Go, but pay attention.
The Dominican Republic sketch score sits at 70 today, up one point, while US and Canadian advisories remain at level 2 due to crime. Keep an eye on the global measles notice before you book.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Dominican Republic
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go, but pay attention.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Sex tourism solicitation
Young men or women in the Puerto Plata province may approach tourists to offer sexual services. A firm no is sufficient to end the interaction.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Underage sexual activity
The age of consent is 18. Tourists engaging in sexual activity with minors face prosecution in the Dominican Republic and their home country.
Driving under the influence
It is illegal for tourists and visitors to drink and drive. Penalties apply for those who violate this law.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •The Dominican Republic is generally a safe country.
- •Relatively fewer streets, particularly ones that are not main thoroughfares, are well-lit after dark than you might expect or see back home, even in the capital of Santo Domingo.
Staying healthy
- •Malaria can be a rare issue around rainforests if travelers don't take protective measures such as repellents against mosquito bites.
- •There is a risk of dengue fever and chikungunya fever which is contracted through mosquitoes that bite during the day and during some seasons of the year.
- •Many of the local foods are safe to eat including the meats, fruits, and vegetables.
- •Visitors, however, should not drink any of the local water and should stay with bottled water or other beverages. It is important for visitors to stay hydrated in the hot, humid climate.
- •Sunburn and sun poisoning are a great risk. The sun is very bright here. Use at least SPF30 sunblock. Limit sun exposure.
- •The country's adult HIV/AIDS prevalence is reaching 2.0% or 1 in 50 adults, which is almost 3 times higher than the USA. Practice safe sex.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers in the Dominican Republic focus their safety concerns on alcohol consumption and transportation risks. Regarding drinks, the consensus is to avoid pre-mixed options from resort restaurants and instead ensure your drink is prepared directly in front of you at the bar to avoid tainted alcohol. Transportation presents its own set of dangers, specifically involving ATVs, which are associated with a high frequency of accidents. When moving between locations like Santo Domingo and Las Terrenas, travelers prefer private car shuttles over other methods for ease and security. While travelers seek out paradise destinations, they remain wary of the practical risks inherent in local transit and beverage handling.
“I would just advise you always get the drink made in front of you and not order it from the resort restaurants (I did this for one of my drinks and that was the only time it felt a little funky so I didn't drink that one).
— r/travel
“We were worried about the safety of ATVs given there's a lot of accidents with them, if it was even a good idea to get around on them from Las Terrenas to the waterfall (35 min drive).
— r/travel
“We are going to rent a private car shuttle from SDQ to the town of Las Terrenas because I figured it would be easier than the bus and we have 6 people so it can be split.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
A / B / C · 120V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 911 / ambulance: 911 / fire: 911
Zoom in
One Dominican Republic city on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (11 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12