Banks: 08.30 to 16.00, Monday to Saturday
Post Offices: 07.30 to 14.30, Monday to Friday
Government Offices: 08.00 to 14.00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 09.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 09.00 to 12.30 and 14.30 to 19.00, Monday to Friday, some open on weekends

The Puerto Plata resort communities are safe for travellers, and there are few safety concerns for visitors. English-speaking tourist police are on the scene to assist travellers with safety concerns. There have been reports of rising crime levels in local neighbourhoods far removed from the resort scene. For this reason, tourists are recommended to stick to well-travelled areas. In the event that you do plan an excursion off the main tourist trail, pare down your belongings to items of minimal value and deposit anything else with the resorts.

110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plug

Tourists planning excursions into rural areas of the interior should be guard against mosquito-borne infection by wearing long pants and sleeves and using mosquito repellent. Beyond this, vaccination against hepatitis B, polio and typhoid is advised but not required. Stick to bottled water and avoid consuming thin-skinned fruits and vegetables. The Dominican Republic does operate a network of private medical clinics, though these are usually inferior to government-run hospitals and are not recommended for tourists. If you are injured or fall seriously ill, you will be evacuated to the Santa Domingo Hospital’s emergency ward.

Emergency services: 911 (rings in Santa Domingo)

The national language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish.

The Dominican peso is the currency of the DR, but many establishments and service providers prefer to deal in US dollars.

Items barred from entering or leaving the Dominican Republic include the following: illegal drugs; seashells and certain other animal products; and firearms or ammunition. Duty-free regulations permit tourists to import two bottles of perfume; 200 cigarettes or a box of cigars; a litre of spirits; and limited gifts or personal effects.

The Dominican Republic largely embraces the Roman Catholic faith, and a level of conservative respect is expected when visiting churches like San Felipe. While revealing beach attire is acceptable in the resorts, visitors to churches and other religious sites are expected to wear long pants and conservative shirts. Regardless, tourists will find that locals are tolerant and rarely complain. On the whole, the nation’s social conventions resemble North America’s more than Latin America’s.

Immigration officials usually require tourists’ passports to be valid for twice as long as the traveller intends to stay. Visitors from European and North American nations qualify for a tourist visa upon arrival and have no need of prearrangements. Nationals of other countries can obtain a tourist visa from the nearest Dominican Republic embassy or consulate. In either event, tourist visas cover 60 days of travel.

The Puerto Plata Office of Tourism is located on Playa Dorado. 
Phone: +809 586 3676