Sports and leisure activities Dominican Republic

Budget & Tips

Sporting opportunities abound in the Dominican Republic. From deep-sea fishing to scuba diving (coral reefs, wrecks and caves), from rock-climbing to potholing, not forgetting mountain trekking (in particular to Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Caribbean), not forgetting surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing of course, Cabarete being one of the best spots in the world for this last discipline. Depending on the activity chosen, prices vary: US$10/15 for a surf/kitesurf rental, US$45/50 for a diving trip, US$150/200 for deep-sea fishing... As for hiking, it all depends on the length of the trip and the logistics involved.

What's very local

Locally known as beisbol, and imported from the United States in the ^19th century, this is the sport that mobilizes Dominican youth. Every village has its own playground, the baseball field. Many Dominicans play in the clubs of the major American leagues and are among the sport's finest representatives. National championships are held between October and January. In 2012, the Dominican Republic ranked ^7th in the world and^1st in 2013. In 2023, the Dominican team ranked ^9th.

When it comes to table games, dominoes are without doubt the Dominicans' favorite pastime. To play Dominican dominoes, you have to practice holding all the dominoes vertically in one hand, and slamming the piece down hard on the table. The game is played on the street, in bars and in colmados. The stakes are often high, the games endless and often played by men. Blitz chess is also very popular. Played in the open air, it attracts dozens of onlookers who crowd around the players, waiting impatiently for their turn to play.

To be booked

As for water sports (kitesurfing, windsurfing and surfing), unless you want to take lessons, there's no need to book - you'll just have to find a place on the water... For diving, caving, kayaking and mountain hiking, it's best to book in advance.

Main events

In February, Encuentro Beach hosts the Master of the Ocean windsurf, kitesurf and stand-up paddle competition (www.masteroftheocean.org/). A great opportunity to see the best riders in the country, if not the world.