The Dominican Republic solidified its status as a global powerhouse in the tobacco industry last year, reaching 142 countries worldwide and generating record-breaking export revenues.
According to the National Tobacco Institute (Intabaco), the sector saw a significant financial uptick in 2025. Exports of tobacco and its derivatives rose by US$19 million (approximately RD$1.18 billion), marking a 1.4% increase over the previous year. Total export value climbed from US$1.34 billion in 2024 to a staggering US$1.36 billion in 2025. As reported, in 2025, 287 export firms shipped the cigars abroad, with 11 distinct categories of tobacco and derivatives currently exported.
The booming tobacco industry is also an opportunity for cigar lovers to visit where the cigars to see the entire production process, from the sorting of raw leaves to the final hand-rolling and packaging.
Check out the availability of these factory tours:
La Aurora Cigar Factory (Santiago): Located just outside Santiago, this is the oldest cigar factory in the country (founded in 1903). It is highly rated for its educational depth, featuring a museum, a tobacco ranch, and a viewing floor where you can see “lectores” reading to the rollers.
La Flor Dominicana (La Romana/Santiago): Tours are available at their facility near La Romana (at La Estancia). They offer an intimate look at the production of their premium “puros,” following the leaf from conditioning and classification to the aging rooms.
Davidoff (Santiago): Davidoff offers tours of its high-end facilities in the Santiago area, where visitors can see the production of labels like Avo, Griffin’s, and Winston Churchill.
Arturo Fuente (Santo Domingo): While their primary farms (Chateau de la Fuente) are more exclusive, the Arturo Fuente Cigar Club in Santo Domingo provides a luxury experience, and guided tours of their factory operations are available for those wanting to see the “alchemy” behind the OpusX and other coveted lines.
Tabacalera de García (La Romana): One of the largest handmade cigar factories in the world, this facility produces world-famous brands like Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, and H. Upmann. Tours provide a behind-the-scenes look at a massive industrial operation that still relies on artisan skill.
Likewise, the Centro Leon, the most important cultural museum in the Cibao central area, offers comprehensive insights into the tobacco industry. The center was actually founded by the León family, the owners of La Aurora, which is the oldest cigar factory in the Dominican Republic. Because of this heritage, tobacco culture is a central theme of the site. There is a permanent exhibition room is located in a building that is a replica of the original La Aurora factory from 1903. The center also includes the Tobacco Garden, an outdoor area where tobacco plants are often grown, allowing visitors to see the raw material in its natural state. The Centro Leon museum shop and cafeteria are unique in that they offer premium cigars for purchase, reflecting the family’s ongoing legacy.
Production is concentrated across eight provinces, yet most major production happens in Santiago (the industry hub) or La Romana. If you are in Punta Cana or Santo Domingo, you may need to book a day trip that includes transportation. Many factories require closed-toe shoes and shirts for safety reasons on the factory floor. Most tours are restricted to adults 18 years and older.
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El Nacional
24 February 2026