Before we tell you what’s changed about vacationing in the Dominican Republic after quarantine, let’s first debunk a few myths that might be giving you unnecessary worries.
1. You’ll have to spend your whole vacation stuck at the hotel
Not true! The Dominican Republic has been open to tourists since July 1, 2020, which means every tourist spot is open too. Travelers (in groups or on their own) can freely move around town, go on excursions, take walks, and so on. The only way you’ll spend your whole vacation at the hotel is if that’s what you actually want.
2. There’s still a state of emergency in the Dominican Republic, so there must be a lot of cases
Another misconception. In reality, the pandemic touched the Dominican Republic gently, much like everything else here. Given the circumstances, the Dominican Republic acted remarkably quickly and in an organized way (yes, unusual for us, we know :) — namely, it closed its borders in time and took WHO recommendations seriously. We’ve posted some of the best results in the Caribbean — few cases, a very high recovery rate, and resort areas have had almost no infections at all! To keep these numbers up, the Dominican government decided to maintain the state of emergency and curfew until the global danger recedes.
3. If there’s a curfew, we’ll have to stay in our hotel room the whole time
This myth ties into the first one. We’ll just add that guests can still move freely via transfers run by official transport companies even once curfew begins, and can freely walk around the hotel grounds. And as a reminder, the current curfew in Punta Cana starts at 10 p.m. — by then you’ll be back from all your excursions anyway!
4. You’ll have to wear a mask the whole time
Mask requirements are indeed currently in effect in the Dominican Republic. That said, on hotel grounds, each hotel sets its own rules for masks and gloves. You’ll likely be asked to wear a mask in crowded spots and indoor areas — say, at reception or in the dining room while serving yourself from the buffet. But you certainly won’t have to sunbathe in a mask. Once you land, you’ll see that wearing a mask in the Dominican Republic is mostly a matter of your own personal comfort.
Now for the good news:
- You don’t need to test before your trip to the Dominican Republic
What? Yes! As of September 15, you no longer need to arrange and present a negative PCR test in advance — upon arrival, guests may only occasionally be asked at the airport to take a rapid breath test for coronavirus.
- The risk of infection is kept to a minimum
Hotel staff, transfer drivers, and every provider of tourism goods and services are regularly tested for coronavirus and follow a special sanitary protocol. Buses are disinfected before and after every transfer, and at the hotel, rooms, café and outdoor tables, and sun loungers are all disinfected.
What’s changed?
We keep our social distance At hotels, some tables and seats carry signs asking guests not to use them, to maintain distancing. Many excursions now send an individual transfer for guests, and even group transfers now carry fewer guests per bus, again to maintain distancing.
Some excursion programs have changed Some providers have dropped lunch from the program, and at the dolphinarium, kissing a dolphin is no longer allowed :(
We don’t wander outside the hotel on our own after 10 p.m. After that hour, curfew rules mean we can only travel via an official tourist transfer, or walk around the hotel grounds.
What’s stayed the same?
Basically, everything! It’s still just as sunny, warm, and beautiful here, mango season is starting, and the water and air temperature hover around 30°C. The Dominican Republic is still just as hospitable and friendly, and it’s waiting to welcome you with open arms!
If you need more information, feel free to ask us here: contacts
We can also help arrange an individual transfer and a local SIM card with internet.
