Furthermore, we analyzed all climate data and provide a recommendation about which months are best to visit Dominican Republic for your holiday.
Climate Overview
19 °C to 33 °C
26 °C to 29 °C
2.13 – 10.12 in (6 – 19 Days of Rain)Average Annual Temperature is between 25.9 °C (Santo Domingo) and 26.3 °C (Punta Cana)
Show temperatures in degree
Geographical location
Table of Contents
The Dominican Republic is one of the most popular destinations in the entire Caribbean and is commonly abbreviated as “DomRep”.
Together with the state of Haiti, the Dominican Republic lies on the Antilles island of Hispaniola, they share a border of more than 240 miles in the centre of the island.
The Dominican Republic lies between the largest Caribbean island Cuba and the US outer region Puerto Rico. Strictly speaking, the “DomRep” is not located directly in the Caribbean, but directly between the Caribbean (south coast) and the Atlantic (north coast).
The Dominican Republic in the Greater Antilles has about 10.6 million inhabitants, capital is Santo Domingo. The island state now has six international airports, not least because of its tourist significance.
To make a basic distinction between the places and regions in the Dominican Republic, we would like to give the following, very superficial observation as a rough orientation:
In Puerto Plata you will find very large hotel complexes close together, the sandy beach is mainly golden-yellowish to beige. Around Punta Cana you will also find large resorts with many holidaymakers close together, the beach is bright and rather whitish.
Around Bayahibe further large all-inclusive facilities are located quite close together, the rocky coast was artificially filled up here with light sand. In Samana, on the other hand, there are very few tourists, the hotel resorts are much smaller and widely spread, the beach is lined with palm trees and, like Puerto Plata, has golden-yellowish sand.
Climate in Dominican Republic
Weather in the Dominican Republic is largely typical of the tropical climate in the Caribbean, but there are regional differences. The south and east of the country (Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Bavaro, La Romana) is drier than the north (Puerto Plata) and slightly hotter during the year.
The water temperatures of the Caribbean are also slightly above the Atlantic Ocean. Nevertheless, all regions of the Dominican Republic are very suitable as holiday regions, but the year-round warm climate is influenced by tropical hurricanes and a regular rainy season.
Best Time to Visit Dominican Republic: Overview
JanuaryJan Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in the Dom. Rep. | FebruaryFeb Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in the Dom. Rep. | MarchMar Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in the Dom. Rep. | AprilApr Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in the Dom. Rep. | MayMay Beginning of Rainy SeasonRainy Season up to 7.4 in of rainof rain | JuneJun Rainy SeasonRainy Season risk of Hurricanerisk of Hurricane |
JulyJul Rainy SeasonRainy Season risk of Hurricanerisk of Hurricane | AugustAug Rainy SeasonRainy Season risk of Hurricanerisk of Hurricane | SeptemberSep Rainy SeasonRainy Season higher risk of Hurricanehigher risk of Hurricane | OctoberOct Rainy SeasonRainy Season higher risk of Hurricanehigher risk of Hurricane | NovemberNov Best time to traveltime mostly perfect Mostly perf. climate in the Dom. Rep. | DecemberDec Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in the Dom. Rep. |
When to travel to the Dominican Republic?
The most risky travel season for a Dom Rep holiday is the months of July to October, especially September and October are considered the peak of the rainy season and hurricane season. Of course there are enormous fluctuations here, sometimes the region will be hit harder, next year almost not at all. We ourselves have been to the Caribbean several times during the so-called “rainy season” and had fantastic weather except for a few days.
The low season offers as well as relatively empty beaches and sights are a strong argument to deal with the Dominican Republic also outside the optimal travel time.
Basically, it usually rains in short heavy downpours in the afternoon, shortly afterwards the sun comes out again. However, in view of the possible risks, we recommend December to April as the absolute best time to travel to popular destinations such as Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. Here you play it safe to ensure that your Caribbean holiday does not fall into the water.
Best Time to Visit the Regions
Find the best time to visit the regions (Dominican Republic) in the following overview.| Location | Best Time to Travel |
|---|---|
| Punta Cana | January, February, March, April, November, and December |
| Santo Domingo | January, February, March, April, November, and December |
| Samaná | January, February, March, April, and June |
Climate Charts Dominican Republic
In the following, you will find climate charts for the regions.
Furthermore, there are some charts you can use for quick comparison of climate between the regions.
