What animals live in Dominican Republic?

The Dominican Republic is packed with wild creatures you won't find anywhere else on Earth! The island is home to the rhinoceros iguana — a big, tough-looking lizard with bumps on its nose — and the Hispaniolan solenodon, a small, shrew-like mammal that is one of the rarest animals in the world. Colorful parrots called Hispaniolan parakeets dart through the forests, and the rivers and lakes hold American crocodiles. The waters around the island are just as busy. Humpback whales travel to a bay called Samaná every winter to have their calves, and the reefs are full of sea turtles and bright tropical fish. On land, you might spot a flamingo wading in a saltwater lake, or hear the whistling tree frog singing at night — a tiny frog with an enormous voice. God filled this island with all kinds of creatures, and exploring them is a great way to wonder at His creativity.

What do kids eat in Dominican Republic?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in the Dominican Republic often start their day with mangu — that's mashed plantains topped with sautéed onions. Plantains look like big bananas, but they're starchy and savory, kind of like a potato that grows on a tree. It's hearty breakfast food that keeps you going all morning. For lunch or dinner, a favorite is 'la bandera' — which actually means 'the flag.' It's rice, red beans, and meat served together, and it's so common that Dominicans named it after their country's flag. Fresh tropical fruits like mangoes, papayas, and coconuts grow right there on the island, so kids snack on those too. God gave that island rich soil and sunshine, and the food shows it!

How do people say hello in Dominican Republic?

In the Dominican Republic, people speak Spanish, so the most common greeting is '¡Hola!' which means 'Hello!' But Dominicans are known for being warm and lively, so you will often hear '¿Qué lo qué?' which is a fun local slang phrase that means something like 'What's up?' It is uniquely Dominican — you won't hear it quite like that anywhere else in the Spanish-speaking world. When Dominicans greet friends or family, they often add a handshake, a hug, or a kiss on the cheek — because relationships matter deeply to them. Christians there might also say '¡Dios te bendiga!' which means 'God bless you!' It is a reminder that faith is woven right into everyday life for many people on that island.

What sports or games do kids play in Dominican Republic?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Baseball is absolutely the king of sports in the Dominican Republic. Kids play it everywhere — on open fields, in empty lots, sometimes even using a stick for a bat and a rolled-up sock for a ball. The country has sent hundreds of players to Major League Baseball, and many Dominican boys grow up dreaming of following them. Rusty wants to add that kids there also love basketball, volleyball, and a fast-paced card game called Domino, which families and friends play together for hours. In coastal towns, swimming and fishing in the turquoise Caribbean water is just part of everyday life. Whether it is a big stadium sport or a simple street game, Dominican kids find ways to play hard and have fun together — and those friendships are a great place where people can hear about Jesus too.

What's the weather like in Dominican Republic?

The Dominican Republic is a warm, tropical country — which means it stays hot and sunny most of the year! Temperatures usually sit between 77 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit, so people there are used to the heat. There are two main seasons: a drier season and a rainier season, though rain can pop up almost any time. The rainier months run roughly from May through October, and that's also when hurricanes can sometimes sweep through the Caribbean. Those storms can be serious and cause real hardship for families. It's one reason why the people of the Dominican Republic depend on God's care day by day — and why local churches there work hard to help neighbors when storms hit.

Tell me a fun fact about Dominican Republic.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! The Dominican Republic sits on an island it actually shares with another whole country — Haiti is right next door on the same island, called Hispaniola. That makes it one of only a handful of islands in the world split between two nations. Rusty wants you to know about the merengue — it is the national music and dance of the Dominican Republic, and it is so lively that people there say it runs through their blood! The country is also home to the highest mountain in all of the Caribbean, Pico Duarte, which rises more than 10,000 feet into the clouds. God packed a lot of variety into one island.

What is school like for kids in Dominican Republic?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! In the Dominican Republic, kids go to school in shifts — some go in the morning and others in the afternoon — because many school buildings need to fit a lot of students. Classes are taught in Spanish, and subjects like math, reading, and history fill up the day. Rusty wants you to know that in some rural villages, schools are small and simple, and families work hard to afford notebooks and supplies. Some kids have to walk a long way just to get there. Many Christians and missionaries in the Dominican Republic work to help kids learn and grow — and more than anything, they want children to hear about Jesus, who loves them and calls them to follow Him.

