DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

TRANSPORT

WE KNEW A LITTLE ABOUT LOCAL TRANSPORT. THE BASIC ONE IS BASED ON MOPEDS; MOTO-RICKSHAWS; SMALL BUSES RUNNING ON SMALL DISTANCES AND BETWEEN CITIES CALLED GUA-GUA – EQUIVALENTS OF GEORGIAN MARSHRUTKAS; BUSES AND TAXIS (TO WHICH I ALSO INCLUDE PRIVATE CARS, USUALLY QUITE OLD ONES).

TRANSPORT AT THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THAT’S A SEPARATE STORY.

KNOWING HOW TO SPOT THE STOPS IS SECRET KNOWLEDGE. IT IS BASED ON THE RULE OF THE LACK OF ANY WELL VISIBLE MARKING. AND ONLY THE INITIATED DOMINICANS KNOW IT. YOU – WHITY, DO NOT HAVE THIS KNOWLEDGE. HOWEVER, YOU CAN BE ENLIGHTENED. ENLIGHTENMENT COULD BE TWOFOLD AND EVEN THREEFOLD. FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEBODY WILL SHOW YOU A „PARADE” – THIS IS THE NAME OF A STOP IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. OR WILL LEAD YOU THERE. OR WILL GRAB YOU, WILL SIT YOU DOWN ON HIS OWN MOTOCONCHO, AND DRIVE YOU TO THE STOP. BUT WHEN YOU LAND ON „PARADE” YOU STILL WILL NOT KNOW WHERE THERE IS A STOP HERE. EXIST STILL A FOURTH WAY – THE DRIVER OF GUA-GUA WILL TRUMPET AT YOU – A PERSON LOOKING AROUND WITH A SLIGHTLY HELPLESS-BEWILDERED EXPRESSION OF THE FACE … HE WILL SPOT THE TOURIST WITH MADNESS IN EYES AND WILL HOOT THE HORN AT HIM. HOWEVER, BECAUSE EVERYONE IS TRUMPETING ON EVERYONE, SO DETERMINING WHERE THE STOP IS, IS A SECRET KNOWLEDGE.

TRANSPORT BETWEEN CITIES IS DONE WITH SOMETHING WHAT WE ARE CALLING MICRO-BUSES. IN THE SPANISH DOMINICAN, THE WORD GUA-GUA IS PRONOUNCED WA-WA. YOU GET IN. A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE AFTER YOU. NOBODY HAS A GRUDGE ABOUT ANYTHING. THERE ARE NOT MANY PLACES – ONLY THE SITTING ONES, BUT ALL OF THE CUSTOMERS FOLD IN A WAY, THAT THERE ARE 25-30 PEOPLE FITTING INSIDE. SHORTLY AND SWEETLY, WITHOUT NERVES.
TICKETS, CASH REGISTERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT ALL. THIS IS ANOTHER PHENOMENON. THERE IS ALWAYS A MANAGER IN GUA-GUA. HE’S MANAGING A BUSINESS. HE COLLECTS THE MONEY. NOT AT ALL WHEN YOU GETTING IN. LOOKS AT THE PASSENGERS, AND KNOWS WHERE AND WHEN THEIR JOURNEY BEGINS AND ENDS !!!! – THIS IS THE MAIN MAGICIAN.

YOU WANT TO GET OFF, YOU SAY YOU WANT TO AND GUA-GUA STOPS. ONE CAN GET OFF WHERE SHE/HE WANTS. THE FACT, THAT PEOPLE KNOW, WHERE TO STAND TO BE TAKEN IS A MAGIC SECRET.

