Dominican Republic Travel Health

Travel Health

Recommended vaccinations for travel to the Dominican Republic are diphtheria, hepatitis A, tetanus and typhoid. Malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and rabies are sometimes advised depending on the season and region being visited.

Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should be sterilized. Milk is pasteurized, meat and fish should be well cooked and vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Avoid swimming in fresh water as bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is endemic. Outbreaks of dengue fever have also been reported and there is a risk of rabies.

Health insurance is strongly recommended for travel to the Dominican Republic as medical care is expensive and payment may be required in advance. There are reasonable care facilities in the larger cities however in the smaller regions medical care can be extremely limited. The HIV/AIDS prevalence is high in this country so exercise appropriate precautions.

The Dominican Republic is generally a safe place to visit however it is advised to be particularly vigilant in the larger cities of Santo Domingo and Santiago. Always exercise common sense such as never traveling alone especially at night and avoid openly displaying wealth such as expensive jewelry and watches.

Sex tourism is prevalent in the Puerto Plata province of the country, so be prepared to be hassled and be mindful that it is illegal to have sex with minors (under 18) and penalties can be severe.

The alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5% but be careful of drink drivers as this is a common occurrence and is the cause of a high percentage of accidents. It is illegal for tourists and visitors to drive after drinking and may be penalized for it.

Be alert at popular tourist places such as the airports, ATM’s, beaches and resorts. Here the crime rate is high with pick-pocketing and bag-snatching often reported. Laptops are also popular targets. The airports are also areas known for drug trafficking so carefully guard your luggage at all times. Penalties for possession, distribution or manufacture of drugs are severe. Always be vigilant and be cautious of strangers offering unsolicited services or unusual requests - especially women traveling alone.

The hurricane season in the Dominican Republic normally runs from June to November.

There is a low threat from terrorism in the Dominican Republic however you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which may target tourists.

We strongly advise that all Australian travellers check the latest travel advice on the Australian Government Smart Traveller site.