What's the best time of year to visit the Dominican Republic?

December through April is the driest and most comfortable period, with temperatures around 26-30°C. The cigar factories operate year-round, so this tour works in any season. June to November is hurricane season, though direct hits are relatively uncommon.

What kind of hotels will we stay in?

All accommodation is 5-star. In Santo Domingo you'll be in a boutique hotel right in the Colonial Zone. Santiago uses a well-located city hotel. Casa de Campo is one of the Caribbean's top luxury resort properties with multiple restaurants, golf courses and a private beach.

Can I bring cigars home to the UK?

Yes. UK customs allows you to bring back up to 50 cigars duty-free from outside the EU. If you buy more, you'll need to declare them and may owe duty. Factory prices are significantly lower than UK retail.

Is this trip suitable for couples or is it mainly for groups?

It works for both. With a minimum of 2 people, couples can have the trip as a private tour. Larger groups (up to 8) get a more social experience at a slightly lower per-person cost. We can tailor the itinerary either way.

A panoramic view from a tiled roof overlooks a winding river through a lush, green canyon under a cloudy sky.

CIGARS · RUM · COLONIAL

The Cigar Connoisseur

Name: The Cigar Connoisseur
Brand: Travelfab
Rating: 4.7 (3 reviews)

7 days / 6 nights, The Dominican Republic grows some of the world's finest cigars, and this trip ta

Dominican RepublicTailor-Made7 days / 6 nightsPrice on enquiry

The Dominican Republic grows some of the world's finest cigars, and this trip takes you behind the scenes. You'll visit the factories where Arturo Fuente, La Aurora and La Flor Dominicana hand-roll their premium lines, pair them with aged Dominican rum, and finish the week at Casa de Campo, one of the Caribbean's top luxury resorts.

WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL

Trip highlights

Tour three top cigar factories: Arturo Fuente, La Aurora and La Flor Dominicana

Pair premium cigars with aged Dominican rum at private tastings

Walk the cobblestone streets of Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone, the oldest European settlement in the Americas

Stay at Casa de Campo, home to the Teeth of the Dog golf course and Altos de Chavon artist village

Sample bean-to-bar Dominican chocolate at a cacao plantation near Santiago

Travel in a small group with private transport and expert local guides throughout

DAY BY DAY

Your itinerary

Route map of The Cigar Connoisseur: 1 Santo Domingo (2 nights), 2 Santiago (2 nights), 3 Casa de Campo (2 nights). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Day 1: Arrive Santo Domingo

Arrive at Las Americas Airport and transfer to your hotel in the Colonial Zone. Settle in and take an evening walk along the Malecon or through the lit-up cobblestone streets of the Zona Colonial. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Colonial Zone & La Aurora

Morning walking tour of the Colonial Zone, Alcazar de Colon, Calle Las Damas, Fortaleza Ozama. After lunch, drive to the La Aurora cigar factory (operating since 1903) for a behind-the-scenes tour of rolling rooms, ageing cellars and the cigar museum. Rum tasting at the factory bar.

Day 3: Transfer to Santiago

Drive north through the lush Cibao Valley to Santiago de los Caballeros. Check in and visit the Arturo Fuente factory, one of the most sought-after cigar brands worldwide. See the selection, bunching and wrapper process up close. Evening at leisure in Santiago's Monumento neighbourhood.

Day 4: Santiago, Chocolate, Cigars & Culture

Morning visit to a cacao plantation for a bean-to-bar chocolate workshop. Afternoon tour of La Flor Dominicana, where you can watch rollers work the signature Andalusian wrapper. Paired tasting of three cigars with three Dominican rums. Free evening to explore Santiago's street food scene.

Day 5: Transfer to Casa de Campo

Drive southeast to La Romana and check in to Casa de Campo resort. Afternoon free to explore the grounds, the Pete Dye-designed Teeth of the Dog golf course, the marina, and the infinity pools. Optional spa treatment.

Day 6: Altos de Chavon & Resort Day

Morning visit to Altos de Chavon, a re-created 16th-century Mediterranean village perched above the Chavon River. Browse the galleries, visit the amphitheatre, and stop at the archaeological museum. Afternoon at the resort beach, pool or golf course. Farewell dinner.

Day 7: Departure

Breakfast at the resort. Private transfer to Las Americas Airport or La Romana Airport for your departure flight.

What's Included

6 nights in 5-star hotels with daily breakfast
Private air-conditioned transport throughout
Guided tours of Arturo Fuente, La Aurora and La Flor Dominicana cigar factories
Rum tastings at two distilleries
Chocolate workshop at a cacao plantation
Guided walking tour of Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone
Resort access at Casa de Campo (pools, beach, Altos de Chavon)
English-speaking guide on all excursions
Welcome and farewell dinners

What's Not Included

International flights
Lunches and dinners not specified in the itinerary
Travel insurance
Personal expenses and gratuities
Optional activities (golf, spa, watersports at Casa de Campo)

Frequently Asked Questions

Not at all. The factory tours are fascinating from a craft and history perspective, watching skilled rollers work with tobacco leaves is genuinely interesting even if you never light one up. The rum and chocolate tastings are great on their own.

Interested in This Trip?

We price this trip to your dates and your party, with your UK flights booked by us, so the whole holiday is ATOL protected. Tell us who is travelling and when, and we will send you a tailor-made quote.

Make an Enquiry

We typically respond within 24 hours

Tailor-Made Holiday

Price on enquirytailored to your trip

Private holiday

Flexible dates

7 days / 6 nights (suggested)

Fully customisable

No commitment, we respond within 24 hours

Call us

Tailor-Made Holiday

Price on enquirytailored to your trip

Private holiday

Flexible dates

7 days / 6 nights (suggested)

Fully customisable

No commitment, we respond within 24 hours

Call us

Real reviews

What our customers say

From travellers who visited Dominican Republic with us

“

We took the kids (aged 9 and 12) to the DR and it was perfect for families. Snorkelling at Isla Catalina, exploring Los Haitises National Park by boat, and the children loved the zip-lining near Puerto Plata. Fabian recommended a family-friendly boutique hotel in Bayahibe that was far better than any chain resort. Already looking at Cuba next.

Claire & Rob A.

“

First time in the Caribbean and the Dominican Republic did not disappoint. Santo Domingo's colonial zone was fascinating, the oldest cathedral in the Americas, cobblestone streets, and fantastic rum bars. The drive out to Punta Cana for a few beach days at the end was a nice wind-down. Only giving four stars because the internal transfer was a long drive, but that's the country not the service.

Marcus T.

“

The DR was brilliant. We based ourselves in the Samaná Peninsula rather than the big resorts and it felt like a completely different country. Whale watching in the bay was magical, we saw a mother and calf from barely twenty metres away. The local restaurants in Las Terrenas served incredible mofongo and fresh lobster. Travelfab knew all the best spots.

Jenny & Paul C.

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