TAXI AND BIKES DRIVING AROUND THE CITY ARE PROBABLY DIRECTED BY ADEPTS OF SORCERY SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO TELEPORT TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE STANDING AND RISING FROM THE UNDERWORLD IN FRONT OF YOU … 🙂
YOU HAVE TO BARGAIN WITH LOCALS EVERYWHERE. THE EASIEST WAY TO DO THIS IS TO LEAVE THE PLACE WHERE WE WERE DROPPED, SAYING, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WE HAVE AN AGREED TRIP. AFTER A MOMENT SOMEONE ELSE WILL ACCOST US, OR THE PREVIOUS ONE DRIVER WILL RETURN AND THEN THE PRICE WILL CHANGE AT A MORE PROFITABLE FOR US.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE ARRIVED BY PLANE TO PUNTA CANA, IN THE VICINITY THERE WERE ONLY TAXIS. ON THE INTERNET, IN SEVERAL PLACES AT THE AIRPORT AND IN THE PAMPHLET ABOUT PUNTA CANA, THERE ARE APPROXIMATE PRICES FOR TAXI FARES TO INDIVIDUAL HOTELS. OUR ONE WASN’T MENTIONED. AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS, I PAID US $ 30. WE USED A TAXI FOR TRANSPORT IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ONLY 1 x

• MOTOCONCHO FROM HOTEL TO THE DEL CORTECITO BEACH

• TRIP TO EL SALTO DEL LIMÓN AND BACK

• GUA-GUA TO SABANA DE LA MAR

• BUS TO HATO MAYOR DEL RE

• GUA-GUA – SHIFT TO HOTEL

• GUA-GUA TO EL LIMÓN

• GUA-GUA TO PUERTA PLATA

• GUA-GUA TO THE DISTANT 50 km AWAY HIGÜEY

• BY BIKE TO THE PARAISO CAÑO HONDO HOTEL – (ON SUNDAY !!!) 300 DOP / pp. (NO PROBLEM FOR 200 DOP pp. DURING THE WEEKDAY). THE WHOLE TRIP FROM PUNTA CANA TO THIS PLACE LASTED ABOUT 4 HOURS.

• FERRY TO SAMANÁ

• GUA-GUA TO SANCHEZ

• GUA-GUA TO LAS TERRENAS

• LIFT BY PRIVATE CAR

• PRIVATE CAR (?) TAXI (?) FROM HOTEL TO BUS STATION

• THE BUS TO PUNTA CANA DEPARTS FROM THE CHINESE QUARTER. EXPRESO BÁVARO (IN SANTO DOMINGO HAS SEVERAL PARKING STOPS, THE CLOSEST TO THE COLONIAL ZONE IS THE STOP AT PARQUE ENRIQUILLO ON CALLE RAVELO) – DEPENDING ON THE SEASON, DRIVES ONCE OR SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. ATTENTION! YOU CAN NOT BOOK OR BUY TICKETS IN ADVANCE. YOU HAVE TO BE AT THE BUS STOP AN HOUR BEFORE THE PLANNED DEPARTURE. IT RIDES LIKE LIGHTNING AND IS GETTING THE DESTINATION AFTER THREE HOURS. ON THE BUS, THE DRIVER RELEASES THE MUSIC AND AFTER A WHILE THE MOVIE. THE MONITORS ARE COMING OUT FROM THE CEILING. ALL THIS FOR ONLY US$ 8.7

• LIFT ON MOTORBIKE

ACCOMMODATION

PRICES FOR DOUBLE ROOMS WITH AIR-COND AND BATHROOM. BREAKFAST NOT INCLUDED UNLESS MENTIONED OTHERWISE

• GUESTHOUSE LAS PIEDRAS – NOTE: PLACE IS DIFFICULT TO FIND. IT IS LOCATED IN A SIDE STREET, SHIELDED BY A HIGH WALL WITH A LARGE METAL GATE. THE GATE AND THE WALL LOOK LIKE THE WELL-SECURED PRISON. NO LIGHTING, NO LETTERING, NO BELL. IN THE IRON GATE A SMALL DOOR. THE BED & BREAKFAST IS VERY STYLISH INSIDE. THE FORTRESS IS MADE OF STONE, A CLOISTER-LIKE CORRIDOR LEADS TO INDIVIDUAL APARTMENTS. ROOMS, BATHROOM DECORATED VERY STYLISHLY. SOME WITH BALCONIES. ALL COVERED WITH LUSH VEGETATION. PATIO. THE PRICE INCLUDES BREAKFAST IN ANY STYLE. FOR SURE, THE „FORTRESS” IS IMPRESSIVE. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND

