Poisonous animals in the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic: what dangers may lie in wait, tips for tourists. Marine flora and fauna

Reptiles living in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic differs from other tropical places in the complete absence of poisonous snakes. But there are boa constrictors here. These long, up to 6 meters, snakes have an interesting color. In addition to boas, there are 4 more species of snakes on the territory that do not pose any danger to humans.
Children with asthma are given a spoonful of this “yummy” to drink. Maybe, we're talking about about the early stages of this unpleasant disease.
You can also get rid of headaches with a couple of drops on the temples of the patient’s skull.
The snake's teeth are really very sharp. One good thing is that there are no poisonous snakes in the Dominican Republic. Finding a snake is, in principle, very difficult. They live on the hills, hide under snags, and often crawl out to bask in the sun.
We spent about two hours actively searching. Fortunately, our trip ended with this beauty:
The main task of our wizard is to correctly disembowel the oblong body of the victim, making shallow cuts along the abdomen.
A regular razor blade is ideal for this.
The complexity of the process lies in the fact that the fat we need is located quite close to the skin...
In general, if the snake does not get into the soup, or Pincho does not need snake oil, then she lives with him for some time. They sleep together, he brings her mice or some other tasty creatures.
Next, after an incision has been made from head to tail, you need to remove the skin.
I don’t know why he didn’t roll the snake in the sand - his hands would have slipped much less. For example, moray eels are cut using the same sand.
In the area of the snake’s anus there is what he called a “claw,” which makes it difficult to remove the skin completely.
This specimen turned out to have a lot of fat.
Nature of the Dominican Republic
Here in the Dominican Republic, plants accustomed to a temperate climate get along well with representatives of the tropical flora. The diversity of plant species found in the local evergreen forests includes numerous palm species, mangroves, and cedars and Caribbean pines in the mountains. The terrain here is mountainous. Most of local population lives in the Cibao Valley - this fertile valley stretches for 240 km from west to east. It is warmest here in the summer - up to +34° C, although in the mountains it is a little cooler, and at night the mountain air can cool down to even slightly negative temperatures.
There are no poisonous snakes or large animals in the Dominican Republic, but there are many birds, and sea waters inhabited by dolphins and humpback whales.
Holidays in the Dominican Republic
Tours to the Dominican Republic attract both those who like to relax on the beach and fans of excursions, water sports and active life. The wonderful beaches of the Dominican Republic stretch for several hundred kilometers. The most high peak Caribbean Islands- Durte. The most popular resorts– Punto Cana, Boca Chica, Juan Dolio and La Romana. In the recreation areas for tourists, English is spoken here, and state language The country is Spanish. Local kitchen includes a variety of dishes made from seafood, meat, fruits and vegetables - rice and red beans are especially popular. Almost every hotel here has its own beach and small park; in the hotel restaurant you can try European cuisine, so those who like comfort will enjoy a holiday in the Dominican Republic. Local attractions of snakes in the Dominican Republic will not let you get bored. It is in the Dominican Republic that Santo Domingo is located - ancient city America, Lake Enriquio, inhabited by crocodiles, is the largest in the world salt Lake, and much more.
Dominican tourist bigwigs have happily avoided a serious temptation: to rely entirely on the luxurious Caribbean nature, gorgeous beaches and sea, neglecting the level of service in hotels and man-made entertainment. Therefore, a Dominican vacation is not only sea-sun-beach-diving, but at least two more things: active and varied night life V resort centers, as well as high-level hotels with quality service and appropriate rates. The country hosts many festivals throughout the year. Carnival in Santo Domingo begins in February on the eve of Lent and lasts about a week. The next carnival begins on August 15 and coincides with Restoration Day (the beginning of the war with Spain). In the last week of July - the first week of August, the Dominican Republic hosts a meringue festival. The week-long Caribbean Culture Festival is celebrated in Puerto Plata in June with jazz, blues and folk music concerts and dance shows. And in Cabaraete in February, every weekend there are some kind of competitions: bicycle races, a knife throwing championship, a sand sculpture competition.

Motorcycle taxis are popular among Dominicans, with up to three people sitting behind the motorcycle drivers. Such transport is very cheap; you can get there within the city for 40-70. But is the cheapness worth the risks? We think not. It's easier to sit in regular taxi, fortunately acceptable.

Conclusion two - be careful when crossing the road

Dominican drivers do not know the traffic rules, and they do not look at the road very carefully. If so, then tourists should watch very carefully. It is better to wait and let passing cars pass than to risk being run over by them.

Keep an especially close eye on children! Do not allow children to play near the roadway.

The photo on the left shows the sad consequences of an accident in the Dominican Republic, click on the photo to enlarge.

Don't drink tap water

Tap water in the Dominican Republic is not considered drinking water; it may contain pathogens of dangerous diseases, even cholera. Do not brush your teeth with this water. English-language guidebooks do not even recommend washing her hands.

