City overview
The Dominican Republic shares Hispaniola with Haiti and offers more variety than anywhere else in the Caribbean, from Punta Cana's resorts to colonial Santo Domingo and the laid-back north coast around Puerto Plata. Jewish infrastructure here is the best in the region, entirely built by Chabad of the Dominican Republic under Rabbi Shimon Pelman, who also serves as shochet. Santo Domingo has a daily and Shabbos minyan, a mikvah, and Rimon Kosher Market — a full kosher supermarket with its own restaurant, a rarity in the Caribbean. A second Chabad centre opened on the north coast in Puerto Plata in 2025 with its own kosher restaurant and Shabbos services. Kosher catering delivers island-wide, including to Punta Cana resorts, though Punta Cana itself has no year-round kosher restaurant, permanent shul, or eruv.
Pico Duarte
Dominican Republic · Park fee plus compulsory guide and mule hire, priced by operator
At 3,098 metres the highest mountain in the Caribbean, climbed over two to three days through pine forest in the Cordillera Central.
Time needed
Two to three days
Tips
A serious trek rather than a day hike — most routes start at La Ciénaga near Jarabacoa and take two to three days with overnight camping. A licensed guide is compulsory and mules carry the gear. Temperatures drop below freezing at the summit at night, which catches out people who packed for the Caribbean. December through March is the driest window. There is no kosher food anywhere in the interior, so carry everything.
Neighborhood
Cordillera Central, interior
Activity providers
Kosher map of Dominican Republic
Pick a place on the map or search an address or hotel to see what is kosher around it.