• HOTEL NARAGUA – (Hotel Naragua. Cabeza de Toro, Cabeza de Toro Punta Cana, 23302, Dominikana +18094683060, hotelrestaurantenaragua@hotmail.com) – LOCATED JUST NEXT TO A BUSY ROAD. DECENT ROOM WITH A LITTLE WORN OUT, SMALL BATHROOM, TV (UNFORTUNATELY, NO ENGLISH-LANGUAGE STATION), AIR CONDITIONING THAT TAKES UP A LOT OF SPACE ON THE SMALL BALCONY. WI-FI ONLY IN THE VESTIBULE.

• HOTEL PLAYA CARIBE – (27 de Febrero, Las Terrenas, ph. 00 800 30 66 30 66) – SMALL APARTMENT WITH BATHROOM, AIR CONDITIONING, FRIDGE, STOVE AND DISHES, PLUS A SMALL COLONIAL TERRACE. NO VIEW. JUST ACROSS THE STREET THE SMALL HOTEL’S PRIVATE BEACH WITH THE BEACH BAR AND DECKCHAIRS.

• HOTEL MOUNTAIN VIEW – WE DID NOT SLEEP HERE, BUT WE PLANNED TO STAY AT THIS SPOT. WE WATCHED THIS PLACE THOROUGHLY AND WE MADE AN INTERVIEW AT THE RECEPTION. WE RECOMMEND

• HOTEL KEVIN – A FAMILY BUSINESS LOCATED NEARLY THE CENTRE OF THE OLD TOWN. (Calle Prof. Juan Bosch, Puerto Plata 57000, Dominikana). APPARENTLY, THE ROOMS WERE NOT THE WORST, BUT SOME KIND OF SHABBY. THE HOTEL BUILDING ALSO. WE MANAGED TO NEGOTIATE A GOOD PRICE FOR A ROOM. WE WERE STAYING.

• HOTEL PARAISO CAÑO HONDO – 9 km FROM SABANA DEL MAR (Caño Hondo, Los Haitises Sabana de la Mar – Hato Mayor, 25000, Dominikana ph: +18498522323, ventas@paraisocanohondo.com). A SMALL HOLIDAY RESORT LOCATED ON THE BORDER WITH THE NATIONAL PARK. REAL FAIRY TALE. COTTAGES WITH BALCONIES IN A RUSTIC STYLE. EVERYTHING MADE OF WOOD AND INTEGRATED INTO THE LANDSCAPE. SUCH HOUSES IN THE FOREST. PATHS BETWEEN THEM, NUMEROUS LAKES AND PONDS. MANY OF THEM HAVE WATERFALLS. THE WHOLE BEAUTIFUL AND INSCRIBED IN THE SURROUNDING NATURE. APARTMENTS TASTEFULLY AND ELEGANTLY FURNISHED. FOR 2 PERSONS – APPROXIMATELY 25 m² IN SIZE INCLUDING BATHROOM AND BALCONY. YOU CAN LIVE, EAT, BATHE IN NUMEROUS POOLS AND PONDS, EXPLORE THE AREA, OR LOUNGING ON DECKCHAIRS OR HAMMOCKS. BREAKFAST INCLUDED

• HOTEL CASA DEL SOL – (Isabel la Catolica 1 Santo Domingo de Guzman, Dominikana +1 829-272-5414 Bed & breakfast). FANTASTIC. A MAGNIFICENT SPANISH-STYLE ROOM WITH A LARGE BED, TABLE, ROYAL CHAIRS AND A BALCONY. THE VIEW FROM THE BALCONY GREAT. LOCATION BRILLIANT. BREAKFAST SERVED UPSTAIRS ON A TERRACE WITH TABLES, SOFAS AND SPA. BREAKFAST INCLUDED. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

WORTH SEEING

• SAMANÁ BEFORE 15 OF MARCH. THEN THE WHALES DISAPPEAR.