Antiseptic wipes

Arriving in the Dominican Republic, tourists find themselves almost on the other side of the earth. Naturally, not only other people live here, but also their own bacteria and microorganisms, to which the Russian body and its immunity are not accustomed.

A good habit is to wipe cutlery, dishes and even sun loungers on the beach with antiseptic wipes. It is highly recommended to do this in the first days, then optionally.

Marine flora and fauna

Remember that bites and other injuries from marine life are not covered by travel insurance. This applies not only to the Dominican Republic, but to all countries in general. Be careful with the inhabitants of the Caribbean Sea.

Don't use credit cards

The Dominican Republic is one of the leading countries in the theft of credit card data, their cloning and theft of money from bank accounts. Don't take unnecessary risks, use only cash.

Don't attract thieves and robbers

The Dominican Republic has a high crime rate, street thefts and robberies of tourists are common. The main thing that will keep you safe is not to attract the attention of criminals.

Don’t wear expensive jewelry, hide your wallets in your inner pockets, don’t flash cash, but rather take the necessary minimum amount of money with you on excursions. If you take an expensive camera or video camera with you, try to hide it in your bag. If you have an expensive phone with you, try not to take it out unless absolutely necessary.

The first rule is that the less your wealth is seen, the better.

Car thefts are very common here. Thieves run up to the car, snatch bags, wallets, phones or cameras, and then quickly retreat on mopeds.

The second rule is never leave valuables in a rented car, taxi, or even on a tour bus.

Dominican Republic is very beautiful country, characterized by amazing nature and wonderful conditions for recreation. It is very popular among Russian tourists, but many dangers await them here, as in many other countries.

Social dangers

Tour operators assure tourists that there is no crime in the Dominican Republic, but this is not at all the case. Dominican Republic is included in the list of countries Caribbean with a fairly high crime rate. Fraudsters and pickpockets regularly operate here, so to ensure the safety of yourself and your belongings you should follow some rules:

If you have problems, there is no point in contacting the police - they are corrupt and look at tourists solely as a source of income. It would be better to contact the tourist police - they will be more useful.

Natural hazards

In addition to the dangers associated with people, the Dominican Republic has many natural dangers, especially those associated with the local fauna. There are no sharks here in the coastal waters, and their attacks on people have never been recorded, so there is no need to be afraid of predatory fish. There are no poisonous snakes here, but you can meet a huge boa constrictor, which, however, is also not dangerous to humans.

But jellyfish pose some danger. Small jellyfish are often found off the coast, leaving stings like nettles - on local residents we have the same attitude towards them as we have towards nettles. More poisonous jellyfish are not found off the coast, but you can see them if you go diving. In this case, you should not touch them, especially if they look really beautiful and bright.

Also a rather unpleasant inhabitant local waters is a sea urchin. It is very easy to step on, and its spines break off easily, remain in the leg and dissolve for several weeks, causing severe pain. So, when walking on the reefs, you should wear shoes, and if you get thorns in your feet, you should immediately take them out.

Eight-pointed starfish

A tourist has a chance to find an interesting starfish with eight rays, but you cannot touch it - unlike other stars, this one is highly poisonous.

Under no circumstances should you break corals! This is not only illegal, but also somewhat dangerous. Corals harbor microorganisms that can not only slightly burn your hands, but also cause serious damage. In addition, corals, after being separated from the general massif, may not look as colorful as in the sea.

According to travel agents, the Dominican Republic is safe for vacation. However, this is not quite true. For example, according to statistics, the crime rate in the country is one of the highest in the Caribbean. In addition to criminal risks, there will be other dangers awaiting the traveler here, which you need to know about in advance.

Terrorism and crime

The terrorist threat in the Dominican Republic is virtually non-existent. However, the danger is posed by unrest among the local population, which often develops into riots and clashes with the police. The situation often becomes tense on the eve of elections. It is recommended to avoid going to poor areas and avoid demonstrations.

Crimes such as street robbery, pickpocketing, and money fraud are very common in the Dominican Republic. credit cards and car thefts. The list of the most popular things that pickpockets pay attention to is topped by passports. It’s worth keeping a close eye on cash, credit cards, driver’s licenses, and airline tickets – it’s best to keep all this in a hotel safe. If documents are needed for any action, a photocopy is usually sufficient.

The most common type of crime is street robbery. Robbers operate day and night; in groups and alone; on foot and by motorcycle or bicycle. In the latter case, they drive up to the victim, snatch bags, Cell phones, cameras and quickly leave. Such crimes are solved very rarely. Therefore, it is recommended to watch out for motorcyclists passing by, and not to carry phones and cameras on lanyards or in your hands.

