The Dominican Republic occupies two thirds of the Island of Hispaniola (Little Spain) with the territory of Haiti taking the western third. Covering an area of 48,000km² and with a population of almost nine million, the Dominican Republic has an enormous amount to offer both the casual visitor and the shrewd property investor, not least the weather. There is little variation in temperature throughout the seasons, with early mornings averaging around 23°C rising to 32°C at noon. Temperatures rarely fall below 16°C nor rise above 32°C thus avoiding uncomfortable extremes. May through to November is considered to be the rainy season, but in true Caribbean fashion, a quick downpour is fast replaced by clear sunny skies.

The Dominican Republic has also become a popular bird watching destination. The national bird is the green cotica parrot, which is very talkative and a popular pet! Other birds to spot include several types of parrots, hummingbirds and the guaraguao hawk.From January 1998 foreigners have been allowed to purchase Dominican Republic real estate. Under this decree, real estate investors will enjoy the same rights as Dominicans. Everything from luxury villas and quality apartments to beachfront plots and rural fincas are available for the would-be Dominican Republic homeowner.

The Dominican Republic is characterised by rugged highlands, mountains and fertile valleys, all fringed by more than 1,288 km of coastline offering beautiful fine white sandy beaches and plenty of diving attractions. The country has no less than 16 national parks, nine natural monuments and six scientific reserves, for a total of 67 protected areas that include panoramic routes, recreational areas and ecological corridors. The National Botanical Garden and the Museum of Natural History, in Santo Domingo, have a full classification of the country's flora including the 300 species of orchids found on the Dominican Republic. Spanish is the national language of the Dominican Republic, a reflection of its past as a Spanish colony. Catholicism is the predominant religion. The country has had a recurring theme of ‘new ownership’ having been a Spanish colony, a French colony, under Haitian rule and also under an US military government in the period 1916 – 1924. Democracy has been a rocky road which improved dramatically after the death of military dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo in 1961. Currently the Dominican Republic government is described as a ‘representative democracy’. Economically, the country has long relied on the export of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, however in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. Although the economy continues to grow at a respectable rate, inflation and unemployment remain the two biggest challenges to the current government.

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