What gifts and souvenirs can you bring from the Dominican Republic. What to bring from the Dominican Republic How much coffee can be exported from the Dominican Republic

Helpful information
Before leaving for the airport, check that you have the following documents:
- a valid international passport (no visa required for citizens of Russia and Ukraine)
- voucher
- medical insurance
- printed electronic ticket
- a certificate from the bank for the export of currency (if you are exporting more than $10,000 per person)
- power of attorney from parents (if the child follows without them)

Check-out(check-out time) 12.00. When leaving the hotel, at the reception desk, you must pay all bills for additional services (if these services are not included in the price of your stay)

Time
The time is 8 hours behind Moscow.

Money
Dominican Peso, equal to 100 centavos. Banknotes in circulation are in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 pesos and coins of 1 peso and 50, 25, 10, 5, 1. Foreign currency can be exchanged at hotels or at commercial banks

Medical service
No special vaccinations are required. It is not recommended to drink tap water.

Mains voltage
Electrical voltage is 110 V. Adapters can be purchased at the hotel

Car rental
Car rental is very expensive (for people over 25 years old), you must have an international driver's license valid for 90 days and a credit card. Due to the traffic conditions on local roads, we do not recommend renting a vehicle.

Religion
Catholics - 95%.

Population
8 million people. Of these, 70% are mestizos (a mixture of European and Indian blood) and mulattoes (a mixture of white and black races). The remaining 30% is divided approximately equally between whites (usually Spanish) and Africans.

Language
The official language is Spanish.

Customs
Limits for transporting alcoholic beverages per person (persons over 18 years of age): 3 liters of alcoholic beverages, 200 pcs. cigarettes or 50 pcs. cigars (cigarillos) or 250g of tobacco; coffee, cocoa - in unlimited quantities.
It is prohibited to export: shells, corals, starfish. It is strictly prohibited to import and export pesos (national currency). The export of objects and things of historical and artistic value without special permission is also prohibited. There are no restrictions on the import and export of national and foreign currency.

In this article we tell you what you can bring from the Dominican Republic as a gift. We will tell you what souvenirs are brought from the Dominican Republic and how much they cost. We will help you figure out which rum is best to bring from the Dominican Republic. At the end of the article there is some information about what cannot be exported from the Dominican Republic.

Standard souvenirs

Traditional souvenirs of any country (magnets, postcards, keychains) can be brought from the Dominican Republic as a gift to friends, colleagues and relatives.

• Magnets - $1 per 1 piece. There are discounts if you buy from 5 pieces.
• Postcard - $0.5
• Keychains - from $2 (plastic, wood, leather, etc.)
• Icons - ok. 1$
• Deck of cards with Dominican landscapes - from $3
• Scarves - from $8
• Fabric wallets - from $5
• Mugs/plates - from $4

Dominican alcohol and cigars

Rum

The Dominican Republic is famous for Rum. Many tourists try to bring at least one bottle of rum from the Dominican Republic for themselves or as a gift.

The price of a bottle of rum depends on the age of the drink. Dominican rum aged approx. 5 years can be bought in a supermarket for $10-15. Aged for 12 years, a bottle of rum will cost $40-50. It is better to purchase rum in the Dominican Republic in supermarkets.

To determine the age of Dominican rum, look on the label:

• Anejo – 1 year aging
• Extro Viejo – from 3 to 5 years
• Reserva – > 5 years

The best rum of the Dominican Republic. If you don’t know what rum to bring from the Dominican Republic, we recommend paying attention to the popular brands Barcelo, Brugal, Bermudez and Matusalem.

• Ron Barcelo Imperial - $25 for 0.7 l.
• Brugal Anejo - $10 for 0.7 l.
• Gran Reserva Rum Matusalem - $33 for 0.7 l.
• Brugal Extra Viejo - $9 for 0.7 l.

Mama Juana

The Dominican drink Mamajuana is popular among residents and tourists. Typically, the drink consists of honey, rum and/or wine. The drink is infused with wood, bark, leaves, herbs and spices.

Mama Juana is believed to have healing properties. The drink is sold in bottles or in dry form so you can prepare it yourself.

A small package in the Dominican Republic can be bought for $3-7. The price of an average package in the online store is $16-25 (can be used about 30 times).

IMPORTANT: If you plan to bring rum, beer or MamaJuana from the Dominican Republic, please note that there are customs restrictions. You can export no more than 3 liters from the Dominican Republic. alcohol per person (1 liter of strong alcohol + 2 liters of weak alcohol).

