Gay Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country in the Caribbean where African, Spanish, European, and native cultures collide! This wonderful fusion comes across in its cuisine that will make your mouth water, as well as in the passion-filled beats of its merengue music. With a thriving ecotourism industry, there are tons of beautiful and natural sights to see. When night falls, hit the dance floor and bust a move at one of the various bars and clubs peppered across the urban parts of the country. Salsa, anyone?

Drivers are friendly and knowledgeable with inside scoop about local hotspots. Because of its location on an island, the Dominican Republic must be accessed by boat or plane. 

Getting around the Dominican Republic is most often done by bus. Independent companies offer services within and between most towns and cities, although the “gua-gua” taxis and local buses are often packed with people and luggage so get ready to squeeze!

Gay Scene in Dominican Republic

Like most Caribbean countries, the gay scene is based out of the more urban areas. Santo Domingo’s Malecon oceanfront drive is peppered with dance venues like Club Arena that will keep you on your feet for hours! The Conde, is the main strip in Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone; here you may see openly queer people, though the macho ethos remains strong in the Dominican Republic. Draguéalo events celebrate the art of drag and vogue, self-expression and diversity throughout the Dominican Republic, so check their Facebook or Instagram for any upcoming LGBTQ events. A pride parade occurs each year in Santo Domingo in July.

In general, people are not overtly homophobic but the gay scene is largely in either Santo Domingo or the tourist resort hub of Punta Cana.

When to Visit

Because of it’s location in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic’s climate is tropical, with a heavy wet season in winter and warm summers peaking in the month of August. Hurricanes hit the D.R between August and October and cyclones hit every few years so be sure to check weather reports before your travels. Temperatures are pretty consistent year-round, but lows in the 30’s aren’t uncommon in the mountainous regions of the country. 

Gay-Friendly Activities & Attractions

For gay tourists to the Dominican Republic, you'll likely be visiting one of two major spots for tourism.

Santo Domingo

The capital city of Santo Domingo is one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean. Because of it's history, don't miss on the Zona Colonial with buildings that date back tot he 1500s, including the first cathedral built in the "New World." The Gothic Cathedral is one of the highlights of the Dominican Republic, but just wandering the art galleries and museums in the Zona Colonial are worth a full day of exploration. Visit the Alcázar de Colón and museum, which was the only iknown residence of a member of Christopher Columbus' family. The museum includes European late medieval and Renaissance workds of art, as well as a history of the Columbus family.

Punta Cana

The resort town of Punta Cana is home to countless resorts and hotels, many of them catering to North American tourists looking for a relaxing holiday with all-inclusive amenities. There are many great water sports and activities you can do while in Punta Cana, such as snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, or taking in the beauty of the many majestic beaches. Or just simply choose to relax at a resort hotel; many of them throw poolside parties or special events to attract returning visitors.

Gay-Friendly Dining

Food around the Dominican Republic is absolutely mouth-watering, but lunch is the main meal of the day. A standard Dominican lunch consits of white rice, Habichuelas Guisadas (stewed beans), Pollo Guisado or Res Guisada (braised chicken or beef) and salad vegetables. It's a hearty meal with a lot of flavor.

Non-alcoholic drinks from the D.R. like coffee, jugo de naranja, and batidas are a not-to-be-missed way to quench your thirst while touring this beautiful country.

Gay-Friendly Bars & Nightlife

Most of the nightlife in the Dominican Republic is found in Santo Domingo, along the Conde nightlife strip in the Colonial Zone. In Punta Cana, there is no nearby town with much gay nightlife, though many of the resort hotels run special parties and events. The Coco Bongo Caribbean bar and club famous for its nightlife in Cancun and Playa del Carmen recently opened up near Punta Cana, and runs parties nightly.

Safety

Although the Dominican Republic is frequented by tourists, the country still has a lot of poverty. While the country is very welcoming and the vast majority of tourists do not experience any trouble, there is a high crime rate (theft, pickpocketing, some violent crime) and a lot of media coverage of tourist problems in the past have stirred tourists' anxiety. In 2020, to answer many tourists worries about safety in Punta Cana, the Punta Cana Promise was developed to provide up-to-date information on travel safety for visitors to the Dominican Republic.

While outside of the main tourist areas, it's recommended to stick in groups and stay in well-lit areas. There is also a special “tourist police” specifically for the protection of foreigners, so reach out to this agency instead of the national police for more responsive service. In terms of LGBTQ safety, because LGBTQ rights are not fully recognized in the DR, use safety and caution when traveling with a partner. Most hotels will not cause any issue and will happily welcome LGBTQ tourists and couples.

Destinations within Dominican Republic