Whether you travel for business or tourism, you will not be able to avoid going shopping in the Dominican Republic. Santo Domingo and Punta Cana are the cities with the greatest tourist focus.
Do you want to go shopping in the Dominican Republic? You will be able to find everything from the typical handicraft shop to the largest shopping centers; it will all depend on what you are looking for.
Do not worry, there are options for different budgets. We will tell you which places are the most recommended for shopping and finding the best souvenirs in the Dominican Republic.
What should you buy in the Dominican Republic?
Talking about the Dominican Republic means talking about beaches, turquoise-colored waters, white sand, and summer sunshine all year round. You cannot leave the Dominican Republic without buying its historic coffee, rum, or chocolate; it would be an unforgivable mistake for any tourist.
Coffee trails
Coffee is the export product par excellence in the Dominican Republic. Since 1700, it has been the region’s main economic activity. Today, 90% of its harvests are Arabica, the best variety in the world.
There is an extensive coffee route in the Dominican Republic, where you can not only buy the beans, but also go on excursions through the large coffee-growing areas.
If you want to buy an excellent packaged coffee in the Dominican Republic, one of the most reputable brands is Café Santo Domingo. It has earthy tones and moderate acidity, and it is available in any supermarket at an approximate price of 3 dollars and 50 cents.
If you are in Santo Domingo and do not have time for an excursion, but you want to shop in the Dominican Republic and taste a cup of coffee you will never forget, we suggest going to the famous bar La Cafetera. This place, on the popular El Conde Street, is the favorite spot for intellectuals, writers, and the most demanding palates.
Do you have time and want to buy something more than this traditional souvenir in the Dominican Republic? We recommend taking one of the excursions through the large coffee plantations. The most popular coffee trails are located in the provinces of Barahona and Jaroba.
Chocolate: a native gift to buy in the Dominican Republic
The good thing about buying this souvenir in the Dominican Republic is that it will not take up much space in your suitcase. In Santo Domingo and other cities on the island, there are specialized stores dedicated to the manufacture and sale of chocolate.
It is one of the most famous native products of the Dominican Republic. The island is one of the best producers and exporters of chocolate in the world. There will be no shortage of places where you can buy this typical and very sweet souvenir, which may be the best gift to bring back from your trip.
Where to buy the best chocolate in Santo Domingo
The most outstanding cocoa factories where you can do your shopping in the Dominican Republic and see the chocolate-making process are in the provinces of San Pedro de Macorís, Mananico, and Puerto Plata.
But if you are in the capital, we recommend visiting Kah Kow, the place with the greatest variety of chocolate bars coming from the estate in San Pedro de Macorís.
The chocolate bars come in different versions depending on the percentage of cocoa they are made with. You can find them from 60% cocoa up to 100% bars. You do not need a large budget to buy them, since these bars cost from 2 dollars and up.
Aware of shopping tourism in the Dominican Republic, in this factory with more than one hundred years of history you will find delicious boxes of chocolates for travelers who want to bring back something special.
You can also find the most varied chocolate brands and different price ranges in the more than twenty branches of Supermercado Nacional throughout the Dominican Republic.
What other souvenirs can you buy in the Dominican Republic?
Other typical products that you can buy while shopping in the Dominican Republic are the popular faceless dolls, larimar stone jewelry, and the popular Dominican rum.
Made of clay, the popular faceless dolls wear colorful dresses and wide-brimmed hats. These dolls do not have faces, as a symbol of the cultural and racial diversity of the Dominican Republic.
The good thing about taking home a faceless doll is that there are options for every budget. Their price ranges from 2 to 24 dollars, depending on the material they are made of.
Larimar jewelry: buy real gems found only in the Dominican Republic
This mineral is a semiprecious stone that you will only find in the Dominican Republic. If you buy a larimar jewel on the island, you will be taking home a unique piece in the world.
The color of this gem is sky blue, and its price varies depending on the intensity of its blue shade. If there is one thing that is abundant in the streets of Santo Domingo and Punta Cana, it is jewelry shops and artisan goldsmiths. In them you can buy this delicate and luxurious souvenir.
Where to go shopping in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is the Caribbean’s shopping destination par excellence. Santo Domingo and Punta Cana are home to the largest number of shopping centers for shopping tourism in the Dominican Republic.
In Santo Domingo you will find the well-known shopping centers Blue Mall and Ágora. In Playa Bávaro, Punta Cana, you can enjoy more than 30,000 square meters of stores at The Boulevard.
Treat yourself and enjoy the best shopping tourism in Punta Cana
The most luxurious stores in the Dominican Republic are located in the south of Punta Cana.
Lopesan’s The Boulevard is an incredible leisure and shopping center in Punta Cana, with casual clothing stores and international designer shops.
This huge shopping center brings together dozens of stores and gifts so you can take that promised souvenir back home. Rum, cigars, jewelry, coffee, and everything emblematic of the Dominican Republic can be bought in Punta Cana.
In addition, The Boulevard brings together an attractive leisure and dining offer with cafés, ice cream shops, and various themed restaurants. It also has fabulous entertainment areas such as Bowling & Arcade and the Chía nightclub.
Keep in mind the information we have given you so that on your next trip you can go shopping in the Dominican Republic and not waste time when choosing the best souvenir for your loved ones.