Cigarettes and cigars

Dominican cigars are not inferior to the quality of Cuban cigars and are very popular among tourists. You can buy cigars and cigarettes almost everywhere: at a hotel, on the beach, in a store, etc.

Note : do not buy cigarettes and cigars on the beach, there is a possibility of buying low-quality tobacco in a banana leaf for a price exceeding the cost of the original cigars.

Small factories are common in the Dominican Republic, where they conduct excursions and sell tobacco, cigarettes and cigars.

The brands Davidoff, Juan Clemente, Avo, Knockando, and Carlos are popular in the Dominican Republic. No less popular are cigars from the brands Courvoisier, Antonio Fuente, La Aurora, Davidoff, and Carbonell.

Local cigarettes cost $2.5-3 per pack. Cigar prices vary widely: from $4 to $70. On average, a quality cigar costs $10-30. They are sold individually and in packs of 10 and 50 pieces. For example, a cigar from Arturo Fuente costs about $15 apiece.

IMPORTANT: There are restrictions on the export of tobacco and cigarettes. A maximum of 200 pieces can be exported. cigarettes/50 pcs. cigars (cigarillos) / 250 grams of tobacco.

Coffee, cocoa and chocolate

The Dominican Republic is famous throughout the world for its coffee. The Dominicans themselves consume the tonic drink in large quantities.

The most popular coffee brands are Santo Domingo and Induban. A 450g package of Santo Domingo coffee will cost $10. Indumal coffee can be purchased for $8 per package.

In the Dominican Republic you can also buy finely ground coffee - Monte real (approx. $7-14). Elite coffee is sold under the Don Justino brand (from $16). Coffee with the names of the place where the beans grow - El Cibao, Barahona, Bani, Okoa (approx. $15). For those who care about their health and appearance, we recommend paying attention to green Dominican coffee for $10-17.

True coffee connoisseurs can go shopping at small factories, where they can not only buy coffee, but also taste the drink.

Cocoa

Cocoa balls. Another interesting gift from the Dominican Republic will be cocoa balls. These balls make great hot chocolate. The size of one ball can be compared to the size of a ping pong ball. They are sold individually and in packages (approx. 10 pieces).

• 1 ball - approx. 1$
• A jar of balls (approx. 10 pcs.) - from $5-8

Cocoa powder also common in the Dominican Republic. On average, a package of 100% Dominican cocoa will cost $5 per 250 g.

Chocolate and Chocolate tea

It is not customary to have tea parties in the Dominican Republic. For Dominicans, tea is a remedy for illness and disease. However, in the Dominican Republic you can buy an unusual drink - chocolate tea. This tea is sold as a mixture of sticks and leaves. The cost of the mixture is 150-200g. $7.

In the Dominican Republic, some companies produce chocolate only as a semi-finished product for preparing a drink (hot chocolate). If you want chocolate in slabs from the Dominican Republic, then pay attention to the popular chocolate companies:

• Cortes Hermanos & Co
• Munné & Co
• Xocolat
• Rizek
• VizConde del chocolate

Lime doll - Dominican doll without face

The faceless Lime doll has long become a traditional Dominican souvenir that tourists willingly take home. Lime dolls are made from clay or cornmeal. The doll is a faceless woman who is dressed in a colorful traditional Dominican costume. Lime always holds something in his hands: an umbrella, a basket of flowers, a bouquet, etc.

The cost of a Doll without a face depends on the size; on average, a doll costs $4-6.

Note (for those who are wondering why the doll has no face): There are 2 main versions.

First version. The Lime doll was created by sculptor Liliana Mera, who was unable to highlight the characteristic facial features of the Dominicans (the diversity of the Dominican people is a fusion of European and African culture). Thus, the LiMe doll became a symbol of tolerance and a traditional Dominican souvenir.

Second version. The doll appeared during the time of the Indians. If you believe the legend, the doll is connected with the spirit of corn, which lives in the figurine of this faceless doll. The main point is that for love the face (appearance) of a person is not important, since only love allows you to see the true beauty of a person.

Natural cosmetic

Natural cosmetics will be an excellent gift from the Dominican Republic for girls and women. The choice among natural cosmetics is not as large as we would like, but in general you can shop well.

