Escaping to the Dominican Republic: Punta Cana and beyond
The one thing a Dominican said to us the first day: “a ‘dominicano’ will tell you he’s gonna be there in 5 minutes, he might make it in three hours”.
Prepare to immerse yourself in a super laid-down culture where wearing a helmet and shoes while driving your Vespa is not mandatory and where life is lived with no anxiety and only a big smile on your face. You will see savage places, drink a lot of pina colada and coconut water (and alcohol too if you go to an all-inclusive resort…I did, too much maybe), and just have so much fun.
But travel with the best group of friends you can find, this is what made my trip just so memorable.
Ps: I traveled with <3 Utravel <3: it is an Italian traveling agency (part of the Alpitour Group) where young travelers can decide within many available destinations, and meet a group of other travelers of the same age (18-30 is the usual range) to live the trip together. It was my first time with them, but I can truly say it was one of the best trips I did and I was happy with my choice. I would recommend anyone to book a trip with them. You can save a lot of money because their offers are good, meet great people (you also need to be lucky here, I was the luckiest), and be totally free as you won’t have to follow their plans but the plan is completely up to your preference and has local support in case of any necessity (your U travel Guru and many more local supporters).
Read my brain:
✿ Really worth doing!
✎ Not worth it, unless you have time to spare!
Your perfect plan to live Dominican Republic to the fullest!
Who to go with:
Your friends (and with Utravel, read more above - if you do not know what it is… it’s because you skipped my introduction text :( go back, right now!!!)!
I could not see this experience any way different than sharing it with lots of friends, but this island is also very good to spend romantic and relaxing days with your partner, or some good moments with your family. Depends on what you need, you will enjoy anyway!
Consider that my trip was a friends-trip, so most of my recommendations shall have this factor in account!
How long:
If you have 10 days, you will live the full experience! Consider your flight from Europe will take you 10-15 hours depending where you travel from, so the first and last days are gone! The remaining 8 days are going to be enough to enjoy most parts of the island.
Where to stay:
With Utravel, we stayed at Impressive Punta Cana Resort.
Punta Cana is on the most-eastern coast of the Island: I can say it was quite okay, but not the most connected area.
At the end of this trip, we figured it was probably best to be in Bayahibe (the southern coast), it’s where most of the excursions start, it’s a very small but full of things village where you can easily walk around and go out also at night. Punta Cana is just where most of the resorts are, there is nothing outside of them, so you might just stay in the resort there and live the resort life.
Anyway, the Impressive Resort was quite okay, the service is good, the food not really (but hey, we are in the Dominican Republic… low expectations!), there is a spa, gym, and lots of bars (we had the all-inclusive formula with which you can get all free drinks you want!), different restaurants and more. I can recommend it if you are looking for a calm resort, but here there are basically no young people… I have been recommended the RIU Resort in Punta Cana as a place where young people are, so I would rather say to go here instead.
Unless you plan to go to Bayahibe / Dominicus area, I don’t know any resort here, you might have to look one yourself!
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Sea to the south, our exuberant and tropical island paradise boasts some 1609 km of coastline, 402 km of beaches.
Capital city:
SANTO DOMINGO (also called "the most ancient city of the New World)
Official language:
SPANISH
Population
10 MILLIONS (2015)
Religion
For 68,9% catolics
Currency
DOMINICAN PESO (RD $)
Weather
TROPICAL - all year long (with a temperature ranging yearly between 25 ° and 31 ° C (78 ° and 88 ° F).)
Nationality
DOMINICAN
Some good contacts you might need!
1) Excursions & Transfers:
You should reserve with Miguel Transfer (Miguel Acosta is his name, and he works with his colleague Michael). They are both amazing people, taxi drivers and excursions planners and always have the best prices on the island.
Interesting notes:
1)
You can pay with euros, dollars, or Dominican pesos, they don’t really care. As long as you pay them, they are the happiest people in the world here. Poverty is at a high level…
I recommend anyway to get some pesos because in some areas, the poorest, prefer or only accept pesos.
2)
Dominicanos are looking for a European wife to finally escape from the island with a passport! Expect, as a girl, to be stopped by any guy in the street, in the resort, or anywhere to get compliments; BUT do not panic, they are totally harmless!
