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Turks & Caicos and Dominican Republic are extremely different destinations and as such is suited to varied types of travelers.
Our goal in this article is to compare and contrast both countries to help you determine which is more suitable for you and perhaps your family.
As a general rule, Turks & Caicos is perfect for travelers seeking a quiet and laid back destination with beautiful beaches. Alternatively, Dominican Republic is ideal for visitors seeking white sand beaches as well as outdoor enthusiasts who want to visit waterfalls such as Charcos de Damajagua.
Read on for more information on Turks & Caicos and Dominican Republic from the perspective of a Caribbean national.
Turks & Caicos Vs Dominican Republic- Which Destination Is Bigger
Dominican Republic is significantly larger than Turks & Caicos being 18,704 square miles. This makes this destination ideal for a Dominican Republic Road Trip.
The nation has a unique feature in that both Haiti and Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola.
The only other country in the Caribbean that also shares a landmass are St Maarten and St Martin.
On the other hand, Turks & Caicos is only 366 square miles. It consists of 40 different islands and cays of which only 8 are inhabited.
Turks & Caicos Vs Dominican Republic- Which Destination Gets More Tourists
The Dominican Republic gets significantly more tourists than Turks & Caicos.
According to tourism, analytics, the island recorded a total of 6,446,036 stop over visitors in 2019.
On the other hand, Turks and Caicos recorded a lesser figure in terms of visitor arrivals for the same period.
As per tourism analytics, the destination welcomed 1,111,818 cruise ship visitors and 486,739 stop over visitors for the same period.
Turks & Caicos Vs Dominican Republic- Does The Landscape Differ?
The landscape of both countries is polar opposite. Dominican Republic is mountainous, green and lush in terms of look and feel.
Dominican Republic can also boast of having the highest peak in the entire Caribbean.
Pico Duarte which is located in Cordillera Central is the16th highest point of elevation compared to other islands worldwide.
On the other hand, Turks and Caicos have a flat topography. The islands are arid and coral based.
To paint an even clearer picture of flatness of Turks & Caicos, the highest point of elevation is Blue Mountain which stands at 163 feet.
Turks & Caicos Vs Dominican Republic- What Are The Official Currencies
The official currencies of both islands differ. Despite being an overseas dependency of the United Kingdom, the currency used for financial transactions in the Turks & Caicos is the US dollar.
Contrastingly, the official currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican Peso.
Its symbol is $ with RD$ being used to prevent confusion with other currencies.
The Dominican Peso is issued and managed by the Central Bank of Dominican Republic and is available in bank notes and coins.
Bank notes are available in 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 bills. Alternatively, coins are available in 1, 5, 10 and 25 peso.
Nonetheless, the US dollar is widely accepted for financial transactions in Dominican Republic. Change is usually given in local currencies.
Turks & Caicos Vs Dominican Republic- Which Destination Has Better Beaches
Honestly, this one is indeed a tough one as both destinations have remarkable white sand beaches with clear waters.
Grace Bay located on the island of Providenciales, is the pride of Turks and Caicos and it has won many awards both regionally and internationally.
Grace Bay Beach is part of Princess Alexandra National Park and known for its calm and turquoise waters.
It stretches three miles long and there is a barrier reef located about one mile off shore to keep the beach still and safe.
Grace Bay Beach shares its shoreline with many high rise and luxurious hotels on the island.
Likewise, Dominican Republic is also blessed with numerous white sand beaches with majestic turquoise waters.
Some of the key spots to explore include Juanillo Beach, El Corecito Beach and Uvero Alto Beach.
For individuals who enjoy remote and unspoiled beaches, playa Bahia de las aguilas is the perfect site to visit.
Known as the best beach in Dominican Republic, playa Bahia de las aguilas is a gorgeous stretch of white sand with turquoise waters measuring five miles.
The beach is located in Jaragua National Park which a protected reserve in the country.
Turks & Caicos Vs Dominican Republic- Which Destination Has Better Nightlife
Definitely, Dominican Republic has the more active nightlife of the two destinations.
The nightlife atmosphere in the Dominican Republic consists of clubs, discos, casinos and restaurants.
As a Spanish speaking nation, the music genres primarily are reggaeton, electro and latino music.
Salsa dancing is extremely popular as well on the island.
Some of the popular places for nightlife in Dominican Republic are Onno’s Zona Colonial and La Bodega Bar.
Upscale restaurants tend to enforce a dress code for attendees. Therefore, if you are planning on having dinner, pack something a bit more formal.
Contrastingly, Turks & Caicos is a much quieter and laid back destination.
One of the major weekly entertainment experiences is Fish Fry which is held every Thursday nights.
At this event several seafood based dishes are available for purchase. There is usually a live band as well as vendors selling various forms of souvenirs and craft items.
Similar Fish Fry events are hosted weekly on the Caribbean islands of Barbados, St Lucia and Grenada.
Turks & Caicos Vs Dominican Republic- Unique Things To Do In Both Places
Smith’s Reef, Turks & Caicos – located on the Northern coast of the island of Providenciales, this site is ideal for both beginner and advanced snorkelers.
Smith’s Reef is known for having wildlife such as fishes, turtles and stingrays.
For individuals who relish a bit more adventure, night snorkeling is also an option.
During the night larger wildlife can be seen such as shrimps, squids and sea snails.
Charcos de Damajagua, Dominican Republic-these are 27 small waterfalls located in the Puerto Plata region.
Access to the 27 waterfalls at Charcos de Damajagua is via hiking though a tropical rainforest. This attraction may be challenging for small children.
There is a restaurant on site so you can grab a meal after your swim in one of the many waterfalls.
Final Thoughts
On a whole, Turks & Caicos is perfect for travelers seeking a quiet and laid back destination with amazing snorkeling sites such as Smith’s reef. On the other hand, Dominican Republic is ideal for visitors seeking white sand beaches with turquoise waters as well as a bustling nightlife atmosphere.
Need More Information?
We trust that the information above was helpful as you decide which island is better for your upcoming vacation.
For more information on Turks & Caicos, Dominican Republic and the rest of the Caribbean, feel free to browse this website using the search bar located at the top of this page.
The following articles linked below may also be beneficial to you.
Barbados Vs Dominican Republic (Which Vacation Is Better)
St Lucia Vs Dominican Republic (Which Vacation Is Better)
Belize Vs Dominican Republic (Which Vacation Is Better)