Cacao butter. Cocoa butter perfectly moisturizes the skin and has an amazing chocolate smell. Manteca de cacao sells for about $8 per 235 ml. The oil is also sold in special 114 g jars. for 10$. Some packages contain Russian-language information about the composition and method of use of the oil.

M.Tropical J.R cosmetic cocoa butter and Manteca de cacao cocoa butter are popular.

Coconut oil. Coconut oil is actively imported as a face and body care product; it softens and moisturizes the skin. Coconut oil can also be used as a hair care product. They sell coconut oil in the Dominican Republic for $8 per 235 ml.

Increasingly popular cosmetics with snail mucus. Creams with snail extract moisturize the skin, help smooth out wrinkles and have anti-inflammatory properties. The price of face cream with snail mucus starts from $9.

You can also bring as a gift for your beloved women scrubs based on sea salt or coffee beans.

Jewelry from Larimar

Jewelry made from the semi-precious Larimar stone is often brought from the Dominican Republic. The mineral is a delicate white-blue color. Larimar jewelry is sold in a basic silver or wood frame.

Note : Silver in the Dominican Republic is of poor quality, so many people prefer to bring the mineral from the Dominican Republic and place it in a frame at home.

• Pendant with Larimar - from $40 at the market and from $70 in the store
• Earrings – $30-40
• Bracelet made of Larimar, black caral and Amber - approx. 70$
• Small pebbles measuring 2-3 cm³ - $15

Note: To avoid running into a fake, carefully inspect Larimar products. The pattern should not be repeated on other products, the stone should not be pressed. The color depth of the lines should be multi-level. The mineral should have iridescent waves without clear and pronounced contours.

For those who want to often reminisce about a paradise vacation in the Dominican Republic, we advise you to bring home a painting by Dominican artists. The main subjects are Indian settlements, seascapes, dolphins, portraits of Che Guevara and Bob Marley.

Prices for paintings vary; in some places you can buy paintings for $8, and in some places the price starts at $18 for A4 format.

Carpets

An unusual souvenir from the Dominican Republic will be a colorful carpet. A distinctive feature of Dominican carpets is the method of their production. The carpet is created by hand from small scraps of fabric that are sewn to the bedspread. Externally, the carpet resembles a bright cloud or New Year's tinsel.

The cost of such an unusual product starts from $15.

Wooden crafts

You can bring various wooden products as gifts from the Dominican Republic: masks, figurines, boomerangs, etc. Such souvenirs will be a good decoration for your home.

• Masks - ok. $5 for medium size masks and approx. $12 for large masks
• Figurines - $12
• Boomerang - $8

Dominican Republic store opening hours

Most shops are open from 8 or 9 am. On weekdays, stores close at 17-18:00, on Saturdays until 13:00.

Shopping centers are open from 9:00 to 21:00 seven days a week. On Sunday, shopping centers may close an hour earlier, at 20:00.

What NOT to export from the Dominican Republic

1. It is prohibited to export from the Dominican Republic national currency (Dominican pesos). If you decide to bring pesos as a souvenir from the Dominican Republic, then it is better to abandon this idea.
2. Exists a number of restrictions on the export of tobacco from the country. It will not be possible to export more than 250 g of tobacco/more than 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars from the Dominican Republic.
3. Can be exported from the Dominican Republic no more than 3 l. alcohol per person (1 liter of strong alcohol + 2 liters of weak alcohol).

Note: If you managed to export more than 3 liters from the Dominican Republic, then keep in mind that you can import up to 3 liters into Russia, but you can import up to 5 liters if you pay for each additional amount. liter 10 euros.

1. Meat or dairy products It is also better to leave food in the Dominican Republic.
2. It will not be possible to bring from the Dominican Republic objects raised from the seabed, a number of species of orchids, the heart of a palm tree.
3. And the standard set of prohibited things: medicines containing narcotic substances; weapon; pornography; drugs.

The import and export of foreign currency to the Dominican Republic is not limited, with the exception of US dollars. It is prohibited to import more than $10,000 in cash. The import and export of local currency, including coins, is prohibited.