Show Climate Chart for
Punta Cana
Show temperatures in degree
Source of Data: German Weather Service (Offenbach) and Wikipedia
Climate Tables Dominican Republic
In the following, you will find some climate tables for Dominican Republic, containing information about Temperatures, Precipitation, Water Temperatures, and Hours of Sunshine.Show climate table for
Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 28° | 28° | 28° | 29° | 30° | 30° | 31° | 31° | 31° | 31° | 29° | 28° |
| Night Temperature | 22° | 22° | 22° | 23° | 23° | 24° | 25° | 25° | 24° | 24° | 23° | 22° |
| Water Temperature | 26° | 26° | 26° | 27° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 27° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 2.6 | 2.13 | 2.13 | 2.72 | 4.88 | 4.09 | 3.07 | 4.06 | 4.02 | 5.98 | 4.61 | 3.11 |
| Rainy days | 9 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Punta Cana is 26.3 °C.For comparison: London 11 °C, NYC 12 °C, LA 17.9 °C
Warmest month: August (27.8 °C)
Coldest month: February (24.7 °C)
The maximum water temperature in Punta Cana is 29 °C. You can take a bath at these temperatures.
Months with water temperature of at least 21 °C (adequate for beach vacation):
all months
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 43.39 inch on 110 rainy daysFor comparison: London 24.06 in, NYC 41.57 in, LA 12.01 in
There is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
You cannot expect snow in any month in Punta Cana.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, March is the sunniest month with an average of 9 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 8.4 hours of sunshine per day on average. For comparison: London has 4.1, NYC has 7 and LA has 8.9 hours of sunshine per day on average.Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 29° | 29° | 30° | 30° | 30° | 31° | 31° | 32° | 31° | 31° | 31° | 30° |
| Night Temperature | 20° | 20° | 20° | 21° | 22° | 23° | 23° | 23° | 23° | 22° | 21° | 20° |
| Water Temperature | 27° | 26° | 26° | 27° | 27° | 27° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 28° | 27° | 27° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 2.48 | 2.24 | 2.13 | 2.83 | 7.4 | 5.51 | 5.71 | 6.97 | 7.13 | 7.36 | 3.94 | 3.31 |
| Rainy days | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 9 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature in Santo Domingo is 25.9 °C.Warmest month: August (27.1 °C)
Coldest month: January (24.4 °C)
The maximum water temperature in Santo Domingo is 28 °C. You can take a bath at these temperatures.
Months with water temperature of at least 21 °C (adequate for beach vacation):
all months
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 57.01 inch on 112 rainy daysRainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation): May, August, September, and October
Overall precipitation in the rainy season: 28.86 in
You cannot expect snow in any month in Santo Domingo.
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, April is the sunniest month with an average of 8.4 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 7.6 hours of sunshine per day on average.Highlights, excursions, sightseeing
The Dominican Republic is generally a classic beach holiday destination, yet the various regions of the country have numerous attractions to offer. Day trips to Saona Island are particularly popular, usually by catamaran or speedboat including swimming stops on a sandbank. Cayo Levantado, known as Bacardi Island, is also one of the most beautiful corners of the Caribbean.
The artists’ village Altos de Chavón offers a beautiful amphitheatre and a picturesque church above the river bank. Several places offer mega truck tours off the beaten track into the hinterland, often combined with ziplining and waterfalls such as Damajaqua Cascades or the Salto de Limon.
The two natural paradises Hoyo Azul and the 3 Eyes National Park are also exceptionally beautiful. Our beach recommendations in the Dominican Republic: Cabarete Beach, Paradise Island, Playa Bonita, Macao Beach and of course the classic Bavaro Beach.
More information about the best things to do: Dominican Republic
Popular Activities
Punta Cana: Catamaran Boat to Saona Island with Buffet Lunch
Tours
from 75 $ »
Visit Isla Saona, currently the most popular excursion offered in the Dominican Republic. Explore this quintessential tropical beach with swaying palm trees, bone-white sand, and lapping turquoise waters.
Punta Cana: Saona Island and Altos de Chavón Day Trip
Tours
from 77 $ »
Embark on a guided tour of Saona Island. Relax on the beach and enjoy a buffet lunch. Learn about the Dominican Republic and admire the artisanal handcrafts at the replica village of Altos de Chavón.
Punta Cana: Monkey Land Half-Day Safari
Tours
from 89 $ »
Take a guided tour that allows you to interact in close proximity with beautiful and friendly squirrel monkeys at Monkeyland, and visit a typical Dominican house where you will learn more about the country’s culture and way of living.
