Average high temperature and rainfall for Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in December. © Scott S. Bateman

Dominican Republic weather in December usually has good weather in one part of the country and not so good in another.

Dominican Republic is the Caribbean’s most popular place to go for all-inclusive resorts. It is especially true in December.

Resort visitors flock to Punta Cana on the eastern coast and Puerto Plata on the northern coast. The country also is somewhat popular with cruises. Cruise visitors go to La Romana near Punta Cana and Amber Cove, which is right by Puerto Plata.

The country, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, receives more visitors during December than any other month of the year, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

What many people don’t know is that Punta Cana and Puerto Plata have different experiences with rain during December. One of them is a much better choice to visit than the other.

Puerto Plata and Amber Cove Rainfall

Weather for Puerto Plata and the nearby Amber Cove, which is a private cruise port for Carnival Cruise Lines, has a rainy season from November through May and a dry season from June through October, according to the country’s National Meteorological Office.

Total rainfall climbs to a high point of about nine inches a month each in November and December, which makes December a risky month to visit Puerto Plata and Amber Cove.

In contrast, the dry season from June through October averages about two to three inches a month.

December in Puerto Plata also has the highest number of days that it rains during the month with a total of 15. During the low point of the dry season, the average is about seven days.

Punta Cana and La Romana Rainfall

Punta Cana visitors may find that golf has better weather than beaches. Credit: Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism

The eastern destination of Punta Cana has a different dry season and rainy season than Puerto Plata on the northern coast.

The dry season for Punta Cana runs from December through April plus July when rainfall averages about two to three inches a month. Rainfall often climbs during June.

The December average is about three inches. It makes Punta Cana far less risky with rain in December than the nine-inch average of Puerto Plata.

By comparison, rainfall in Punta Cana averages four to five inches in May and June and four to six inches from August through November during the annual Caribbean hurricane season.

Puerto Plata and Amber Cove Temperatures

Visitors who brave the northern Dominican Republic coast during the rainy season in December will find that the average high temperature is 84 degrees Fahrenheit or 29 degrees Celsius, according to the Dominican Republic National Meteorological Office.

The average low temperature is 64 degrees Fahrenheit or 18 degrees Celsius. These nighttime temperatures are low enough to make water temperatures chilly in the morning and often uncomfortable for swimming.

By comparison, daytime temperatures during the dry season in the summer average 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 32 degrees Celsius.

Punta Cana and La Romana Temperatures

Temperatures in Punta Cana are slightly lower during the day and slightly higher at night throughout the year than in Puerto Plata.

The average high temperature for Punta Cana in December is 83 degrees Fahrenheit or 28 Celsius, according to the National Meteorological Office. The average low is 72 degrees Fahrenheit and 22 Celsius.

Anyone who is planning to visit Dominican Republic in December will find that Punta Cana is a better choice for a low risk of rain and comfortable temperatures during the day and at night.

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