The Paradise Island of the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is located in the Caribbean, southeast of Cuba, on the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the country of Haiti. Hispaniola was originally named La Isla Española by Christopher Columbus. The border between the two countries was established through a series of treaties, the most recent of which was completed in 1936. The shape of the country is akin to an irregular triangle covering the eastern 2/3 of the island.

The country borders the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Mona Passage between itself and Puerto Rico. The total area of the country is approximately 48,000 square kilometers and it has the highest elevations in the Greater Antilles but still has a seawater lake below sea level. Given the height of the mountains within the Dominican Republic, in excess of 3,000 meters high, the north coast of the island is exceptionally well protected from severe weather such as hurricanes.

The geography of the Dominican Republic is incredibly diverse for an island country; everything from soaring mountains to desert to lush rain forests all within a single small country. The result of this interesting geography is a country that provides an abundant food supply to its inhabitants and has substantial mineral deposits for itself as well as for export. Even though many as people flock to the beaches, the true “magic” of the Dominican Republic is found in the center of the country where its three mountain ranges run parallel to each other. If you come, make sure you take an excursion to see the real, untouristed Dominican Republic and you’ll see why Columbus called it “paradise found.”

The climate here is considered semi-tropical offering almost perfect weather conditions throughout the year. The temperature in the summer months, from May through October, will range from 89-95°F / 31-35°C and the winter temperatures, from November through April, will be 75-90°F / 24-32°C. The hottest month of the year is August and the coolest is January. Hurricane season is June – October but the Dominican Republic, and particularly the North Coast, are spared many storms due the geography.

The government of the Dominican Republic is a duly elected Democratic government with a Cabinet and Senate. Political stability started in the mid-1960’s when the constitution was formed following the overthrow of the dictator, Rafael Trujillo. In the early 1990’s the government began a series of aggressive economic reforms that, while a difficult transition for the people, has helped turn the country into a dynamic, attractive real estate investment bonanza for tourism. To learn more about real estate in this area of the Dominican Republic, contact Playa Grande Investments.