The Guide to Backpacking in the Dominican Republic

If you decide to go backpacking in the Dominican Republic, you may have a slightly different experience than in other, more backpacker-friendly countries. This guide will tell you where to go as a backpacker or solo traveler, safety rules, and basically everything you need to know about backpacking in the Dominican Republic.

Quick facts about the Dominican Republic



Why you should go backpacking in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country, and not just in Punta Cana! It’s easy to reach from many different destinations, and comparatively fairly small, so you can really see a lot of the country in a short amount of time! It’s also very cheap and full of other young people. The terrain is vast, so there’s something to see in all corners of the island.

Although it may not seem like a big backpacker place, I had a lot of fun and met so many people during my trip!

Is it safe to backpack in the Dominican Republic?

Fairly so, yes! Once you leave the resorts it’s a little different, but if you keep in mind basic precautions you should be fine. It really depends on the city though.

In Santo Domingo, you really shouldn’t be walking around outside of the Colonial Zone, especially if you’re a female. However, Ubers and motoconchos (motorbike taxis) are very common and very cheap! In other cities, it’s perfectly fine to walk around.

As in other places, always keep a careful eye on your valuables and avoid sketchy areas.

Is it safe for a female to travel solo in the Dominican Republic?

I mean, I did it. I met many other females doing the same. I didn’t tell people that I was alone, and the few that I did were completely shocked. It’s definitely feasible!

You should keep in mind though that there will be a lot of catcalling. A LOT. Try not to walk alone at night if you can.

How much money do you need to backpack the Dominican Republic?

I would definitely say that the Dominican Republic is fairly cheap, although maybe not as much as other Latin American countries. You can usually find a hostel for around $20 USD a night, and eating street food will be the absolute cheapest way to eat. The street food is great too! If you stay in resorts or eat out in a lot of nice restaurants, of course your experience will be very different.

Where are the best places for backpackers in the Dominican Republic?

When I went, a lot of my fellow backpackers were doing the same route. This turned out great because you can decide to take a bus or rent a car together, and when you entered a hostel you already knew some people! There are many places to see in the Dominican Republic, but not all of them may be best when backpacking in the Dominican Republic. Some of the best destinations for backpackers in the Dominican Republic are:

Punta Cana

To begin with, Punta Cana is debatable. Reason being is that Punta Cana is filled with resorts and doesn’t have a very reputable hostel at the moment. When I arrived in Punta Cana I was surprised to find that there really isn’t even a town. There’s the local part of the city which has a town of course, but the beach side is just resort after resort. Sometimes it’s difficult to even access the beach because you have to find a pathway in between hotels.

Most backpackers advise you to skip Punta Cana, but it’s up to you! I flew in and out there so it was easiest to stay, and it was an opportunity to go to the beach! However, there are beach towns that in my opinion are way nicer, so I highly recommend those over Punta Cana.

Things to do in Punta Cana

The nice thing about Punta Cana is there are so many excursions! You can go diving, snorkeling, jetskiing, whatever! My favorite activity was the Isla Saona tour.

You can do this tour from Santo Domingo as well, but it’s easiest from Punta Cana. I highly recommend because I think it was one of the best days of my entire trip! You can read more about my Saona Island experience.

There is a wide variety of excursions from Punta Cana, so there really is something for everyone!

Where to stay in Punta Cana

I stayed at a hostel in Punta Cana but honestly, I wouldn’t really recommend it. Instead, I think Airbnb is the way to go unless you are staying at a resort!

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo is the capital and is a huge glimpse into the real Dominican culture. There are quite a few things to do, and great nightlife! Santo Domingo is vastly different from the resorts at Punta Cana. It’s a very poor city, but the coolest part for me was seeing all the colonial buildings still standing even today.

Things to do in Santo Domingo

You can spend your time visiting the various museums and monuments of history, take a day trip to the beach, wander around the old town, or do a rum tasting tour! The rum tour is definitely something that I wish I would have done, as they walk you through the history of the liquor and include some tastings! I also really wanted to do a chocolate tour, and there are some where they take you to a cacao plantation for chocolate tasting!

Where to stay in Santo Domingo

Island Life Hostel – Luckily, Santo Domingo is home to the highest rated hostel in the Dominican Republic! There may not be as much of a backpacker culture in Dominican Republic, but Island Life makes up for it.

Las Terrenas

Las Terrenas is a cute little beach town where French expats and backpackers come to enjoy life with the locals and bask in the sun.

Things to do in Las Terrenas

The main thing to do in Las Terrenas of course is to go to the beach! There are lots of cute restaurants and beach clubs scattered throughout. Many people rent a car or an ATV, so that they can see some of the less touristy beaches around the area. You can also take a day and visit the El Limon waterfalls, which are located fairly deep in the Dominican jungle.

Where to stay in Las Terrenas

Manty’s Guesthouse – Manty is a lovely, Dominican woman who opens her home to backpackers. She provides comfortable accommodation, a warm welcome, and cooks homemade Dominican food for her guests. Hands down the best place to stay.

Cabarete

Things to do in Cabarete

Cabarete is a hub for water sports, especially kitesurfing! Visit Kite Beach to spend some time on the waves, spend some evenings enjoying the great nightlife, or have a more relaxing vacation in this small but cute town.

Where to stay in Cabarete

Cabarete Surf Camp is a hostel and surf camp in one! Look no further if you’re wanting to meet people, surfer or non-surfer!

What is the public transport like in Dominican Republic?

For the most part, the Dominican Republic is well connected and easily accessible. There are scheduled buses that stop by most major cities, and I never felt unsafe while on the bus. To visit Las Terrenas and Cabarete though, you may need to do a connection in Santo Domingo or in other cities. However, I had to go from Las Terrenas to Punta Cana and even with a connection in Santo Domingo, the journey was seamless. Just be sure to plan a bit of time in advance.

The western side of the island though, is less and less connected. If you decide to visit some of the world class beaches in that part, it may be better to rent a car.

What is the best month to visit the Dominican Republic?

Luckily, the Dominican Republic stays warm all year round! Since it’s warm all year though, it may be better to NOT visit in the summer, as that will be the hottest time in the year. June to October also tend to be more of a rainy season, so you may run into quite a bit of humidity, thus making it even more hot.

I was there in January and had an amazing time with limited rainfall! The best time would probably be December to April.

Although not always the first destination thought of, backpacking in the Dominican Republic is actually great and pretty common, depending if you know where to go!