Cuba or Dominican Republic?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 63 113
UNESCO listings among them 14 8
Cost level Budget Mid-range
Busiest month in our write-ups December January
Currency Cuban peso (CUP) Dominican peso (DOP)
Plugs and voltage A, B, C - 110/220 V A, B - 120 V
Everyday languages Spanish Spanish
Driving side right hand side right hand side
Region Caribbean Caribbean
Capital Havana Santo Domingo
Cuba
Music from every window and improvisation as a way of life; two economies run in parallel.
What we have written up
- Alejandro de Humboldt National Park national park
- Baconao Park biosphere reserve
- Baracoa old town
- Bariay Bay historic site
- Basilica of El Cobre church
- Bayamo city
Worth knowing before you go
- Cash is king and change is scarce - small notes always
- Tipping matters - musicians, guides and casa hosts live on it
- Casa hosts can book the next casa down the road - the informal network works
Dominican Republic
Merengue pace with Caribbean warmth; the all-inclusive coast and the real island differ happily.
What we have written up
- 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua waterfall
- Alcázar de Colón palace
- Altos de Chavón old town
- Amber and Larimar tradition
- Armando Bermúdez National Park national park
- Bahia de las Aguilas beach
All 113 places in Dominican Republic →
Worth knowing before you go
- Tipping: 10% service is on bills; a little extra is customary
- Dollars are widely accepted; pesos get better street prices
- Uber works in Santo Domingo and Santiago
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.