Health

Before you go

For most visitors, staying healthy in the Dominican Republic comes down to a few habits: bottled water, mosquito repellent, serious sun protection and moderation at the open bar. The country has good private hospitals in its main cities and resort areas, but care works differently from home. You usually pay before you are treated, and your US insurance may not pay at all.

See a doctor or a travel clinic four to six weeks before the trip, especially if you are pregnant, managing a chronic condition, traveling with young children or visiting family in rural areas. The CDC's advice on this page is current as of October 2026; check the CDC Travelers' Health destination page for updates and any new travel notices before you leave. For crime, roads and the ocean, see our safety page.

Vaccines

Mosquitoes: dengue, Zika, chikungunya and malaria

Dengue

Dengue is the mosquito-borne disease you are most likely to meet here. The CDC reports it is widespread, with transmission all year that usually rises during the May to November rainy season. The Aedes mosquitoes that carry it bite during the day, in cities as much as in the countryside, and they breed in standing water around homes and hotels.

Symptoms are sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and sometimes a rash, starting 4 to 10 days after the bite. There is no vaccine available for travelers in the US. If you get a fever during or after your trip, see a doctor and mention the Dominican Republic. Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for fever and avoid ibuprofen and aspirin until dengue has been ruled out, because they can make bleeding worse.

Zika and pregnancy

The CDC lists the Dominican Republic among places with a past history of Zika transmission. The Yellow Book notes that neither Zika nor chikungunya has been detected in the country for several years, and there is no current outbreak. Because Zika infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, the CDC asks pregnant travelers and couples trying to conceive to talk with a healthcare provider before going, to follow strict mosquito precautions, and to ask about condom use with a partner who has traveled. Check the CDC's Zika travel information right before you book, since the guidance follows current outbreaks.

Malaria

Malaria surprises many Americans, because it occurs in some of the most visited parts of the country. The CDC recommends preventive medication plus mosquito avoidance for travel to five provinces: Azua, Elías Piña, La Altagracia, San Juan and Santo Domingo (including the Distrito Nacional). La Altagracia is the province of Punta Cana and Bávaro, and the CDC explicitly includes resort areas. In the capital, transmission is concentrated in the Los Tres Brazos and La Ciénaga areas. In all other provinces, local cases are rare and the CDC advises mosquito avoidance only.

The parasite here is Plasmodium falciparum, and it is still sensitive to chloroquine. That gives you a wide choice of drugs: atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine or tafenoquine. Each has a different schedule and side effects, so talk to your doctor. Some, like atovaquone-proguanil, start a day or two before the trip; others start a week or more ahead. Case numbers are low (the CDC cites a few hundred a year nationwide), but the CDC still recommends medication for these provinces, so make the decision with your doctor rather than skipping it on your own.

How to avoid bites

• Use an EPA-registered repellent with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD, or 2-undecanone. Apply sunscreen first, repellent second.
• Cover up with long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk, and in the mountains and countryside.
• Sleep in air-conditioned rooms or under nets, and keep screens shut.
• Treat clothing with permethrin if you will hike, camp or stay rural.

Water and food

Do not drink the tap water anywhere in the country, including at resorts. Dominicans themselves drink purified water from large blue jugs called botellones (refillable 5-gallon bottles), and every hotel room and colmado has bottled water. Brushing your teeth with tap water is a small risk most people accept at resorts; use bottled water if you have a sensitive stomach.

The CDC says ice at established tourist businesses is generally safe, but not in remote areas. Resorts and good restaurants use purified ice. At a roadside stand or a rural party, order drinks without ice.

Travelers' diarrhea

This is the most common health problem visitors have. Food hygiene at the large resorts has improved, but buffets that sit out in the heat, street food and beach vendor food all carry risk.