More attractions
Punta Cana: Private Airport Transfer Service | Punta Cana: Saona Island and Buggy Combo | Punta Cana: Zip-Lining 12 Cables | Flintstones Buggy, Cave and Adventure in Bavaro | Punta Cana: Coco Bongo Nightclub Experience with Transfer | Punta Cana: Dolphin Explorer Swims and Interactions | Punta Cana: Ziplines Adventures & Monkeyland Entry |Current Weather and Forecast
Current Weather in Santo Domingo (Station Nacional)
scattered clouds, 28.1 °CClouds: 40 % Wind: 9 mph NO
Air Pressure: 1020 hPa Humidity: 72 %
Air Pressure: 1020 hPa Humidity: 72 %
Last updated: 7th Feb 2023, 04:56 pm
The next days …
| 8th Feb 2023 | 9th Feb 2023 | 10th Feb 2023 | 11th Feb 2023 | 12th Feb 2023 | 13th Feb 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 20 °C to 28 °C |  20 °C to 30 °C | 20 °C to 28 °C | 20 °C to 29 °C | 20 °C to 27 °C | 20 °C to 29 °C |
| 20 °C to 28 °C | 20 °C to 30 °C | 20 °C to 28 °C | 20 °C to 29 °C | 20 °C to 27 °C | 20 °C to 29 °C |
| Clouds: 17 % | Clouds: 3 % | Clouds: 17 % | Clouds: 4 % | Clouds: 1 % | Clouds: 15 % |
| 0.22 in of rain | No Precipitation | 0.17 in of rain | 0.02 in of rain | 0.15 in of rain | 0.03 in of rain |
Weather information provided by OpenWeatherMap. (CC BY-SA)
Show temperatures in degree
Important Regions and Cities
We have extended climate information for the following regions:Punta Cana | Samaná |
Caribbean: Regions
Dominican Republic is part of the holiday destination Caribbean. We analyzed the climate for additional regions, in order to provide you with information about the best time to visit and the expected holiday weather:Caribbean | Aruba | Curaçao | Bonaire | Trinidad and Tobago | Grenada | St. Vincent and The Grenadines | Barbados | St. Lucia | Martinique | Dominica | Guadeloupe | Montserrat | Antigua and Barbuda | Saint Kitts and Nevis | Sint Eustatius | Saba | Sint Maarten | Saint-Barthélemy | Anguilla | British Virgin Islands | United States Virgin Islands | Puerto Rico | Haiti | Turks and Caicos Islands | Jamaica | Cuba | Bahamas | Cayman Islands |
Hottest Month
August: 33 °C
Day Temperature in Samaná
August: 33 °CDay Temperature in Samaná
Coldest Month
January: 19 °C
Night Temperature in Samaná
January: 19 °CNight Temperature in Samaná
Rainiest Month
November: 10.13 in
Rain in Samaná
November: 10.13 inRain in Samaná
Driest Month
February: 2.13 in
Rain in Punta Cana
February: 2.13 inRain in Punta Cana
Maximum Water Temperature
September: 29 °C
Water Temperature in Punta Cana
September: 29 °CWater Temperature in Punta Cana
Sunniest Month
March: 9 hours/day
Sunshine in Punta Cana
March: 9 hours/daySunshine in Punta Cana
Activities and Attractions
Punta Cana: Catamaran Cruise and Snorkeling
Tours
from 59 $ »
Punta Cana: Catamaran Tour with Hotel Pickup and Drop-Off
Tours
from 89 $ »
Punta Cana: Hoyo Azul and Scape Park Cap Cana Full-Day Trip
Bus & Minivan Tours
from 129 $ »
Distances to Dominican Republic
| London | New York | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punta Cana | 4290 mi | 1570 mi | 3240 mi |
| Santo Domingo | 4370 mi | 1560 mi | 3160 mi |
Where’s Dominican Republic?
Show Punta Cana on MapShow Santo Domingo on Map
Continent: North America
All Holiday Destinations in North AmericaShare your Experience and Win
We want to know: how was the weather during your Dominican Republic holiday? You can win a travel coupon of 1000 $. The price will be raffled among all submissions.
Dominican Republic: Experiences of our Visitors
It hasn’t rained in 10 days. It was really hot.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
It was sunny to overcast, but very pleasant, a great holiday.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
The weather was absolutely great. On arrival it rained and the next day still briefly. From the second day only super sun and 30 °C no cloud for 15 days. It couldn’t have been better
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
of 14 days 3 times in the evening and at night showers!
Weather Rating: 4 stars – Good
10 days end of January/beginning of February in Puerto Plata: Predominantly sunny with little wind, average 30 degrees, feels more. In the afternoon occasionally short tropical rain and afterwards bright sunshine again.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
great weather on Samana, nice excursions made and a super vacation had. recommendable!
Weather Rating: 4 stars – Good
We were over Christmas in the Dom Rep, more precisely in the south corner Punta Cana / Bavaro. It couldn’t have been better, the weather was simply fabulous. No rain, no storms, just sun, beach and sea 🙂
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
Minimum rainfall for 3 weeks. Usually super weather. I was on the Samana Peninsula. Was there for the sixth time and I’m looking forward to next time.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
Some storms with hurricane-like storms
but the weather had already improved the next day and then became better and better
Weather Rating: 4 stars – Good