June through October. Since there are fewer mosquitoes as a result, your vacation will likely feel much more comfortable. | The best months to visit Puerto Rico are between December and April because of the mild temperatures, deserted beaches from locals, and local festivals, but this is also the busiest travel period for visitors. |
The overall cost | Without rent, a family of four is estimated to spend $2,028 per month (108,315 RD$). Without rent, the estimated monthly expenses for a single person are 568$ (30,358RD$). In comparison to the United States, the Dominican Republic has a 39.81% lower average cost of living. | Without rent, the estimated monthly expenses for a family of four are $3,180. Without rent, a single person’s estimated monthly expenses are 916 dollars. Puerto Rico’s cost of living is, on average, 8.84% less expensive than that of the United States. |
Languages | Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic, and it is spoken in a manner similar to that of the West Indies. African influences, foreign words primarily from US English, and neologisms that collide with archaisms still used in old Spanish can all be found in its lexicon. | The two most common languages in Puerto Rico, a US territory with a 99% literacy rate, are English and Spanish. The languages that were spoken in Puerto Rico prior to Spanish occupation were Taino-derived. |
How many days do you need? | The majority of the Dominican Republic’s diverse regions can be comfortably explored in 10 to 14 days by fortunate visitors who have the time to visit the best colonial cities, Tano archaeological sites, and even the mist-shrouded Cordillera Central. | In general, visitors to Puerto Rico need between 7 and 10 days to see the island’s top attractions, but longer stays, like two weeks, are preferable to see the island’s coast, central region, neighboring islands, and cays. |
The overall weather | The Dominican Republic has a tropical climate with all-year-round warm and muggy weather typical of the Tropics. During the cooler months of June to August and September to November, seasonal mean temperatures range from 20 to 25 °C to 25 to 27 °C. | In the lower elevations, temperatures range from 70 to 90 °F (21 to 32 °C), while higher elevations in the island’s center experience year-round temperatures between 61 and 80 °F (16 and 27 °C). |
Safety | There is broad agreement among many nations that it is safe to travel to the Dominican Republic. However, because of the high levels of crime on the island, it is advised to be even more cautious. | Due to its lower crime rate than many other American states, Puerto Rico is a relatively safe destination for tourists. One of the safest Caribbean islands is this one. Drug trafficking and gang activity are major factors in Puerto Rico’s violent gun crime, which rarely affects tourists. |
Nightlife | There are discos for every taste, but you don’t even need to leave your hotel to enjoy a party or a dance because the all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic put on shows and offer the chance to dance for hours on end. | Even on the beach or in the street, there’s always a party going on in Puerto Rico! In Puerto Rico, there are many different types of nightlife, from hopping hotel nightclubs to low-key beach bars to roadside chinchorros (food stands) that turn into energetic dance parties at night. |
Transportation | The bus system in the Dominican Republic is fairly dependable, and the majority of these public transportation vehicles are comfortable. Most of the island’s major cities have bus terminals and stops, and the fare is typically reasonable. | Public buses are a widely used mode of transportation in Puerto Rico. These roomy vans provide set rates and designated pickup locations at airports and other busy locations. |
Most interesting thing | The only nation in the world with a Bible on its flag is the Dominican Republic. Islands near the Dominican Republic served as bases of operations for buccaneers who attacked Spanish trading ships in the 17th century. The sole cable-car network in the Caribbean is found in Puerto Plata. | Despite being an American territory, Puerto Rico participates in the Olympics and Miss Universe competitions as a separate nation. Culebra’s Flamenco beach has repeatedly been named as one of the Top 10 Beaches in the world. Puerto Rico is where the pia colada was created. |
Conclusion.
I’ve visited a resort in the Dominican Republic, but I haven’t gone to PR yet. I think you’ll discover that despite PR being the US, the Dominican Republic is a third-world nation. The water is unsafe to drink, many people get sick, and there are no Wal-Marts to buy groceries.
The place was lovely, and we stayed there. I would return, but only for a beach holiday and not to experience all that Puerto Rico has to offer. Although I’m sure there are adventures to be had in the Dominican Republic, just getting to the resort from the airport was exciting enough.
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