Prohibited to import

Import permit required

Allowed with restrictions

• 200 cigarettes, incl. from Duty Free
• 1 liter of strong alcohol, incl. from Duty Free
• 2 liters of non-strong alcohol, incl. from Duty Free

Export from the Dominican Republic

It is prohibited to export

• Meat or dairy food products
• Local currency - Dominican Peso - DOP
• Currency over $10,000. Or an amount not exceeding that which was declared upon entry.
• Weapons, drugs, pornography

Export permit required

• Objects recovered from the seabed
• Some types of orchids
• Heart of palm tree
• Medicines containing narcotic substances
• Animals must have a veterinary certificate and vaccinations against rabies and parvovirus

Allowed with restrictions

• 200 cigarettes
• No more than 50 cigars per person
• 1 liter of strong alcohol
• 2 liters of non-strong alcohol

Tax free in the Dominican Republic

There is no tax free tax refund system in the Dominican Republic.

Dominican rum, along with Cuban rum, are considered the best drinks of their kind. Some people think that Cuban is better, others prefer Dominican, but this is nothing more than a matter of taste. Rum is one of the most popular souvenirs that tourists bring from the Dominican Republic.

There are different methods for preparing this drink, but ideally it is made from molasses and syrup, and the resulting mixture is aged in barrels (most often oak barrels) for a certain time. Dominican rum can be drunk neat or used to make various cocktails. The drink is strong and may not be to everyone’s taste, but tourists who come to the country drink it with great pleasure.

As for the types of Dominican rum, there are several of them. Light rum is most often used for cocktails, as it has a sweetish and fairly mild taste. Golden rum is consumed in its pure form (sometimes used in cocktails). Dark rum has the richest taste, so it is not only consumed in its pure form, but also used in the preparation of various dishes and baked goods. For lovers of high degrees, there is a special strong rum, which tastes vaguely like vodka. Those who don’t like this drink in its pure form can try flavored rum, to which juices of various tropical fruits are added. The most expensive is premium rum. It is consumed chilled, in its pure form, and the high price is due to the fact that this rum is aged in oak barrels for five or more years. Some of the most popular brands of Dominican rum include Barselo, Brugal and Bermudez.

You should not buy rum on the streets, from strange people, even if they try to convince you of the quality of this drink in every possible way and offer to taste it. You won’t know what kind of drink this is or how it was made, but you can easily harm your health. It’s also not worth buying rum in branded stores, as their prices are unreasonably high. It is best to buy this drink in regular supermarkets. By what is written on the label, you can determine the type of rum: if it says Anejo, then this is the year of aging; Extro Vella – from 3 to 5; Reserva – more than 5 years. The main criterion on which the cost depends is the aging of the rum. Rum aged 12 years can cost 40-50 dollars per bottle. Rum aged for about 5 years can be purchased for around 10-15 dollars. It’s better to pay a little extra and buy a better quality rum than to save money and have big problems with a hangover or some other health problems in the morning.

As for the restrictions associated with the export of rum, it is prohibited to export more than two liters, but as practice shows, customs is not very picky about this. To take risks or not is up to you.

In addition to rum, the Dominican Republic has another excellent drink, one of the components of which is rum. This drink is called Mama Juana and, in addition to rum, it includes various herbs, spices, honey, small pieces of wood, and red wine. Locals claim that this drink prolongs life and is a strong aphrodisiac.

Any tourist trip is not only about free three meals a day at the hotel, a sweet nap on the beach and photographs against the backdrop of architectural monuments. Tourism also means purchasing a variety of exotic souvenirs. From this article you will learn what souvenirs you can bring from the Dominican Republic.

Alcohol

Dominican rum at the beginning of the twentieth century became perhaps the main symbol of this country. In addition to rum in the Dominican Republic, it is worth exploring the products of local breweries. The most famous local beer is Presidente, which has been brewed for 80 years.

Bohemia, Soberana and Quisqueya beer made a significant contribution to the development of the local economy.

Rum

Many tourists have a question: “What rum should I bring from the Dominican Republic?” There are three main answer options:

1. "Brugal", the most popular spirit in the Caribbean. “Brugal Blanco” is the only white variety of this brand, the others are “Carta Dorado”, “Anejo”, “Extra Viejo”, “Siglo de Oro” and “Unico” - dark varieties, the aging time of which varies from 3 to 30 years!
2. "Barcelo"- Brugal's main competitor in the country's alcohol market. From the product line of this brand, “Imperial” stands out, more than once recognized as the world leader among such drinks.
3. "Bermudes". Its Ron Hispaniola Blanco variety is the most sought after white rum in the Dominican Republic.

You should not lose sight of other brands of the national drink: “Atlantico” and “Matusalem”.

