Dominican Republic · Atlantic Standard Time all year
Shabbat Times Punta Cana
This week's candle lighting and havdalah for Punta Cana, the next 12 weeks, and towns across the Dominican Republic.
This week · Shabbat and Sukkot
14 Tishrei 5787
Punta Cana · Friday, September 25 · light candles
6:09 PM
18 minutes before sunset (6:27 PM). Sukkot begins with Shabbat, so the weekend runs to Sunday night.
- Sat, Sep 26, after 6:59 PMThe second day of Sukkot begins: light from an existing flame. No havdalah tonight.
- Sun, Sep 27, 6:58 PMYom tov ends. Havdalah.
✓ A second, independent calculation gives 6:09 PM, the same minute.
Across the Dominican Republic this Friday
- Punta Cana6:09 PM
- La Romana (Casa de Campo)6:11 PM
- Santo Domingo6:15 PM
- Las Terrenas6:13 PM
- Sosúa6:17 PM
- Puerto Plata6:18 PM
Puerto Plata lights 9 minutes after Punta Cana.
The clock in Punta Cana
No daylight saving. UTC−4 all year: an hour ahead of New York from November 1 to March 14, the same time the rest of the year.
Candles move 79 minutes a year, 5:37 PM in mid-November to 6:56 PM in early July.
Shabbat services in the Dominican Republic
- Chabad of Dominican Republic, Santo DomingoFriday: Kabbalat Shabbat 7:00 PM at the Centro IsraelitaSaturday: services 10:00 AM at the Chabad HousePaid meals, by registration only, with a copy of your passport and a rabbi who knows you
- Chabad of North Coast Dominican Republic, Puerto PlataShabbat prayers at the Chabad HouseShabbat meals booked ahead on its site
From each congregation's own website, checked September 23, 2026. Confirm with them before you travel.
The next 12 weeks in Punta Cana
| Friday | Torah portion | Candle lighting | Shabbat ends | Hebrew date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2Shemini Atzeret, then Simchat Torah | Shemini Atzeret, then Simchat Torah | 6:03 PM | Sun 6:52 PMlight again Saturday after 6:53 PM | 21 Tishrei |
| Oct 9Bereshit | Bereshit | 5:57 PM | 6:47 PM | 28 Tishrei |
| Oct 16Noach | Noach | 5:52 PM | 6:42 PM | 5 Cheshvan |
| Oct 23Lech-Lecha | Lech-Lecha | 5:47 PM | 6:38 PM | 12 Cheshvan |
| Oct 30Vayera | Vayera | 5:43 PM | 6:34 PM | 19 Cheshvan |
| Nov 6Chayei Sara | Chayei Sara | 5:40 PM | 6:32 PM | 26 Cheshvan |
| Nov 13Toldot | Toldot | 5:38 PM | 6:30 PM | 3 Kislev |
| Nov 20Vayetzei | Vayetzei | 5:37 PM | 6:29 PM | 10 Kislev |
| Nov 27Vayishlach | Vayishlach | 5:37 PM | 6:30 PM | 17 Kislev |
| Dec 4VayeshevChanukah, first candle before Shabbat | VayeshevChanukah, first candle before Shabbat | 5:38 PM | 6:31 PM | 24 Kislev |
| Dec 11MiketzChanukah, eighth candle before Shabbat | MiketzChanukah, eighth candle before Shabbat | 5:40 PM | 6:33 PM | 1 Tevet |
| Dec 18Vayigash | Vayigash | 5:42 PM | 6:36 PM | 8 Tevet |
How the times are worked out
18 minutes before sunset in Punta Cana
Sunset is worked out for Punta Cana's coordinates, 18.58° N, 68.40° W, with @hebcal/core, the open-source calculation behind hebcal.com, and every time is shown on local clocks (America/Santo_Domingo). Shabbat ends at nightfall, when the sun is 8.5 degrees below the horizon and three stars would be out.
Eighteen minutes is the usual custom in most of the world. Israeli calendars print 20 for most cities, and Jerusalem lights 40 minutes before sunset and Haifa 30, so those pages use their own number instead.
Each Friday is also worked out a second way, with this site's own sunrise equation, and the two are compared whenever the page is built. Some communities wait longer before havdalah, so treat the minute as close rather than binding, and follow your own community's calendar.
Near Punta Cana this Friday
- Puerto RicoSan Juan5:59 PM
- St. ThomasCharlotte Amalie5:55 PM
- Turks and CaicosProvidenciales6:24 PM
- ArubaOranjestad6:16 PM
- BahamasNassau6:44 PM
- Miami BeachFL, USA6:55 PM
Away for Shabbat
Candle lighting this Friday, each for its own coordinates and custom. All cities on the list
Candle-lighting reminders for Punta Cana
A short reminder every Friday morning with this week's exact times.
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Shabbat in Punta Cana: quick answers
What time is candle lighting in Punta Cana this Friday?+
In Punta Cana, candle lighting on Friday, September 25, 2026 is at 6:09 PM, 18 minutes before sunset. Sukkot begins with Shabbat, so candles are lit again after 6:59 PM on Saturday, and yom tov ends at 6:58 PM on Sunday.
What time does Shabbat end in Punta Cana?+
This week Shabbat runs straight into the second day of Sukkot, so there is no havdalah on Saturday night. Candles are lit again after 6:59 PM, from an existing flame, and yom tov ends at 6:58 PM on Sunday.
Does Punta Cana change its clocks?+
No. Punta Cana keeps UTC−4 all year, with no daylight saving, so it is an hour ahead of New York from November 1 to March 14, the same time the rest of the year.
Why 18 minutes before sunset?+
Eighteen minutes is the usual custom in most of the world. Israeli calendars print 20 for most cities, and Jerusalem lights 40 minutes before sunset and Haifa 30, so those pages use their own number instead.
Where can a visitor go for Shabbat services in the Dominican Republic?+
Chabad of Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo): Friday: Kabbalat Shabbat 7:00 PM at the Centro Israelita. Saturday: services 10:00 AM at the Chabad House. Paid meals, by registration only, with a copy of your passport and a rabbi who knows you. Chabad of North Coast Dominican Republic (Puerto Plata): Shabbat prayers at the Chabad House. Shabbat meals booked ahead on its site. Each is taken from the congregation's own website. Confirm with them before you travel.
Are these times exact?+
They are worked out for Punta Cana's coordinates the way Hebcal works them out, and checked against a second, independent calculation. Your community's own calendar is the authority for observance.
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