Baseball, the national sport
Baseball(béisbol or pelota) is the national sport par excellence, followed with fervor by an entire nation. Imported from the United States in the 19th century, it is the sport that mobilizes Dominican youth. Every village has its own playground, the baseball field, and attending a match immerses you in the authentic local atmosphere! The country is one of the most passionate in the world, exporting many professional players to the USA, Japan and Mexico. Dominican legends include the famous Sammy Sosa, Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, Robinson Canó, José Reyes, Juan Marichal and Bartolo Colón. The Dominican championship is held from October to February. In December 2024, Dominican baseball player Juan Soto signed the most lucrative contract in the history of professional sports with the New York Mets: $765 million over 15 years. This amount surpasses previous records, notably that of Japan's Shohei Ohtani ($700 million over 10 years). Juan Soto's contract could even top $800 million, depending on performance.
The Mecca of kitesurfing and windsurfing
The Dominican Republic has undoubtedly, and according to the greatest specialists, one of the best spots in the world for these two sports of glide which made many local and international followers. In the heart of the north coast, Cabarete has built up a solid reputation. The wind is constant and regular all year round (between 20 and 25 knots), the beach is huge, the coral reefs are far from the surface and the waves oscillate between 1 and 2 meters. The windsurfing and kitesurfing centres are located in close succession on the immense twin beaches of Cabarete and Kite Beach. Amateurs come from all over the world, from the United States, Canada, Brazil and Europe, to learn or to compete and perform ever more spectacular tricks. International championships are held there regularly and the international kitesurfing authority, IKO, has established its headquarters there.
A beautiful fishing destination
While there is a season for pigeon and duck hunting, fishing is the main activity in the Dominican Republic. Blue marlin, grouper, sea bream and swordfish can be caught in any season. The best fishing grounds are found in Cumayasa, Cabeza de Toro, Boca de Yuma, La Romana, Palmar de Ocoa, Barahona, Montecristi and Samaná. Many popular fishing tournaments are held in Cabeza de Toro and Boca de Yuma. Like its neighbors, the Dominican Republic is a prime location for big-game fishing. Several national and international tournaments are held throughout the country, attracting boats from all over the Caribbean. The main embarkation points are in La Romana, Boca Chica, Rio San Juan, Samaná and Montecristi.
Some scuba diving spots
If the Dominican Republic is not as famous as some of its neighbours for its underwater world, it still offers great possibilities of discovery. The south coast is famous for the many galleons that have sunk in its waters. Unfortunately, it is forbidden to dive in this type of wrecks which are generally very deeply sunk. Flat or hilly coral reefs, caves and drop offs offer beautiful perspectives. You can see parrotfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, barracudas, morays and turtles. Even eagle rays, on Saona and Catalina, beautiful animals with tarpons and nurse sharks up to black tips and bull sharks for the luckiest... and adventurous. As a general rule, the dive sites can be reached quite quickly, in 30 minutes maximum. Many diving schools, all Padi certified, are scattered along the tourist beaches. On the other hand, there are few emergency facilities: there is only one hyperbaric chamber in the whole country.
On land, hiking and extreme sports
Dozens of kilometers of magnificent scenery will delight even the most experienced hiker. First and foremost, climb Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean at 3,101 metres. Equally interesting, the Tetero Valley is well worth a hike. Less intrepid climbers and beginners can try their hand at 80-meter rock climbing at Constanza, Loma Quita Espuela in Duarte province, Las Laderas del Hoyo de Pelempito in Sierra de Bahoruco, or the slopes of El Morro in Montecristi.
Climbing - canyoning - rafting. The best rock-climbing sites are the steep mountains of Playa Frontón in Samaná and Conde de Mana in San Cristóbal. For abseiling, descending mountains or vertical walls using ropes, head for Rancho Baiguate in Jarabacoa. For the more adept of slippery slopes and waterfalls, head for El Limón or Jimenoa. Canyoning and rafting between steep rocks and drop-offs are also practiced in the Jarabacoa area, where Rancho Baiguate has built a kind of sanctuary for virtually all extreme mountain sports.
Caving. There are over 400 caves to visit in the Dominican Republic, the best known of which are in Los Haitises National Park. Sports enthusiasts can explore the Fun-Fun cave in Hato Mayor, with its 20-metre abseil and underground river below.
Some of the world's most sumptuous golf courses
Finally, it is one of the most popular destinations for the practice of golf. The Dominican Republic has imposed itself at the rhythm of the construction of big hotels as an unavoidable destination for golfing trips, in the heart of the Caribbean. Its luxuriant and preserved vegetation, its magnificent fairways, and the prices of its hotels have seduced the amateurs. Open all year round and with no handicap restrictions, except in the case of tournaments, the golf courses (about twenty) punctuate the country, and particularly its coasts, with sporting stages for golfers. In the north, in Playa Dorada, in Cabrera, in Samaná, on the seaside, in Juan Dolio, in Bavaro and in Punta Cana, in La Romana, in the mountains of Jarabacoa, designed by the greatest specialists, approved by legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio and Nick Faldo, the courses unfold their undulating fairways, their immense bunkers and their water bodies in green settings dotted with coconut trees, against the backdrop of the turquoise blue Caribbean Sea. The Dominican Republic boasts one of the most beautiful offers of all Latin America and satisfies the most demanding amateurs of the small white ball.
