Are you wondering what to wear in the Dominican Republic? This guide tells you exactly what to pack for the Dominican Republic for activities, weather and more to form the perfect Dominican Republic packing list alongside some amazing outfit inspiration no matter the month you are visiting.
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But before we get onto the specifics of what to wear in the Dominican Republic along with some outfit inspiration we thought it would be worthwhile to talk about exactly how the seasons and dress codes will affect your Dominican Republic Packing List.
Dominican Republic Weather
The Dominican Republic like many Caribbean islands has a wet season and dry season. And which one you are visiting in will affect the activities you do and what you need to pack for them.
The wet season in the Dominican Republic is classified as May, June, July, August, September, October and November. During this time you can expect rain to fall in strong bursts rather than prolonged days of non stop rain.
Overall, you shouldn’t expect too many long days of rain when you visit the Dominican Republic, however, when the rain does come it is usually in a quick heavy downpour so it is worth having a pack away rain jacket or a poncho.
Also like much of the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is affected by hurricane season. The hurricane season in the Dominican Republic is officially classified as running from the beginning of June until the end of November. However, Punta Cana is typically most affected during September and October.
By comparison the dry season in the Dominican Republic runs during December, January, February, March and April.
And while rainfall in the Dominican Republic is seasonal, the temperatures actually tend to be pretty consistent with temperatures of 25C / 77F to 28C/82F. Though June is technically the hottest month in Punta Cana and January is the coldest while August tends to have the best sea swimming conditions.
Considerations for your Dominican Republic Packing List
Before we get onto the exact items to include to make your Dominican Republic outfits, we thought is would be worth outlining some considerations for your packing list. These are:
Pack Light
As the weather in the Dominican Republic is pretty consistent and most visitors are heading there for beach vacations we recommend packing lightly.
For more information on how to pack light we recommend checking out our guide on the 5 4 3 2 1 packing method or the sudoku method which will help you create the perfect Caribbean Capsule Wardrobe without overpacking.
Natural Fabrics
Natural fabrics are your best friend the Dominican Republic. Cottons, silks and linen are well known for being more breathable than man-made fabrics. Linen in particular is very in fashion among locals and tourists alike.
Swimwear
As most people will be spending lots of time on the beach and pool side in the Dominican Republic swimwear is obviously going to be an important part of your packing list.
I usually take at least 2 pieces of swimwear and 2 covers with me on a week long vacation so I can always have one piece to wear and one that is drying but you may want to add some more.
Just try and select covers and 2 piece swimwear (if you want this style) that can be mixed and matched together for different beach looks.
What to wear in the Dominican Republic
So now you know what to consider when packing for the Dominican Republic and the weather by month, we will turn our attention to what to wear in the Dominican Republic.
Dresses and Skirts
As I mentioned above there is lots of beach wear and resort wear seen in the Dominican Republic especially in the resort area of Punta Cana.
Maxi dresses are one of my favorite things to wear especially loose and flowing dresses. They are also great for wearing down on the beach and out for dinner. I like to add things with a bit of tropical flair such as palm leaf patterns.
Click here to shop dresses for tropical beach vacations.
Linen Trousers / Linen pants
Linen trousers are a great pick for the Dominican Republic. I like to pick linen pants in a neutral color such as cream, beige or white as they work well no matter the color you pick for your capsule wardrobe.
I tend to use these as day to night transition pieces for on the beach and at resort restaurants.
Shorts
Shorts are a definite must for the Dominican Republic. Personally I like to avoid denim shorts as I find these more uncomfortable on sand. Instead, I like to pack a mix of cotton shorts for on the beach and smarter chino style shorts for beachside restaurants.
Quick Dry shorts are another essential to add to your Dominican Republic packing list. It is easy for shorts to get wet on the beach and in the humid weather it can be hard for things to dry so picking quick dry pairs is a practical choice.