• Eat food that is cooked and served hot. Be choosy with buffet dishes that have been sitting.
• Skip raw or undercooked seafood, including ceviche from beach vendors.
• Peel fruit yourself, or eat it at places you trust.
• Wash hands or use sanitizer before eating.
• Pack an oral rehydration product and ask your doctor about an antibiotic to carry for severe cases.

None of this means skipping Dominican food. A busy comedor (local lunch spot) serving fresh la bandera (rice, beans and meat) is often a safer bet than a lukewarm buffet. See our food page for what to eat and where.

Alcohol

The CDC notes cases of methanol poisoning from illegally produced alcohol, in community settings and occasionally at resorts. Stick to sealed bottles and known brands. Our safety page covers drink spiking and the history of tainted-alcohol reports.

Sun and heat

The CDC warns that visitors often underestimate the Caribbean sun and how fast humidity dehydrates you. Less than 20 degrees north of the equator, the UV index regularly reaches 11 or higher, which the scale calls extreme. Midday highs run around 86 to 90°F (30 to 32°C) most of the year, with high humidity that makes it feel hotter.

• Use broad-spectrum sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher, and reapply every two hours and after swimming. Reef-safe mineral sunscreen protects the corals you are snorkeling over.
• Wear a hat, sunglasses and a long-sleeved rash guard for snorkeling and boat days. Burns on catamaran trips are almost universal for people who skip this.
• Stay in the shade from 11 am to 3 pm when you can.
• Drink water steadily through the day, more than you would at home, and alternate it with alcoholic drinks.
• Watch for heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, headache. Get into shade and air conditioning, drink fluids and cool off. Confusion or a stop in sweating can be heat stroke, which needs emergency care.

Other risks worth knowing

• Leptospirosis. A bacterial infection spread through water and soil contaminated by animal urine. The CDC notes it is common on the island, especially after heavy rain and flooding. Avoid swimming or wading in rivers, lakes and floodwater, and cover cuts.
• Rabies. Rabies occurs in animals, including dogs and mongooses. Do not pet stray dogs or cats. If an animal bites or scratches you, wash the wound with soap and water for 15 minutes and get medical care the same day; post-exposure shots are available at specialized and regional hospitals.
• Sexually transmitted infections. The CDC reports high HIV and syphilis rates in some groups. Use condoms with any new partner.
• Sea urchins, jellyfish and coral cuts. Wear water shoes on rocky and reef beaches.
• Mental health care is limited, and inpatient psychiatric care is mainly in government institutions. Bring enough medication and a plan.

Medical care and hospitals

Medical care in the Dominican Republic splits sharply between private and public. Public hospitals often lack basic supplies and English-speaking staff. Private hospitals in Santo Domingo, Santiago and the Punta Cana area are modern, with specialists trained in the US, Spain or Latin America, and many doctors speak English. Quality still varies, so for anything beyond an emergency, choose a well-known hospital.

On the north coast, Puerto Plata and Sosúa have private clinics for routine and urgent care, and La Romana has private care near Casa de Campo. Serious cases from these areas often transfer to Santiago or Santo Domingo. The US Embassy publishes a list of doctors and hospitals at do.usembassy.gov.

Hospital stays

Overnight nursing on regular wards can be thin, and families traditionally stay with patients to help. The CDC suggests hiring a private nurse for a longer stay. If you are hospitalized, the US Embassy or the consular agency can help contact family; see the contacts on our safety page.

Pharmacies

Farmacias (pharmacies) are everywhere, and many deliver. Pharmacists will dispense many drugs that need a prescription in the US over the counter, but brands and strengths differ. Bring all your prescription medicine in original labeled bottles, with a copy of the prescription, and enough for a few extra days in case of a flight delay.

Costs and paying for care

This is where Americans get caught. The State Department notes that most providers expect cash or card payment before treatment or before discharge, and that emergency care may require a deposit first. Private hospitals usually ask for payment up front or proof of insurance they accept.