Who are the unreached people in Dominican Republic?

Great question to dig into! The Dominican Republic is a country where most people have heard the name of Jesus, but there are still groups who have not truly heard the gospel message. One of the most important unreached groups is Haitian immigrants and their children — hundreds of thousands of them live in the DR, often in poor sugarcane-farming communities called bateyes, and many have little access to a church or a Bible in their own Haitian Creole language. There are also small communities of Chinese immigrants, Lebanese descendants, and other groups whose families came from places where Christianity was not the faith they grew up with. Some of them practice folk religion or hold onto beliefs passed down from ancestors who never knew Jesus. Missionaries and local Dominican churches are working hard to bring the good news into these communities — and that is exactly the kind of work worth praying for!

How can I pray for the people of Dominican Republic?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! The Dominican Republic is a beautiful island nation where many people have heard the name of Jesus, but not everyone knows Him as their true Savior. You can pray that the gospel goes deep into hearts across the whole country, from the busy capital Santo Domingo to the smallest mountain villages. Rusty wants to add a few more things to pray for! Ask God to make the local churches there strong and faithful, teaching the Bible clearly. Pray for children and families to come to know Jesus personally. And pray for Christian leaders who grew up right there on that island to be raised up — because God loves to use people from a place to reach their own neighbors with the good news.

What is a holiday or celebration in Dominican Republic?

One of the biggest celebrations in the Dominican Republic is Carnival, held every February. The streets fill with colorful costumes, loud music, and masked characters called 'diablos cojuelos' — that means 'limping devils' — who wear wild outfits covered in bells and spikes. It is loud, lively, and unlike anything most people have ever seen. But here is something worth knowing: many Dominicans also take Semana Santa very seriously. That is Spanish for Holy Week — the week leading up to Easter. Families remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, and churches hold special services. Easter is not just a holiday there; for many believers, it is the heart of what they trust their whole lives in — that Jesus really died and really rose again.

What language do people speak in Dominican Republic?

Spanish is the language of the Dominican Republic! The country was colonized by Spain hundreds of years ago, and Spanish stuck around and became the language everyone uses at home, at school, and in the marketplace. The Spanish spoken there has its own flavor — Dominicans often speak fast and blend in some words from the Taíno people who lived on the island long before Columbus arrived. Words like 'hamaca' (hammock) and 'huracán' (hurricane) actually come from the Taíno language. The great news is that the Bible has been in Spanish for a long time, which means Dominican people can read God's Word in their own language.

What's a famous place to visit in Dominican Republic?

One of the most well-known places in the Dominican Republic is the city of Santo Domingo, the oldest European-built city in the whole Western Hemisphere! It has cobblestone streets and stone buildings that are hundreds of years old, right near the Caribbean Sea. Explorers like us would love walking through the Colonial Zone, where history seems to be around every corner. There is also a stunning mountain range called the Cordillera Central, where Pico Duarte rises up as the tallest peak in all of the Caribbean. Farmers in the highlands grow coffee and pine trees dot the slopes, which is not what most people expect from a tropical island. The Dominican Republic is full of surprises — from its busy capital city to its quiet mountain villages where missionaries work hard to share the good news of Jesus with people who may never have heard it.

Dominican Republic — Kids Missions Explorer

Hispaniolan Hutia

This stocky, rabbit-sized rodent is found only on the island of Hispaniola and is one of the oldest surviving mammal species in the Caribbean.

Rhinoceros Iguana

Named for the small horn-like bumps on its snout, this large lizard can live for more than 60 years and basks on rocky coastlines across the Dominican Republic.

Palmchat

The national bird of the Dominican Republic, the palmchat weaves giant communal nests in royal palm trees where dozens of families share one structure but each keep their own separate room.

La Bandera

Meaning 'the flag,' this everyday meal of white rice, stewed red beans, and braised meat is so common that most Dominican families eat it for lunch nearly every day.

Mangu

Boiled and mashed green plantains served with sautéed onions, this creamy, savory dish is a beloved breakfast staple across the country.

Sancocho

A thick, hearty stew made with several types of meat and root vegetables, sancocho is the dish Dominicans cook when the whole family gathers together for something important.

Dominican Republic

Things you should know about Dominican Republic

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

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Life in Dominican Republic

Missions in Dominican Republic

Pray for Dominican Republic