3)
You should always negotiate in any purchase, most of their prices are random… and they are open to negotiating with you. Just one thing: if you don’t need to, don’t do it, these people need it more than we do. :)
4)
Always bring something to cover yourself from the rain. The weather would tell you it rains every day: it’s true but just in part. It will rain 2 times, each lasting not even 1 minute, and this will happen at completely random moments of the day and you will have 1 second to cover up! Rain is as surprising as the trip you will do!
5)
Always give a tip to these people! In most of the excursions you do, some people working there are not paid by the company, and since they are all always very polite and helpful they really deserve it!
6)
Most of the houses there are built of wood, but always covered with thatch which is the most resistant (yes it is unbelievable but true) material against rains and buffers.
7)
Never take pictures with animals on the beach: there is no monkey or parrots on the island, so the ones you see are just imported and exploited for pictures.
8)
There is no harmful animal in this paradise: it’s safe so you can just relax!
9) Learn the map :) I mostly spent my time in the Oriental side, but traveled to Oriental Cibao as well (though, for a non-worthy excursion sadly!). So if I have to suggest you one, go for yellow!
10) The Dominican Republic was the very first place Columbus discovered and therefore the first European settlement was established in the Dominican Republic. It is therefore very interesting to see some places (like Bayahibe or the poorer areas) where you can find the old civilization style before tourism and Europe took over and destroyed / changed things.
11) Haiti, the nearby country, is going through a rough time at the moment, you will therefore see a lot of Haitian people in Dominicana, the ones who managed to escape from there. You will recognize them as they have a much darker skin compared to the dominicanos! :)
Day 1: Saona Island
If you wish to find my map pins and easily follow them, follow me on mapstr!
✿ See Saona Island
Dedicate a day to the sea. From the port of Bayahibe, (precisely at this location here) you can embark to reach the wonderful Saona Island. Your first pit stop should be at the Natural Pools, where you'll find crystal-clear Caribbean water that is nothing short of spectacular. Between toasts of rum and colored starfish here and there, you can then reach the coast of Saona Island, where some of the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic are located.
✿ Take a walk and enjoy the sunbeds in the woods
If you walk right (looking at the beach, with the sea n your back) you will reach an area shaded by many palm trees as part of the National Park Cotubanamà, it’s very suggestive to get a drink ortake pictures!
Day 2: Catalina Island & Coco Bongo night
If you wish to find my map pins and easily follow them, follow me on mapstr!
✿ Catilina Island
Another of the beautiful islands of the Dominican Republic is Catilina Island, an absolute must-see during your vacation.
✎ The snorkeling on the way was not worth it at all! We had much higher expectations, but then when you reach the island, you won’t regret the whole tour :).
✿ Eat fresh fish at Playa Isla Catalina
This is where the tour usually stops, you can relax, take a walk, or eat at the local restaurants. My favorite one was this stand right on the beach where all the sunbeds are where you can have fresh food grilled and brought to you on the beach! Don’t forget to get a pina colada, coco loco or a coconut drink!
✿ Find beautiful corals on the beach (but leave them there after!)
The sand on the beach is full of beautiful corals and it’s definitely a thing to go and find the best ones, BUT you cannot keep them with you (they told me they find you at the airport!).
These are some of those I found, I challenge you to find better ones :).
✎ In the Catalina excursion, it’s often included the village of Alto de Chavon where you can admire the church, the amphitheater, and the medieval alleys. I did not like it too much, at least I did not think it was worth the stop, but if it’s included then you should definitely take a walk there.
✿ Dance at Coco Bongo whilst watching an amazing live show!
Coco Bongo Disco Show is one of the most beautiful and evocative venues in the world, where, among other things, some scenes from the film The Mask are set, and it is located right in Punta Cana! There are 3 in the world, two in Mexico and one in the Dominican Republic…Visiting is an opportunity not to be missed: between shows, music, and open bars you will live an incredibly exclusive experience.
The show is really great as the performers are skilled dancers, and the music is amazing! The ticket includes open bar, so you can enjoy drinking there!
Day 3: Boogies experience and Macao Beach
If you wish to find my map pins and easily follow them, follow me on mapstr!
✿ Ride Boogies Adventure
For all 4-wheel adventure lovers. You will drive your buggy and you will dart between fruit plantations, sugar cane, and typical villages.
✿ The tour continues to the Macao Cave
This beautiful cave has music, blue and green waters, and a beautiful atmosphere, it’s part of your Boogies tour!
✿ The tour will also show you how they make cigars, let you taste local drinks and make you walk around!
✎ Macao Beach
To end this beautiful day, reach Macao beach where you can relax with a nice dip and clean yourself of all the splashes of mud accumulated during the adrenaline-pumping journey.
