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This calendar collects the 2027 dates that change a trip to Punta Cana and the rest of the Dominican Republic: public holidays, when they move to a Monday, Holy Week, Carnival, the Samaná whales and hurricane season. Every date comes from an official source or a checkable calculation, and the sources are listed at the end.
Dominican Republic public holidays in 2027
Law 139-97 moves holidays that fall from Tuesday to Friday to a Monday, except the ones the law itself declares fixed: New Year's Day, Altagracia, Independence Day, Las Mercedes, Christmas and the religious holidays tied to a weekday. The Ministry of Labour publishes the official list every year, so this table applies the law to 2027 and is worth checking again once the list is out.
| Date | Holiday | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, January 1 | New Year's Day | Fixed |
| Wednesday, January 6 | Three Kings Day | Day off moves to Monday, January 4 |
| Thursday, January 21 | Our Lady of Altagracia | Fixed |
| Tuesday, January 26 | Duarte Day | Day off moves to Monday, January 25 |
| Saturday, February 27 | Independence Day | Fixed, falls on a Saturday |
| Friday, March 26 | Good Friday | Fixed |
| Saturday, May 1 | Labour Day | Falls on a Saturday, not moved |
| Thursday, May 27 | Corpus Christi | Fixed |
| Monday, August 16 | Restoration Day | Falls on a Monday |
| Friday, September 24 | Our Lady of Mercy | Fixed |
| Saturday, November 6 | Constitution Day | Falls on a Saturday, not moved |
| Saturday, December 25 | Christmas Day | Fixed, falls on a Saturday |
Four 2027 holidays fall on a Saturday and the law does not move them: Independence Day, Labour Day, Constitution Day and Christmas. Friday, January 1 to Monday, January 4 is a four-day break, and Monday, January 25, Monday, August 16 and Friday, September 24 give three-day weekends. Many Dominicans head to the beach on those long weekends, so book transfers early.
Holy Week 2027
Palm Sunday is March 21, 2027 and Easter Sunday is March 28. Good Friday, March 26, is a fixed public holiday. It is one of the weeks when most Dominicans travel to the beach, so in Punta Cana it pays to book hotels and transfers well ahead. More in Punta Cana in March.
Dominican Carnival 2027
Carnival takes over many Dominican towns in February, with comparsas and diablos cojuelos on weekends. Saturday, February 27, 2027, Independence Day, is a fixed public holiday. The main event is the National Carnival Parade on the Malecón in Santo Domingo, held on Sunday, March 15 in 2026. The Ministry of Culture announces the date every year, so do not take the 2027 date for granted until the official announcement.
Humpback whales in Samaná
The regulated whale watching season in Samaná Bay runs from January 15 to March 31, according to the Ministry of Environment. The ministry opens it officially every January and trips run with authorised operators, so book with one of them. From Punta Cana it is a full-day excursion.
Hurricane season
The official Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. It does not mean constant rain, but check the forecast before you leave and book with flexible cancellation.
Before you book
- Check the holidays against the Ministry of Labour's official list once it is published.
- If you travel in Holy Week or on a long weekend, book hotels and transfers weeks ahead.
- For whale watching, choose an operator authorised by the Ministry of Environment.
- Plan by month with Punta Cana in January, Punta Cana in the dry season and the Saona Island guide.
Sources
Best tours and tickets in Punta Cana
Curated from Viator. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Tour en Buggy o ATV por Punta Cana con Playa de Macao, Cueva y Catas
Caribbean Escape : Una experiencia oceánica solo para adultos (15 +) Premium
Crucero de buceo para grupos pequeños con barra libre y aperitivos ligeros
Grupo pequeño : Excursión de día completo a la isla de Saona
