Room 1
Dominican Republic Easter holidays
Travelling during springtime to the Dominican Republic is a great option, you will miss the main crowds as the peak tourist season is coming to an end and the dry season is beginning. Travelling during the dry season offers a great opportunity to spend some time exploring and hiking in the mountains and forests in places such as the Cotubanamá National Park, Pico Duarte, and El Mogote.
The weather in March and April is more comfortable than during the peak winter season, with highs reaching around 25°C and lows at around 15°C. Easter is widely celebrated in the Dominican Republic so there will be a real buzz around the country with plenty of festivities to enjoy.
Easter holidays to the Dominican Republic
Easter traditions in the Dominican Republic
Easter is the biggest religious celebration in the Dominican Republic, even bigger than Christmas, with the week preceding Easter Sunday full of celebrations, it is referred to as ‘Santa Samana’, The Christian Holy Week. Like Thanksgiving in America, Dominicans like to travel home to spend time with family and many Dominicans in cities and towns are permitted to take the whole Holy Week off work. This can mean you may see a slight disruption with some activities not running, many areas ban motorised boats near public beaches and on good Friday businesses and stores are closed. Please be aware that alcohol is banned in towns and cities throughout the week, so anyone visiting city centres will not be able to order or purchase alcohol. Restaurants and bars at all-inclusive resorts are exempt from this ban.
After a day of quiet and reflection on Good Friday, the party goes into full mode for the weekend with festivals, street parades, and live DJs! Food is also a big part of the Santa Samana with families cooking in large batches to feed all their friends, family and visitors coming into town. Dominicans traditionally refrain from eating meat for the Holy Week, so there will be an abundance of fish and seafood dishes.
Best places to celebrate Easter in the Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo on the South coast is well renowned for its amazing Easter processions and beautiful church services. The main boardwalk in Santo Domingo is partly turned into a pedestrian-only zone and becomes a beach party in the middle of the city with games and music!
Punta Cana is wonderful at Easter time, it can get lively with lots of beach parties, festivals, and parades. Locals will flock to the miles of coastline of the beach during the Holy Week, if you are planning on staying in Punta Cana then we would recommend choosing a hotel or all-inclusive resort with its own private stretch of beach.
Best hotels to celebrate Easter in the Dominican Republic
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana would be a fantastic all-inclusive beachfront resort for Easter. It will be lively with plenty going on and the amenities offered by the hotel are first class including international cuisine in 9 different restaurants, a variety of drinks and snacks with poolside service, 24/7 room service, daily activities on the beach and by the pool, kids clubs and daily and nightly entertainment including theme parties, shows, contests, concerts and live performances.
The Bannister Hotel & Yacht Club found across from Samana bay opened in 2010 and offers a modern accommodation that combines casual luxury with an impressive natural environment.