When we went there, we did not like the food or the weather cause it was super windy! If it’s a nice day, you can also take a walk with the horses :)
✿ Go Clubbing at Maroca
Most clubs in Punta Cana are post-Coco-Bongo clubs, so the music and party usually start later (around 1-2 am when people have left Coco Bongo looking for an after-party).
Maroca was a beautiful location and had good music (still, reggaeton and local music!).
Day 4: Bayahibe & Good fish night
If you wish to find my map pins and easily follow them, follow me on mapstr!
✿ Stroll around Bayahibe to discover the true Dominican Republic
We had the honor to meet an amazing tour guide: his name is Edward Santana, who created his guiding community called Recuerdos de Bayahibe. He shares the old stories and guides you around the village, telling the stories of his 105 years old grandma from Bayahibe and keeping these memories alive!
Whilst in Bayahibe, stop at a local fruit shop here, and try the best mango you’ll ever eat in your life!
✿ Take a bath in the natural lakes of Manantial in Bayahibe
There are multiple ones around the city, choose your favorite and dive in.
✿ Have lunch in a hidden local village to support the locals!
The same day, we had the honor to be accompanied from another local community working hard to promote Bayahibe’s treasures, their name is Dominicana Te Amo. They work with local village residents to organize tours and experiences. With them, we had the chance to have lunch in this hidden restaurant in a local village, which you won’t find in google maps, only I have the exact spot saved here.
✿ Walk to the Corazon de Bayahibe (the Heart of Bayahibe) and take a bath in it!
Walking around 10 minutes from the Bayahibe’s port you can reach this small heart-shaped lake here in front of the sea within the rocks. It looks super instagrammable but is also a nice place to bathe. We did it in the evening for the sunset & night and the lighting was amazing!
✿ Drink a pina colada and coconut water, play beach volley and relax at Playa de Bayahibe
We found this beautiful beach in the heart of Bayahibe which we loved for its local taste, colors, way of living the beach (with a beach volley field, tables to play cards or eat, sunbeds, lots of young people, and music!). I think it was our favorite beach on the island!
You can watch an incredible sunset from here, as we are in the southern part of the island!
✎ Enjoy Playa Dominicus
We spent the day here, it’s pretty, with nice bars and shops, but we definitely preferred Playa Bayahibe!
This café / bar called Martire’s Delicatessen on the beach makes amazing natural drinks freshly made in front of you!
✿ Have dinner at Mare Nuestro for one of the best fish and cooking on the island!
The fish is fresh, the food here is cooked very well, you can see there are some Italian hands at work!
Day 5: Samana, Cascada del Limon
If you wish to find my map pins and easily follow them, follow me on mapstr!
✎ Samanà: Limon waterfall & Cayo Levantado
Are you ready to discover the Dominican hinterland and its natural beauties?
Then go with this excursion: you will leave on board a bus that will take you on a tour of the coffee, cocoa, and tropical fruit plantations.
You will embark towards Key Levantado (Cayo Levantado). There, enchanting Caribbean beaches await you where you will have the opportunity to walk, swim or simply relax in the sun. If you are traveling during the months around February, the boat will make a stop on the way to watch whales that are crossing this part of the sea every year!
You will then cross the countryside full of colorful wooden houses and you will reach Miches, where you will board a boat bound for Samanà.
There you will get on the back of a horse that will take you directly to the Limon waterfall (Cascada Limòn). So you will find yourself in the middle of the jungle!
Overall, we were very tired when we did this excursion, so we did not enjoy it much: it was all very tiring, as you can see it’s a lot of back and forth and a long drive from Punta Cana (around 4 hours of the total tour between Pullman, bus, boat…), so I only recommend to do it if you really really want to see this other side of the island (the poorer and greener one).
In addition, horses are kept in very very bad conditions, my heart was crying when I saw this and I did not want to ride it anymore… as I know how to horseback ride, I told my guide I would drive the horse myself so that he wouldn’t whip him, otherwise, the other guides did to the horses and it was very painful for them and for us to watch!
Moreover, the guides are not even paid to do their job by the organizing company, this is very sad and this is why most tourists give a cash reward to them for their job.
If you decide to go anyway, bring a pair of shoes you don’t care about (but closed shoes to ride a horse) and NOT long pants because they will get full of dirt and mud. Also bring a bandana to avoid being in touch with the helmet they give you.
