Discover the Dominican Republic: 20 Amazing Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. Sugar Cane Swingers: Merengue's Origins

When life gives you sugar cane, make Merengue: the Dominican Republic's national dance has two alleged origin stories – one where slaves dragged a leg while cutting sugar canes, and another where the dance was made to honor a limping wounded hero. Now a staple Latin American dance, it merges African and French influences in a delightful, foot-tapping frenzy.
Source => centralhome.com

2. Faith, Blood, and Progress: Dominican Flag Colors

Feeling blue or seeing red? The Dominican Republic's flag has you covered, with a touch of holy flair to boot: Unique in design, the flag features a white cross symbolizing faith, red and blue quarters representing bloodshed and progress, and a coat of arms bearing a Bible, golden cross, and the national motto "God, fatherland and liberty".
Source => daytranslations.com

Did you know Puerto Rico has its own "ghost" frog, the coquí guajón? Discover the mysterious creature that's now at the center of conservation efforts on the island! 🐸👻

=> Fun Facts about Puerto-Rico

3. A Bark-tastic Boozy Brew: Mamajuana

Feeling bark-tastic? How about sipping a drink that has tree bark, herbs, and honey stirred up with red wine and rum? Sounds tree-mendous, right? The serious scoop: Mamajuana is a traditional Dominican Republic beverage that symbolizes the nation's rich history, blending African, Spanish, and indigenous Taino influences, and is widely enjoyed in bars and restaurants by both locals and tourists alike.
Source => damecacao.com

4. Whale-mantic Getaway: Samana Peninsula

Ahoy, lovebirds of the ocean! Ever wondered where romantic humpback whales go on their annual honeymoon? Gather 'round for some aquatic gossip: Between January and March, about three to five thousand humpbacks meet and mingle near the Samana Peninsula in the Dominican Republic, turning the area into one of the North Atlantic's marine love nests, where these gigantic Casanovas birth and mate in blissful harmony, all under the watchful and protective eyes of the Dominican government.
Source => cabaretecondos.com

5. Dominicans Dominating MLB

Who's on first, what's on second, and Dominicans are all over the field: The Dominican Republic boasts the largest number of baseball players in Major League Baseball, with 171 players gracing 26-man rosters during the 2022 MLB season. While the U.S. still leads in representation with 1,057 players, you can't deny that this tiny Caribbean nation has a firm grip on the ol' ball game!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Cha-Cha-Champion: Record Meringue Dance

In a toe-tapping twist of fate, the Dominican Republic cha-cha'd its way to victory and left Russia in a whirlwind of defeat: On November 3, 2019, the Latin nation successfully waltzed into the Guinness World Records by orchestrating a grand meringue dance involving 422 couples, who simultaneously showcased their sultry syncopation, outshining Russia's previous record of 330 couples by an impressive 10%. Known as "Un Récord Pa'l Merengue," the jig-tastic achievement was endorsed by the Ministry of Culture and brought together enthusiastic volunteers from various dance schools and folk groups, united in their quest for dance-floor domination.
Source => casadecampoliving.com

7. Burger Imposter: Chimi Dominicano

Beware the Chimi Dominicano, a cunning cheeseburger imposter with a secret Dominican sauce lining its buns, ever-ready to dazzle your taste buds with each tantalizing bite: This legendary street food's origin remains a mystery, but we tip our hats to Juan Abrales, the Argentinian cook who might have gifted this gastronomical wonder to the Dominican Republic in the 1970s, leaving it to the trustworthy stands to carry on the tradition of unique recipes across the island.
Source => abc30.com

8. Heroic Coffee Farm: Cibao's Organic Gem

Hold on to your caffeinated britches, java lovers, it seems like there's a new barista-hero brewing up justice over in the Dominican Republic: the Cibao region's family-owned single estate farm not only produces high-quality organic coffee with low acidity, but also supports the local community - donating books, computers, helping Haitian immigrants obtain legal residence, and even practicing sustainability by fermenting discarded coffee cherries into natural gas!
Source => freshroastedcoffee.com

9. Samaná Bay: Complicated Marine Sanctuary

If Samaná Bay were to update its relationship status on Facebook, it would say "it's complicated" with humpback whales, turtles, and manatees: Serving as a crucial marine sanctuary for these marine species, around 1,500 humpback whales return to the bay annually to court, mate, give birth, and practice their aquatic acrobatics. This spectacle can be enjoyed during whale watching expeditions from mid-January to March, while the picturesque area also offers excursions into Los Haitises National Park, Cayo Levantado, and thrilling hikes across the enigmatic Bridges to Nowhere.
Source => godominicanrepublic.com

10. Herbal Adventures: Anamu Power

Feeling herbal-ly adventurous and craving some potent plant power? Well, let me amamu-se you with a tantalizing tale: In the Dominican Republic, the medicinal herb Anamu is a popular remedy used for conditions ranging from arthritis to rabies, and it's even a key ingredient in the boozy delight Mamajuana. Indigenous Indian groups have doubled up its benefits by using it as an insecticide, and it works as a pain reliever, often applied topically for skin-related conditions.
Source => gardenswithoutborders08.blogspot.com

