Above all Dominicans are open and friendly people who place much value on family and friendship. Religion too plays a central role in Dominican society—Dominicans are by and large Catholics, though of course, religions of all type are represented in the country. Another pivotal element of Dominican society is music. Merengue and bachata are the archetypical Dominican music inventions. If you enjoy salsa, you will most certainly enjoy merengue as well. Salsa and hip-hop are also much loved by Dominicans, and at the moment reggaeton is extremely popular.

When talking about Dominican culture and pastimes, one must mention sports, most especially baseball. One could say that baseball is for Dominicans what cricket is for Indians. The Dominican Republic has its own six-team league, with a season beginning in October and ending January. A great number of Dominican baseball players are signed on to major league teams in other countries; those playing major league baseball in the U.S. reach the highest level of international recognition. Some of the most famous Dominican baseball players include: Sammy Sosa, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, Miguel Tejada, Ron Belliard, and Bartolo Colon.

The Dominican Republic is a lively and colorful country with a wide array of cultural offerings. This page is just a brief glance at a few of the more prominent aspects of the Dominican way of life. If you’re interested in discovering more, you may want to consult the links we’ve provided.