DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Easter Week, known as Semana Santa, is the most significant and transformative week of the year in the Dominican Republic. It is simultaneously a period of intense religious devotion and the country’s most massive annual vacation period. Schools and universities close for the weeklong spring holidays that run this year from Friday, 27 March through Sunday, 5 April 2026.

The country is already in Semana Santa mode. As of last week, major stores are offering sales of beach, camping and items popularly purchased for family and friends popular get-togethers.

Starting on Thursday, 26 March, expect the massive internal migration to start.

Residents of Santo Domingo and Santiago travel in droves to the provinces. Coastal towns like Las Terrenas in Samana and mountain retreats like Jarabacoa see their populations triple overnight.

Religious traditionsFor the devout and those who enjoy...