Dominican Republic in December

Dry south, Christmas crowds and higher prices.

December is rated good. These months rate higher:

• MarchGreatDry and warm; Semana Santa can fall late March — busy.
• AprilGreatGood weather; Holy Week crowds if Easter is in April.

• South and east coasts · Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Bayahibe, La Romanabest weather

  Hot all year (29–32 °C (84–90 °F)); rainy spells May–June and September–November; hurricane risk peaks August–October. Sargassum seaweed can foul east-coast beaches in summer (check).Hot all year (84–90 °F (29–32 °C)); rainy spells May–June and September–November; hurricane risk peaks August–October. Sargassum seaweed can foul east-coast beaches in summer (check).

• North coast and Samaná · Puerto Plata, Cabarete, Las Terrenas, Samanárainy

  Trade-wind showers make November–January the wettest months here, unlike the south. Whales in Samaná Bay mid-January to March.

• Cordillera Central · Jarabacoa, Constanza, Pico Duartecool

  Mountain air, 15–25 °C (59–77 °F) by day; Constanza can reach near freezing on winter nights.Mountain air, 59–77 °F (15–25 °C) by day; Constanza can reach near freezing on winter nights.

• Eastern Cibao: Samaná Peninsula and north coast · Las Terrenas, Las Galeras, Samaná town, Río San Juanbest weather

  December to April is drier and cooler; May to August is hot and humid with afternoon rain; September and October carry the highest hurricane risk. Whale season mid-January to mid-March is also the busiest stretch.

• Eastern Dominican Republic: Punta Cana / Bávaro · east coast resort stripbest weather

  Driest December–April; hottest and wettest June–October, with hurricanes possible August–October.

• Eastern Dominican Republic: Bayahibe / La Romana · southeast coastbest weather

  Similar pattern; sea stays warm year-round, and dive boats run most days.

• Greater Santo Domingo: Santo Domingo and the coast · Capital and the Boca Chica–Juan Dolio stripbest weather

  Hot and humid year-round; the rainy season runs roughly May to November, with the heaviest rain and storm risk August–October. Coastal breezes make the beach towns a few degrees cooler than the city.

• Southern Dominican Republic: Barahona coast · south coast from Palmar de Ocoa to Pedernalesbest weather

  Driest corner of the country; the wet season (May–Jun and Aug–Oct) brings short heavy showers, and Aug–Oct is hurricane season.

• Southern Dominican Republic: Lago Enriquillo and the border lowlands · Independencia and Bahoruco provincesbest weather

  Below sea level and consistently hotter than the coast; start early and carry more water than you think you need.

• Western Cibao: Cibao Valley (Santiago) · Interior lowlandsbest weather

  Hot year-round; May–Nov is the wetter half, with September–October the peak of the hurricane season.

• Western Cibao: Cordillera Central (Jarabacoa, Constanza) · Mountain townsfine

  Cooler than the coast; Constanza can drop to single digits at night in winter. Afternoon rain most of the year.

• Western Cibao: North coast (Puerto Plata, Cabarete, Monte Cristi) · Atlantic shorebest weather

  Trade winds keep it cooler than the south; kitesurf season runs roughly June–August and December–April.

• Santo Domingo30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
• Barahona30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Bavaro29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 9 rain days
• Bayahibe30 °C (86 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 8 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 8 rain days
• Bonao29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 9 rain days
• Cabarete29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 9 rain days
• Constanza22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 9 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 9 rain days
• Higüey30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 8 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 8 rain days
• Jarabacoa27 °C (81 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 9 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 9 rain days
• Juan Dolio30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 8 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 8 rain days
• La Romana31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
• Las Galeras29 °C (84 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 4 rain days
• Las Terrenas30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 11 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 11 rain days
• Miches29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 10 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 10 rain days
• Monte Cristi28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
• Pedernales29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 5 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 5 rain days
• Pedro Sánchez30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 8 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 8 rain days
• Polo28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 5 rain days
• Puerto Plata29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 11 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 11 rain days
• Punta Cana29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 9 rain days
• Rio San Juan29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 9 rain days
• San Pedro de Macoris28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 3 rain days
• Santa Barbara de Samana27 °C (81 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 4 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 4 rain days
• Santiago de los Caballeros29.3 °C (85 °F) / 19.3 °C (67 °F), 7 rain days85 °F (29.3 °C) / 67 °F (19.3 °C), 7 rain days
• Sosúa29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 9 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 9 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Christmas big impact

  25 Dec

  Family time; Nochebuena on the 24th.

• Christmas and Three Kings

  Dec 24–Jan 6 · Santo Domingo

  Shops and comedores close on 25 Dec and 1 Jan; lights on Calle El Conde.

Crowds · Dominican Republic

High

Prices · Dominican Republic

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Dominican Republic, side by side.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Rated best or good this month

• South and east coasts

  Best weather of the year (Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Bayahibe, La Romana)

• Santo Domingo

  Dry and cooler; Christmas closures.

• Barahona

  Best months: Dec–Apr

• Bavaro

  Best months: Dec–Apr

• Bayahibe

  Best months: Dec–Apr

• Bonao

  Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season)

• Cabarete

  Best months: Dec–Apr (wind), Jun–Aug (wind); surf works year-round

• Constanza

  Best months: Dec–Apr (dry, cool)

• Higüey

  Best months: Dec–Apr

• Jarabacoa

  Best months: Dec–Apr (dry, cooler)

• Juan Dolio

  Best months: Dec–Apr

• La Romana

  Best months: Dec–Apr