The largest city in Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo is also its capital. Situated at the Caribbean Sea, this city holds an approximate population of 3 million. Flights to Santo Domingo halt at its two international airports, of which the main one is Las Americas International. When it comes to celebrations and festivity, the city is beaming with festive lights and spectacular colors.
The climax fiesta of the city, before the Lenten celebrations is about the diabolic Cojuelos winning over Dominican, in their vivid and wild masks. They put on silk capes, colorful pantaloons and color-coordinating jerkins. Following the African dressing theme, they express their emotions vividly, and use colors and make up to attract the crowd. To get cheap tickets to Santo Domingo’s costumed-character carnival, you can make arrangements from the local officer’s office at the city.
The city holds a premier annual windsurfing championship, in June. Separate race circuits are prepared for the participating amateurs and professionals. Everyone competes earnestly, with the sole purpose of healthy competition! For two weeks, the championships are carried on, after which winners are given attractive gift vouchers and goodies. From around the world, people book their ticket airlines in well advance, to make the best of this luring event!
In the month of February, the crowd is thrilled at the Carnaval. This event is the most awaited throughout the year. As a tradition, people dress up in costumes, march in parades, party and have a gala time with both tourists and locals alike. The trend is to hit each other with inflated coz and pig bladders, as a custom to the event. In some way or the other, nearly 100,000 participants enjoy this grand fiesta!
In April, there are voodoo celebrations along the sugar plantations and country border that collide with many of the Christian celebrations. Here, Haitian migrants are residing and indulge in their traditional practices. This is a very reserved activity, but definitely one taking note of.
Further down the Santo Dominion calendar, the Merengue Festival is held in the first week of October, as a tribute to the country’s grown harvest. Cars buses and other transports across the city are blocked off the main streets, and vendors bring in cheerful stalls, that they align along the roads. At one end of the city, a huge podium is set up where the lines of concerts take place, by the meringue singers. The viewers are shown fine craftsmanship of the Dominicans, and cropping is exhibited along the farm sides.
Until Easter Sunday, the previous week is Holy week. Here, a grand fiesta is held in the city. The featuring attraction is the volleyball tournament that occurs during the peak season. If one is in for some cheap flights to Santo Domingo, its best to book a month in advance. Because at this time around the season, everyone is hurrying to the city! Websites and tour operators come up with cheap plane fares to hold up in the growing competition, along with introducing various economical trip packages.