T Shirts
A basic t shirt is a great staple and an essential of any packing list at any time of year. Now depending on the color scheme you are going for will depend on what color you should have. But in my opinion you can never go wrong with a plain white tee.
For the Dominican Republic, I tend to stick to short sleeve t-shirts but you could also add a tank top too. Just be sure to keep to natural fabrics such as cotton as these are more breathable on hot beaches. I like to add bright-colored t-shirts and things with palm leaf and leaf patterns to add a tropical flavor.
Click here to shop basic tee shirts.
Blouse / Shirt
A shirt or blouse is a great addition to a tropical capsule wardobe. Again I stick with tops in natural fabrics such as cotton and linen to reduce sweat.
Personally I love a leaf pattern blouse especially an oversized linen shirt version.
Waterfall Cardigans
A light waterfall cardigan is my favorite top later for tropical destiantions. They aren’t chunky or too hot but are good protection on chilly nights.
You can choose the color based on the palette you have in your wardrobe.
Hoodie
A lightweight beach hoodie is great for airplane outfits when you are heading to beach destinations and can be good for lounging around the pool on cooler days.
Click here to shop hoodies for travel.
Pashmina
I never travel to any tropical island without a pashmina. It is great in the evenings in case you get chilly, especially during the cooler months and for dining al fresco. They can also be used to make an outfit more modest for visiting religious sites. Click here to shop pashminas.
Swimwear
We always pack at least 2 pieces of swimwear for tropical resort vacations one for wearing and one for drying.
I tend to stick with one piece swimsuits but you should pick the style you feel most comfy in.
Rash Vest
Snorkeling is a great thing to do in Punta Cana however snorkeling can put oyu at risk of sun burn. Therefore if you want to do any water sports in the Dominican Republic we recommend packing a rash vest.
Click here to shop good value rash vests.
Beach Cover
We always pack at least 2 pieces of swimwear for tropical resort vacations one for wearing and one for drying.
I tend to stick with one piece swimsuits but you should pick the style you feel most comfy in.
Sun Hat
Sun hats are a staple on any Dominican Republic packing list. Be sure to pick a wide brimmed straw hat for maximum sun protection. Click here to shop sun hats.
For more information on how to pack sun hats for travel check out this post.
Sunglasses
Underwear
Goes without saying
PJs
We recommend packing lightweight PJs for the tropical island.
Best Shoes for the Dominican Republic
Sandals
- Water-ready polyester webbing upper is extremely durable and dries quickly after getting wet
- Easy hook-and-loop closure comes on and off quickly and gets the fit just right
- 1 1/4″ Lightweight EVA Platform
Sandals are a definite must for the Dominican Republic. I would pick a pair with arch support and without a heel. Teva are my favorite brand for walking sandals if you plan on doing some hikes. However, espadrilles or wedges are a great evening shoe choice particularly for nicer restaurants at your resort.
Sneakers
Sneakers are great for the Dominican Republic whatever time of year you visit. Just be sure you pack a lightweight pair they can cope well in the heat and are also good for your feet on uneven surfaces around the island.
However we do recommend wearing sneaker socks in the summer with them to reduce sweat and odour in your shoe. Personally I like a pair of white lightweight sneakers sure as the adidas cloudfoams.
Watershoes
The water in the Dominican Republic is beautiful however it can have hazards by way of coral and sharp rocks. For this reason we recommend packing water shoes with you.
Click here to shop water shoes.
Flip Flops
Although I don’t recommend these for walking in towns or going on excursions these are useful for on the beach and round by the hotel pool.
What to Pack for the Dominican Republic (non-clothing)
So know you know what to wear in the Dominican Republic in both the rainy and dry season, we will turn our attention for what to pack for the Dominican Republic.
Travel adaptor
Travel adaptors are always on my international packing lists.
Click here to shop universal travel adaptors.
On top of the travel adaptor you will also need
Sun Cream / Sunscreen
No matter whether you are traveling in the rainy or dry season you will need sun cream with you. We recommend getting a high SPF, we recommend SPF 50, as the sun is always strong in the Dominican Republic.