Mamajuana

Mamajuana is a Dominican folk remedy and homemade alcoholic drink rolled into one. It consists of red wine, honey and a variety of botanicals: cinnamon, lemon balm, lime, cloves, ginger, as well as the roots, leaves and bark of a dozen local plants. The composition may undergo slight changes, but in general this red tincture with a yellow label is considered a “cure for all ills” in the Dominican Republic.

Faceless dolls

Faceless dolls are another calling card of the Dominican Republic. According to legend, these dolls do not have faces due to the broad views of the artist, who decided not to tie the appearance of the very first sculpture created to any race. This strong human gesture later became a craft and a source of income in the Dominican Republic.

Nowadays, faceless dolls are also handmade from clay, porcelain and plaster, which makes each figurine unique. For this reason, they are not sold on every corner.

Seafood

Seashells are a common type of souvenir in hot countries. In the Dominican Republic, the most popular are Strombus gigas, a pink shell, and Charonia tritonis, a horn-shaped shell. They can be purchased at any beach. However, tourists should be careful: the so-called “Tiger Rapan” cannot be taken out of the country.

Cocoa

The Dominican Republic has established production of products from cocoa beans. The popular Manteca de cacao butter is used both as food and as a cosmetic product.

Confectionery products are also made from cocoa beans. In addition to chocolate bars, cocoa balls are also popular in the Dominican Republic: they are used as the basis for a chocolate drink with milk and sugar. These balls are packaged in jars and sold in almost all stores.

Carpets

Homemade carpets in the Dominican Republic can be purchased in the most unpredictable places. They are often sold in markets, but a homemade carpet can also be purchased from the author of the product. Dominicans hang their fleecy and bright carpets right outside their homes: it may seem that they are just drying after washing. But this is how local residents show their entrepreneurial spirit.

Coconut oil

The oil is purchased by tourists mainly to protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation, although some take it internally to improve digestion. The former use refined oil, the latter do not disdain unrefined oil.

The most popular brands of coconut oil in the Dominican Republic are Eco Vida, Dominican Coconut Oil and De Coco Caribbean Beauty.

Coffee

The word “coffee” in the Dominican Republic means “Santo Domingo”. This is a unique Arabica that does not have the bitter aftertaste characteristic of this variety. The Dominican Republic has a very developed coffee culture, so purchasing coffee beans or enjoying a cup of aromatic coffee in this country is easier than drinking water. “Santo Domingo” is sold everywhere and for a modest price, and in hotels this coffee is served for free.

Cigars

Cigars and Dominican Republic are synonymous words. Even local rum pales in comparison to the all-encompassing greatness of Dominican cigars. Brands such as La Gloria Cubana, Arturo Fuente, La Aurora, La Flor Dominicana and many others inevitably find their way onto lists of the world's best cigars.

The price range for cigars is 10-50 dollars per piece, while their prices in markets and stores vary widely.

If you buy one or two cigars just for tasting or as a souvenir, the difference will not be noticeable. It’s a different matter if 50 cigars are purchased, that is, the maximum quantity allowed for export from the country. In order not to overpay, you should treat this issue very carefully.

Fruits

Fruits brought from the Dominican Republic best convey the color and warmth of this country. Which fruits to bring depends on your taste. These can be either the more or less familiar passion fruit and papaya, or the very exotic ones - guava, grenadilla and chayotes.

Jewelry and costume jewelry

With larimar

Larimar jewelry is in great demand among tourists. The uniqueness of this material lies in the fact that it is mined only in two places in the world - in the Dominican Republic and Italy.

This semi-precious turquoise stone, paired with silver or gold, is used to create earrings, bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry. Considering the large deposits of larimar and its low cost, counterfeiting of this stone is practically impossible. But precious metals can be replaced with something else.

To protect yourself from deception and low quality, it is better to purchase jewelry in stores rather than at markets and beaches.

With amber

The situation in the Dominican Republic is similar with amber. Its huge reserves lie between the city of Santiago and the province of Puerto Plata. The value of amber lies in plants, insects, animal hair and other little things that managed to get into the tree resin.

Rare blue amber obtained from ultraviolet exposure is also highly valued. The likelihood of purchasing fake amber jewelry is extremely low, since it is very easy to distinguish real amber from epoxy resin or plastic with the help of salt and water.

What cannot be exported

• More than 3 liters of alcohol;
• More than 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars;
• Corals, starfish and some types of shells and orchids;
• Items of artistic and historical value;
• National currency.