When to go · Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic in February
Good month. Peak whale month; carnival weekends; Independence Day 27 Feb.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Good
- Crowds
- High
- Dominican Republic
- Prices
- High
- Dominican Republic
Verdict
Peak whale month; carnival weekends; Independence Day 27 Feb.
Is another month better than February?
February is rated good. These months rate higher:
Weather in February
- 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, Samanáfine
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 Domingo29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 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), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 6 rain days
- Bayahibe29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 6 rain days
- Bonao29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 7 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 7 rain days
- Cabarete29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 7 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 7 rain days
- Constanza23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 7 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 7 rain days
- Higüey29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
- Jarabacoa28 °C (82 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 7 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 7 rain days
- Juan Dolio30 °C (86 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 6 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 6 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 Galeras28 °C (82 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 3 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 3 rain days
- Las Terrenas29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 8 rain days
- Miches29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 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) / 20 °C (68 °F), 4 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 4 rain days
- Pedro Sánchez29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 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) / 20 °C (68 °F), 8 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 8 rain days
- Punta Cana29 °C (84 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 7 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 7 rain days
- Rio San Juan28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 6 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 6 rain days
- San Pedro de Macoris28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
- Santa Barbara de Samana28 °C (82 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 5 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 5 rain days
- Santiago de los Caballeros29.7 °C (85 °F) / 19.1 °C (66 °F), 5 rain days85 °F (29.7 °C) / 66 °F (19.1 °C), 5 rain days
- Sosúa29 °C (84 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 7 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 7 rain days
Festivals and holidays
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.
Independence Day big impact
27 Feb
Military parade on the Malecón and carnival finale.
Carnival check
Sundays in February · Santo Domingo
Parades, roads closed, hotels full.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Dominican Republic
- High
- Prices · Dominican Republic
- High
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Dominican Republic, side by side.
Verdict
Feb: Good
Mar: Great (better)
Crowds
Feb: High
Mar: High
Prices
Feb: High
Mar: High
Festivals listed
Feb: 2
Mar: 1
February: Peak whale month; carnival weekends; Independence Day 27 Feb.
March: Dry and warm; Semana Santa can fall late March — busy.
Dominican Republic: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket
Where to go in February
Rated best or good this month
South and east coasts
Best weather of the year (Santo Domingo, Punta Cana, Bayahibe, La Romana)
Dry; Carnival parades in February.
Best months: Dec–Apr
Best months: Dec–Apr
Best months: Dec–Apr
Best months: Dec–Apr (dry season)
Best months: Dec–Apr (wind), Jun–Aug (wind); surf works year-round
Best months: Dec–Apr (dry, cool)
Best months: Dec–Apr
Best months: Dec–Apr (dry, cooler)
Best months: Dec–Apr
Best months: Dec–Apr