Also as you are going to spend a lot of time in the water we recommend only bringing reef safe sunscreen with you to help protect the marine life of the Dominican Republic. Click here to shop coral safe sun screen here.
Aloe Vera
No one wants to get burnt on vacation but the strength of the sun can take some people by surprise in the Dominican Republic. Therefore we recommend packing aloe vera / aftersun.
Click here to shop aloe vera / aftersun
Lip Balm with SPF
Although it is very important to protect your skin from the sun, it is also important to protect your lips. For this reason we recommend packing a lip balm with SPF. Our current favorite lip balm with SPF is Sun Bum. Click here to shop lip balm with SPF.
Toiletries
As with any tropical island destination you will find that things like toiletries are expensive so be sure to get your toiletries packing list right.
I always bring shampoo and conditioner that is reef safe but also can help calm by hair from the humidity and to cope with damage from sea water.
Click here to shop the best shampoos and conditioners for tropical climates.
Also when looking at packing makeup remember to pack waterproof mascara as you will be spending lots of time in the water.
Snorkel Gear
Although you will be able to rent snorkel gear in the Dominican Republic you will never know the quality. For this reason we recommend bringing your own snorkel gear with you.
Click here to shop snorkel equipment on amazon.
Beach Bag
For use on the beach.
Inflatables
If you like to use swim aids or inflatables in the pool we recommend bringing these with you as they will be more expensive in the Dominican Republic.
CLick here to shop cheap inflatables.
Camera
The Dominican Republic is one of the most beautiful islands in htthee Caribbean so it should come as no surprise that you will want to take a lot of photos. Be sure you have a good quality camera with you. On top of a regular camera you may also want
GoPro
On top of the regular camera we also advise packing a go pro or another underwater camera. The underwater scenery is amazing in the Dominican Republic . To capture the beauty of it we recommend using a go pro. Click here to shop underwater cameras.
Waterproof Phone Case
If you plan on using your phone on the beach and in the pool we recommend taking a waterproof phone case with you. This will not only keep your phone safe from water but is also a good theft deterrent. Click here to shop waterproof phone cases for travel.
Battery pack
A requirement of any packing list. Click here to shop battery packs.
What not to wear in the Dominican Republic
Synthetic Fabrics
We recommend sticking with natural fabrics such as linen, silk and cotton for the Dominican Republic. That is because synthetic fabrics actually make you hotter and sweat more which is something you won’t want in the Dominican Republic.
Jeans
Jeans are too hot in the Dominican Republic even lightweight ones or ripped ones. Instead we recommend packing linen or cotton trousers.
Heels
Heels are not that useful in the Dominican Republic except in restaurants at night. Instead of heels we recommend packing a more versatile shoe such as a wedge or just a dressy pair of sandals.
What to wear in the Dominican Republic FAQs
What to wear on a cruise to the Dominican Republic?
The Dominican Republic is a popular cruise destination. This packing list works for cruises as well as a vacation on the island. However if you are taking a caribbean cruise you may also be interested in checking out our cruise capsule wardrobe guide.
What to wear on honeymoon in the Dominican Republic?
Regardless of whether you are in the Dominican Republic on honeymoon or not the packing list will stay the same. However, if you have some fancier dinners you may want to add some extra maxi dresses for evenings.
What to wear in the Dominican Republic at night?
If you are wondering what to wear in the Dominican Republic at night I would advise that you dress comfortable for heat.
For me the perfect outfit for the Dominican Republic at night is a maxi dress with a pashmina or some long linen trousers with a long sleeve blouse and maybe some costume jewelry too!
Have you been to the Dominican Republic ? What else would you add to our the Dominican Republic packing list? Let us know in the comments below.
Visiting other parts of the Caribbean? Be sure to check out our other Caribbean packing lists:
- What to wear in Aruba
- What to wear in Bermuda
- What to wear in St John
- What to wear in USVI