Itinerary for 13 days in the Dominican Republic and costs
The story about the trip has not yet been published, so far only the route and details of the trip)
Is the Dominican Republic as beautiful as other exotic islands?
Yes, indeed, there are beaches at the sight of which you are amazed at how beautiful there are places on this planet.
Transport between cities
In the Dominican Republic, transport is very easy and simple. Being anywhere in the Dominican Republic, you can go to the first minibus and name the city you need to go to. You will either be told which minibus you need to start with, and then they will transfer between minibuses and buses from hand to hand until the traveler is in the right city. Many buses wait for each other, so transfers are very easy.
Minibuses also run from Punta Cana Airport, the main thing is to find their stop. Taxi drivers and representatives of tour companies will assure that minibuses and buses do not pass near the airport. But we left Punta Cana Airport with ease. Luggage in minibuses can be charged as an additional passenger.
Transport between small towns
1. Minibus guagua, only runs when it's light
2. Carrito passenger car, into which, for the price of a minibus, four are stuffed in the back and two in the front. Carritos, unlike guaguas, go after sunset. From the outside, it’s hard to distinguish a carrito from a regular car, but most often they will find you on their own.
3. Motorcycle is the most unsafe way. Two can be put on one motorcycle if necessary.
Food in the Dominican Republic
Cheap, for two in a kiosk where they cook in front of you, it turned out to be about 150 pesos per person.
You can pay in dollars or pesos. Peso is more profitable. There are a lot of ATMs in the country, there are rumors that they do not always give the card, but we had no problems with the Scotiabank network.
The card is almost never accepted anywhere.
The most positive, honest and kind people on our route were in Bayahibe and the cities of the Samana Peninsula. Everyone greets, smiles and does not try to deceive.
In the cities of Sosua and Santo Domingo, I can't say that the people are good. The conductors in minibuses are trying to deceive, in Santo Domingo they once tried to pull money out of their pockets. If someone wants to pick you up along the way, they will extort a big price for it.
What are the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic?
The beaches of Saona Island, which are included in the tour with two stops on the island and one in a natural pool where starfish live.
Very beautiful coastline from Playa Dominicus towards Saona Island
Las Galeras. Playa Colorada beach and neighboring 8 beaches. Wild, no people, sand
Rio San Juan. Playa Caleton beach - clear and very beautiful water
Where and when does carnival take place in the Dominican Republic?
Local carnivals take place throughout February in many towns. The final procession takes place in Santo Domingo and is timed to coincide with Independence Day. In 2019, the carnival began on March 3.2019 at 15:30. The venue for the carnival is called Malecon, in fact, the beginning was on the highway near the embankment, 300 meters from the Sheraton Hotel. The procession lasted over two hours. Then the fun becomes a little uncontrollable, it is better for tourists not to linger there. At the carnival itself, they tried to take money out of my pocket, so it’s better not to take anything with you except for a camera and small bills.
The easiest way to get around the capital is on a cheap uber.
In minibuses, you need to pay only in small bills and pre-specify the fare, otherwise the conductors simply will not give change, even if the price exceeds the fare by several times, they will nod that they have such a high price.
It is better to learn Spanish numbers up to two hundred, this will save money.
On the island of Samana, hiking in the jungle is considered dangerous, as they can attack with a machete and take everything away. You need to go without jewelry and with a minimum amount of money. Well, or pay another guide with a machete to go with you, but the interest of the route will fade significantly.
Maps me showed non-existent routes, but in principle there were alternative trails everywhere.
Kiosks with inexpensive local food are called Pica Polo. Despite all the unsanitary conditions of preparation and the absence of hot sauces, there were no poisonings.
You should always have 50 pesos and 50 pesos with you. At the sights at the entrance controllers, it may turn out that there is no change type.
The sun will not spare, sunscreen and aloe for burns should be in large quantities.
On Samana, street food is not sold early in the morning, it is easier to cook for yourself in the evening so as not to waste time.
Learn how to open coconuts in the wild jungle before the trip; )
*Travel times are approximate within an hour.
Day 1. Arrival and Bayahibe
13:30 Arrival at Punta Cana Airport. We departed from the airport to the nearest minibus and drove in a chain Punta Cana Airport -> La Romana -> Bayahibe for $16. Pesos have not yet been settled in small dollars, and change was asked for in pesos.
16:30 We settled in Bayahibe and went for a walk along the beaches.
Day 2. Del Este National Park or Parque Nacional Cotubanama
07:00 – 07:10 Breakfast with street food.
07:10 - 07:30 We go to the track here and 07:30 - 08:00 hitch a bus in the direction of Dominica. We gave 150 pesos for him to take us here.
08:00 - 14:00 We walk along the coastline towards Saona Island until we get bored and return, on the way back we visit the Cave of Bridge cave.
14:00 – 15:30 Hitchhiking to Bayahibe.
17:00 - 19:00 We go to La Romana, walk for an hour and come back.
Day 3 Saona Island
08:00 - 08:10 We buy an excursion to Saona Island at a local travel agency for $ 50 per person with meals, we chose the agency that offered three stops, two on the island and one with the stars.