You cannot leave valuables on beaches or in cars - your car can even be robbed in the parking lot of a hotel or supermarket. It is better to keep money in different places so that in the event of a robbery you will not be left completely without funds. You should not go out after drinking alcohol - drunk tourists most often become victims of criminals.

Because of large quantity cases of credit card fraud, their use in the Dominican Republic should be minimized. ATMs should only be used in reputable establishments or branches of international banks. Even after leaving the country, keep an eye on your card balance for several weeks - scammers may postpone their plans for a while so that the card owner does not suspect anything.

You need to exchange currency only at official exchange points - otherwise there is a high risk of becoming the owner of counterfeit bills.

Behind last years the number of intentional murders per 100 thousand inhabitants in the Dominican Republic was about 25 per year (for comparison, in Russia this figure is slightly more than 10).

Road safety

The roads in the Dominican Republic are quite dangerous. At the entrances to settlements There are armed police checkpoints - they can stop a car to check documents.

On local roads it is easy to become a victim of scammers dressed in police uniforms. Their “business” is to extort “fines”. Real police officers can be identified by the "AMET" signs on their cars or motorcycles. If you are fined by the police, be sure to ask for a receipt, which must be paid at the AMET office. Remember that the Dominican Republic is free to carry firearms, therefore, its presence does not indicate that its owner belongs to law enforcement agencies.

Another danger on the roads is that local residents sometimes throw themselves under the wheels in order to subsequently receive monetary compensation from the driver. Almost all laws in the country are designed in such a way that the Dominican will always be right.

Natural disasters and natural hazards

Earthquakes and hurricanes are not uncommon in the Dominican Republic. Houses here, as a rule, are built without taking into account seismic hazards. Tsunamis also pose a significant threat.

Tropical cyclones and hurricanes are most common between July and August. You can learn about their approach from the local media.

Majority Dominican beaches fenced off from the sea coral reefs, which do not allow such unexpected visitors as sharks, barracudas or moray eels to swim there.

Health care and medicine in the Dominican Republic

The quality of medical care is low; In addition, treatment is quite expensive. If minor health problems can be solved in any hospital, then if necessary, for example, serious surgical intervention, you will have to go to Santo Domingo.

When going to the Dominican Republic, it is advisable to purchase medical insurance - it will allow you to avoid serious additional expenses if something happens.

The island has a high level of solar activity, so it is recommended to take sunscreens and glasses, as well as light clothing.

It is better not to use local tap water for drinking - it is advisable to buy mineral or purified water in bottles.

In the Dominican Republic, there is a risk of contracting all diseases found in tropical and temperate climates. Dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, swine flu, tetanus, hepatitis - these are not full list diseases that can be contracted here.

The prevalence of HIV infection is moderate. There are about 60 thousand people living with HIV in the country, which is about 0.6% of the total population (for comparison, in Russia - about 0.7%).

Among the many, one might say, heavenly corners of our planet most of Russian travel lovers prefer to spend their legal vacation period or weekends in an amazing, surrounded by greenery Dominican Republic. Which is not at all surprising, because these are the places that can deservedly boast of a luxurious exotic beach area, covering hundreds of kilometers, where all the conditions for excellent rest and relaxation are created.

Of course, cover a fair distance Russian tourists most convenient at aerial view transport. However, many are wondering: is it possible to fly to the Dominican Republic now?

Tourists arriving in the country will be able to:

bask in the gentle rays of the sun for as long as you like, sitting comfortably on the snow-white coast;
admire the unsurpassed natural beauties, especially coral reefs;
get acquainted with a very original, but very interesting local culture.

And, of course, there is the opportunity to make unforgettable excursions to numerous attractions ancient country, the discoverer of which is considered to be H. Columbus. No matter where the traveler goes, he will definitely be greeted with a warm welcome by the locals, who warmly welcome all guests.

In particular, our compatriots were very alarmed by the hurricane in the Dominican Republic on the night of September 19, 2017, or rather, by its strength and power. Let's try to analyze the topic of interest more carefully and consider what other dangers are fraught with a vacation on an island surrounded by greenery.

Is it dangerous to vacation on a very popular resort island?

If you carefully analyze the main question, is it dangerous to fly to the Dominican Republic now, then it is not so easy to find a clear answer. After all, everything that is currently happening on the island is, of course, the restoration of the Republic after the serious damage caused by a natural disaster.

However, some areas that were not heavily damaged by the hurricane have been almost completely restored and are able to receive guests, offering quite reasonable price. Of course, it will not be possible to fully appreciate the former beauty of the dilapidated Republic, but every guest will be able to explore the natural attractions.

Whether it is worth going to the Dominican Republic now, of course, everyone must decide for themselves. And if the answer is positive, you should definitely find out what dangers a resort island remote from Russia is fraught with, regardless of the time of year, and tourist operators are trying with all their might to hide quite significant shortcomings.