11. Rare & Blue: Larimar Gemstones

When life gives you lemons, you'd better hope it’s from the Dominican Republic because life there gifts you with gorgeous blue gems instead: This Caribbean paradise is the only place on Earth to find Larimar, a dazzling blue gemstone with hues reminiscent of the surrounding sea, valued highly by collectors and jewelry enthusiasts worldwide.
Source => blueamberstar.com

12. Green Envy: Dominican Batata

Move over, sweet potatoes, there's a new tuber in town – and she's turning green with envy: In the Dominican Republic, the beloved batata boasts a white flesh that transmutes to greenish-dark green when exposed to air or boiled, all wrapped up in a fabulous purple peel. This vivacious veggie has been a gastronomic gem since Precolumbian times, sprucing up dishes from breakfast to dessert with its unique flavor and style.
Source => dominicancooking.com

13. Hot (and Lit) Hair Trend: Velaterapia

Don't try this at home, folks: transforming your precious tresses into a veritable bonfire might just be the most lit (and most dangerous) hair trend out there! Behold Velaterapia, a.k.a. Brazilian hair burning or candle cutting: a professional procedure that singes away your split ends using candle flames, designed to be done by experienced stylists only. If you're not into scorched strands or risky business, the tamer route of regular trims every 6 to 8 weeks, along with proper hair care, can help keep those pesky split ends at bay.
Source => healthline.com

14. Meaty Fiesta: Sancocho Stew

What do you get when you combine a culinary game of "meat and greet" with a flavorful fiesta? The Dominican Republic's beloved sancocho, of course: a hearty stew made with not one, not two, but seven different types of meat, and enjoyed at special occasions or just a casual Tuesday. Served with white rice, avocado, and hot sauce, it turns out that variety really is the spice of life!
Source => dominicancooking.com

15. Party Parrots: Hispaniolan Parrots

Whoever said parrots only party in the tropics never met the Dominican Republic's nightlife-loving Hispaniolan parrot: a bird known for painting the town red – or should we say, maroon – every night. Found exclusively in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, these fun-loving avians possess a distinctive white forehead and eyering, a blue forecrown, blackish ear-patch, ivory bill, blue flight feathers, and a maroon (often V-shaped) belly patch. Sadly, however, their current population status is no laughing matter: Major declines in numbers have been caused by persecution as an agricultural pest and the illegal pet trade, leaving them as a vulnerable species found primarily in mountain forests and select areas of the eastern lowlands, with some urban populations established in Santo Domingo, Port-au-Prince, and Santiago de los Caballeros.
Source => birdfinding.info

16. Kites of Hope: Semana Santa Tradition

In the land where kites are the original "Fly me to the moon" before Frank Sinatra could even croon: every Semana Santa Saturday in the Dominican Republic, paper and plastic bag kites fill the sky as a symbol of hope, uniting young and old in a colorful tradition, which - fun fact - does not include any Taino Indians cameo appearances.
Source => colonialzone-dr.com

17. A Cool Caribbean Peak: Pico Duarte

In a height of Caribbean irony, the Dominican Republic boasts a chilly peak known for its year-round frosty personality, instead of sun-kissed sandy beaches: Pico Duarte, the tallest mountain in the Caribbean at 3,087 meters, was originally dubbed "Monte Tina" by its first known climber, Sir Robert Hermann Schomburgk in 1851, and flaunts unique pino de cuaba forests, all cozily huddled against an acidic soil backdrop.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

18. Bartholomew's Claim to Fame: Founding Santo Domingo

Hold onto your history books, folks: Christopher Columbus's sibling is giving him a run for his money! Bartholomew, his brother, boldly went where none had gone before by founding the oldest city in the New World, Santo Domingo, back in 1496.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

19. Dominican Fruitopia: Exotic Fruit Galore

In the Dominican Republic, you'd feel like you're fruiting your loins in the Garden of Eden itself: home to not only scrumptious pineapples, watermelons, and bananas but also a colorful whirlwind of exotic fruits like guava, passion fruit, guanábana, cherimoya, pitahaya, limoncillo, noni fruit, granadilla, sea grapes, caimito, breadfruit, carambola, nispero, mamey sapote, sapodilla, and tamarind – a veritable cornucopia to tantalize taste buds all year round!
Source => everythingpuntacana.com

20. Sky-high Sightseeing: Teleférico Cable Car

If you've ever wanted to feel like a majestic eagle soaring above tropical paradise, you've come to the right spot: The Dominican Republic is home to the Caribbean's only continuously operating cable car ride since 1975, called "teleférico". This dazzling aerial journey takes visitors on a 10-minute adventure, lifting them 800 meters (2,625 feet) above Puerto Plata's scenic landscape before alighting at the Mount Isabel de Torres nature reserve and botanical garden. The ride down is an encore presentation of awe-inspiring views that'll leave you tweeting like a bird about it.
Source => godominicanrepublic.com