A clinic visit or a resort doctor's house call is affordable by US standards, but tests, imaging and an overnight admission add up fast, and a hospital may ask for a deposit of thousands of dollars before admitting you. Medical evacuation by air ambulance to Miami or another US city commonly costs well into five figures.

• Carry a credit card with a high limit, and know your insurer's 24-hour assistance number.
• Call the insurer before or right after admission. Many travel policies pay the hospital directly if they are called in time; otherwise you pay and claim later.
• Keep every receipt, report and prescription for your claim.

Insurance

Check what your health plan covers abroad before you go. Many US plans cover emergencies only, at out-of-network rates, and pay you back later. Very few cover medical evacuation.

Medicare

Original Medicare does not cover care outside the US, apart from rare exceptions that will not apply to a trip to the Dominican Republic. Some Medigap supplement plans include foreign travel emergency coverage, typically 80% of costs after a deductible, up to a lifetime limit. Some Medicare Advantage plans include emergency coverage abroad. Call your plan and ask exactly what is covered and how claims work.

Travel medical insurance

For most Americans, a travel medical policy with medical evacuation is the simple answer. Look for at least $100,000 in medical coverage and a separate evacuation benefit, coverage for any activities you plan (diving, kitesurfing, ATVs), and a clear policy on pre-existing conditions. If you are coming in hurricane season, see the storm advice on our safety page; for longer stays and residency, see long stays.

Cosmetic surgery and medical tourism

The Dominican Republic is a major destination for cosmetic surgery, especially for Americans, and many Dominican Americans travel to Santo Domingo for procedures at a fraction of US prices. Packages that bundle surgery with a recovery house or resort stay are heavily marketed on social media. The CDC and the State Department both warn about the risks in unusually direct terms.

What the CDC reports

• Between 2009 and 2022, 93 US citizens died after cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic.
• Many of those deaths followed multiple procedures at once, such as body lifts or fat-reduction surgery, and were linked to fat embolism or blood clots in the veins and lungs.
• There have been outbreaks of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, slow-growing wound infections that are hard to treat, among women who had cosmetic surgery in the country.
• Most facilities that serve medical tourists have not met international accreditation standards.
• Legal recourse if something goes wrong is very limited.

The State Department adds that the embassy knows of Americans who suffered serious complications or died after cosmetic procedures, and it urges you to check every surgeon's credentials.

If you are considering it

1. Talk to a US doctor first about whether you are a good candidate and what follow-up you will need at home.
2. Verify the surgeon's license and board certification, and check whether the facility has international accreditation.
3. Be wary of combining several major procedures in one operation, the pattern behind many of the deaths the CDC describes.
4. Allow time to recover before you fly. Long flights soon after surgery raise the risk of blood clots; ask your surgeon how long to wait.
5. Skip swimming, sun and alcohol during recovery, which rules out the beach vacation many packages promise.
6. Get written records of everything done, every medication and the implants used, and arrange follow-up care at home before you leave.
7. Buy insurance that covers complications, medical evacuation and repatriation of remains. Standard travel policies often exclude elective surgery.

Dental work is the other big draw. Basic dental care is generally lower-risk, but the same rules apply: check credentials, get records and plan follow-up at home.

Health checklist

• Travel clinic or doctor visit four to six weeks out: routine shots, hepatitis A, typhoid, malaria pills if you are going to one of the five risk provinces.
• Travel medical insurance with evacuation, or written confirmation of what your plan covers abroad.
• Prescriptions in original bottles, plus a few days' extra supply.
• EPA-registered repellent, SPF 30+ sunscreen, a hat and a rash guard.
• Oral rehydration salts, acetaminophen, antidiarrheal medicine and basic first aid.
• Bottled water only, ice only at established places.
• Your insurer's assistance number and the nearest private hospital saved in your phone.
• After you return, report any fever to a doctor and say where you traveled.

Traveling with a pet? See our pets page. Packing for the trip? Try our packing list.