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The DR has nearly 1,000 miles of coastline, featuring some 300 miles of white- or golden-sand beaches. The country also has arid deserts, lush rainforests, thick dry forests, and five major mountain ranges separated by a series of fertile valleys and lowlands. There are also several smaller mountain ranges. The country’s dramatic elevation changes have resulted in at least 20 different climatic zones, with much wider variations in temperature and rainfall than in most other parts of the Caribbean (for more detail, see the Climate section).

The answer is yes – you. For many Dominicans, the simple fact that you can afford to travel – no matter how you may have scraped up the cash or credit for it – is justification enough for the assumption. But don’t be offended – the Dominican is more likely to be impressed than resentful. Unfortunately, Dominicans as a group seem to suffer from a shame of material poverty. Both fabulous wealth and grinding poverty are on prominent display in the Dominican Republic, and the middle class has been shrinking of late.

But the weather can be anything but tropical here: On top of the mountains and even in the high valleys, temperatures sometimes drop below freezing in winter, especially at night, with a thin layer of frost covering the ground in early morning. Average temperatures, though, range from 54° to 70°F (12° to 21°C). Introduction Also overseen by the national parks department are a variety of national monuments, recreational areas, ecological corridors, and panoramic routes, totaling about 70 in all.