09:00 - 17:00 We enjoy a wonderful excursion, but do not raise the stars above the water for more than 5 seconds, it is harmful for them.
Day 4 Cueva Padre Nuestro cave and drive to Las Galeras
07:00 - 09:00 We walk to the Cueva Padre Nuestro cave, cook for 200 pesos without change for the greedy guard. When we were there, the two caves were the most distant, you can swim in one of them, take swimsuits and charge your mobile phone flashlights well, at least two flashlights must be put in the cave to swim.
09:00 – 15:00 Moving to Las Galeras
16:00 - 19:00 We walk to the right along the beaches to the cave, which is on maps. me, the first to the right.
Day 5. Walking along wild and exotic beaches
08:20 - 18:15 we follow the trails from La Playita beach to the place where the Cañ o Frio river flows into the sea at Rincon beach, swim in the river and return to the hotel. On the way there will be eight deserted and very beautiful beaches.
Day 6: Devil's Throat and Fronton Beach
Attention! On this route, there is a risk that you will be attacked with a machete and your valuables will be taken away.
09:00 - 09:15 We catch a minibus and drive a little towards Samana. We leave here.
09:20 - 10:00 We catch a motorcyclist and ask him to take you two for 150 pesos to the throat of the devil.
Then either back with a motorcyclist, or through the jungle to the beach.
10:00 – 12:00 We go along the paths through the jungle to Fronton beach, on the way we get and eat coconuts.
12:00 – 15:00 We return through the mountain along the paths to Las Galeras. The return trip didn't impress us. In principle, it is not necessary to go to the Fronton, but we liked the jungle itself and the devil's throat is very powerful.
Day 7. Limone
09:00 - 10:40 We go by minibus for 200 pesos per person to the El Limon waterfall. The driver will tell you where to get off before reaching the city.
11:00 - 16:00 we walk from the waterfall to the city of Limon, eat and walk to the wild beach near the Vistas del cayo hotel. We return to Lemon.
16:00 - 18:00 we go to Las Galeras.
Day 8. Transfer to Sosua
09:00 - 15:00 We go by minibuses and buses to Sosua, check in.
15:00 - 19:00 We swim on the beach, walk around the city.
Day 9.27 waterfalls and cable car
08:00 - 09:00 on a minibus for 100 pesos we reach Puerto Plata.
09:00 - 10:00 on a minibus for 100 pesos, we reach the waterfalls in less than an hour, a little on foot later.
10:00 - 13:00 at 550 pesos per person we go down the route of 12 waterfalls (they say it is the most interesting), if you arrive late, only 7 waterfalls will be available. They have a website.
13:00 - 14:00 We leave the track and return for 100 pesos by minibus to Puerto Plata.
14:30 - 17:00 We go up on the cable car and walk through a very beautiful park. We had everything in the clouds, it was super.
Day 10. Rio San Juan
08:00 - 09:30 we go by minibus to Rio San Juan, like 150 pesos.
10:00 - 10:30 walk through the mangrove forest.
10:30 - 11:00 If there is a group, then we sail into the mangroves on a boat, from 6 people they take 2000 pesos, if there are only two of you, then they will take 1500 pesos.
11:00 - 14:00 When you are brought to Caleton beach on a boat, we tell the boatman that we decided to stay for a long time and say goodbye to him, he sails away. You can also climb a little through the beautiful mangrove jungle and eat on the beach. Prices are not expensive.
14:00 - 15:30 Tired of the beauty of the beach, we go out onto the track and catch a minibus to Cabaret, in the area for 150 pesos.
16:00 - 18:00 watch kiting on the beach and get inspired. There are still some very expensive caves there, but we did not spend money on something that is cheaper in other cities.
18:00 - 18:30 Return to Sosua.
If you fall on the dates of the carnival, then go to Santo Domingo for the Final, if you don’t get there, you don’t need to go here.
Day 11. Carnival in Santo Domingo
06:20 - 10:20 for 400 pesos we drive from Sosua to Santo Domingo. Find out in advance at the hotel where the stop is, the hostess drove us by car for 300 pesos. We lived near Sosua. The bus runs every hour.
11:20 - 15:30 walk around the city.
15:30 - 17:30 We have fun at the carnival. We liked.
18:00 - 19:00 walk along the main street.
Day 12 Los Tres Ojos caves
10:00 - 10:20 We take a taxi to Los Tres Ojos park, pay 200 pesos for entry.
10:30 - 11:30 We walk through the caves, ride on an underground ferry for 50 pesos per person.
12:00 - 18:00 We were in a simple botanical garden, walked around IKEA and walked a bit in the center, nothing else came up. Everything is closed on Monday. And so you can still go to the aquarium.
Day 13. Road home
We take the bus and drive for 3 hours to Punta Cana Airport. Runs every two hours Bavaro Express.
Travel Information
Travel date: 20.02. 2019 – 07.03. 2019
Duration: 12 full days
Flights: UIA + TUI Belgian
Hotels: Booking
Excursions: We got to the island of Saona in a local agency
Trip difficulty: 5/10 (Average)