If we take this issue seriously, the situation in the Dominican Republic is such that danger can await a tourist almost anywhere and at any time of the day. However, it is quite simple to protect your vacation and make it truly memorable if you familiarize yourself in advance with the main points that you must, as they say, “bypass” and in no case become a participant in them.

TOP 10 dangers that can await tourists in the Dominican Republic

Here are some potential hazards to avoid:

First of all, do not come into contact with French-speaking black citizens, of whom there are quite a few in the southern part of the island or near the capital. The fact is that they are Haitian migrants who arrived on the island in search of work. Not everyone can find a job in the Dominican Republic, and since money is constantly needed for food, naive tourists can become victims of organized criminal groups.
Given the confirmed presence of numerous infectious diseases on the island, including syphilis, yellow fever, malaria and even rabies, it is advisable to be vaccinated before traveling. While on vacation, you need to wash your hands thoroughly, preferably 2-3 times, with soap and running water. Men should try not to “contact” with local beauties.
The water quality on the island is, to put it mildly, not the best. Therefore, it is recommended to use bottled water for drinking and cooking. After washing vegetables and fruits under running water, they should be thoroughly rinsed with boiling water. This has been the situation in the Dominican Republic for a long time.
Typhoons are another danger that awaits guests and residents of the Republic. That is why comfortable hotels are built not on the coast itself, but at a certain distance. And answering the question whether it’s worth going to the Dominican Republic now, given the possibility of typhoons, you can answer this way: the safest time for a holiday on the island is considered to be the period starting from the end of November and ending in March.
In these wonderful places, unfortunately, there seems to be a restless seismic situation. There is a high probability of earthquakes, since the island is located in an incompletely formed alpine zone. Tourists should not be too afraid about this, because special services announce a possible earthquake in advance, but remembering exactly where things and documents are left should always be remembered by everyone without exception. Studies have proven that the areas of Punta Cana and La Romana have the lowest intensity of seismic waves, therefore, if possible, it is best to choose hotels located in these quietest areas of the island.
First-time tourists should definitely know that the ancient religion is still used on the island, especially in the provincial areas. There are many Voodoo sorcerers here. Whether it is necessary to seek meetings with its representatives, or, on the contrary, to try to protect oneself from such communication - of course, everyone needs to decide for themselves.
An exciting form of recreation - diving - is available to everyone. After all, many ships sank near the waters washing the island, and what kind of adventure lover would refuse to try his luck in searching for countless sunken treasures. However, before you give your consent to participate in underwater research, you should carefully consider whether you are ready to entrust your own life to an unknown team, going with them to conquer the depths of the sea.
An excellent holiday on a magnificent yacht, which can be rented for the entire duration of your holiday, will undoubtedly appeal to everyone without exception. But those who value their own health should avoid swimming and diving from a yacht into open sea waters. The fact is that it is in these places that you can often find large-sized sharks that attack water vessels without fear, mistaking the vehicle for ordinary bait. The habit of predators can be explained quite simply - relatively recently, the so-called golden generation of vacationers, as entertainment, fed ferocious sharks with the favorite delicacy of predators, directly from their hands.
Taking into account the statistics, the activities of local thieves' organizations are developed in the Dominican Republic. To avoid becoming a victim of criminals, regardless of the area that the traveler has chosen for vacation, ordinary vigilance and caution in dealing with very suspicious individuals will help.
You should also not use the services exchange offices, operating in private street pavilions, if local currency remains available after the end of the holiday period. This operation should be performed only in special institutions, despite the fact that street offers will be more profitable. As previously noted, in this Republic the level of fraud is quite high, so the currency of gullible tourists can be easily exchanged for perfectly counterfeit dollars.

Use bank cards It is also not necessary to pay for various goods. It is best to withdraw your own savings from ATMs operating inside the hotel complex.

Have a healthy holiday in the Dominican Republic, but be aware of the risks

It should be kept in mind: if a traveler does become a victim of scammers, then contacting the local police is unlikely to correct the current situation, because for local authorities, a tourist is primarily an additional source of income. In such circumstances, it is best to contact a police agency that works directly with tour operators to increase the chance of returning stolen goods. Money or personal items.

To summarize, we can come to the following conclusion: the situation in the Dominican Republic, taking into account the risks, is practically no different from others resort places. After all, the above fears can await tourists in any, even the most modern country.

Therefore, answering the question whether it’s worth going to the Dominican Republic now, you can answer this way: of course, it’s worth it if you familiarize yourself in advance with the risks of staying on a magnificent island surrounded by greenery. paradise island. Additional knowledge will help create a vacation that will remain in the memory of every tourist, and a lot of entertainment and viewing the incredible beauty of natural attractions will turn spending time in a mysterious country into the most memorable and wonderful adventure. We hope that our article helped you understand what the current situation is like for tourists in the Dominican Republic.

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