• MANGROVE, CAVES WITH TAIN DRAWINGS, BEACHES AND OTHER CURIOSITIES.
  ONE CAN BOAT THROUGH THE ENDLESS EXPANSE OF MANGROVE FOREST ON THE SHORES OF RIO JIBALES USING A GLASS FIBRE BOAT. THE GUIDE SHOWS INTERESTING FACTS: PLANTS, BIRDS, HORNETS’ NESTS …
  WE ARE SAILING OUT TO WATERS OF THE ENSENADA BAY DE CAÑO HONDA. THE BOAT FLASHES BETWEEN LAND, MANGROVE AND SMALL ISLANDS. WE PASS THE REMAINS OF LARGE WAREHOUSES AND WHARVES OF THE ONCE LARGEST COMPANY DEALING IN THE PRODUCTION AND SALE OF SUGAR FROM SUGAR CANE. SEVERAL PILLARS STICKING OUT OF THE WATER IS CALLED A MONUMENT …
  CAVES, WHERE TAIN DRAWINGS WERE FOUND, ARE HUGE, NOT VERY DEEP CHAMBERS. IN A FEW PLACES, ONE CAN GO TO THE SHORE. ONE CAN SEE TRACKS OF THE LEVEL OF WATERS OF THE OCEAN FROM BEFORE 300 MILLIONS OF YEARS. SIGHTSEEING TIME FROM 2 ½ h +

• FORTRESS – IT IS STRATEGICALLY LOCATED AND WAS THE FIRST ONE BUILT BY EUROPEANS IN AMERICA. BUILT ON THE MODEL OF EUROPEAN FORTRESSES. AN INTERESTING SMALL MUSEUM COSTS PENNIES.

• ISABELLA’S MOUNTAIN – UP THE MOUNTAIN TAKES YOU THE CABLE CAR (TELEFERICO) IT IS LOCATED QUITE FAR FROM THE CITY CENTRE (ABOUT ½ h. ON FOOT). IN THE WAITING ROOM BEFORE THE ENTRANCE TO THE CARRIAGE, A FOLK CONCERT PERFORMING BY LOCALS SINGING AND PLAYING MERENGUE OR BACHATA. THE MOUNTAIN ITSELF (793 m HIGH) SEEMS TO BE A POLISH LICHEN WITH JESUS CHRIST SURROUNDED BY THE BEAUTIFUL PARQUE NACIONAL ISABEL DE TORRES IN WHICH THE ATTRACTIONS ARE WATERFALLS, BRIDGES, GREEN CORNERS. WORTH A LOOK. PARTICULARLY A VIEW STRETCHING TO A FEW DIRECTIONS OF THE WORLD. THE CITY, SEEN THROUGH THE VAPOURS OF MORNING FOG RISING FROM THIS ENORMOUS CLUSTER OF GREENERY, ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE IT WAS BATHED IN A SILVER GLOW. VERY RELAXING.

• ONE OF THE BIGGEST ATTRACTIONS OF THE SAMANÁ PENINSULA – A NATURAL WATERFALL IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE WATER FALLS HERE FROM A HEIGHT OF 50 m. A TRIP FROM THE TOWN TO THE WATERFALL AND BACK ON THE BACKS OF MULE TAKES c. 4 h. (DEPENDING ON HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE A BATH UNDER THE WATERFALL AND BREAK IN THE RESTAURANT NEXT TO THE WATERFALL). ONE HAS TO MARCH OR RIDES ON THE MULE A NARROW STONY PATH BETWEEN THE TREES ACROSS THE RIVER, ALL THE TIME UP THE HILL, SOMETIMES STEEPLY AND OVER STONES. MULES DO NOT REACH THE WATERFALL ITSELF. TO APPROACH IT ONE HAS TO GO UP AND DOWN THE HILL ABOUT 1 km.

• ALCÁZAR DE COLÓN – THE BIGGEST ATTRACTION, WONDERFULLY RESTORED. THE FIRST VICEROY’S RESIDENCE. THE PALACE FROM 1510 IN THE SPANISH COLONIAL STYLE, WAS ORIGINALLY THE HOME OF THE FIRST GOVERNOR OF THE COLONY AND THE SON OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS – DIEGO. THE BUILDING WAS ALSO THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE MAIN SPANISH COURT AND THE PLACE FROM WHICH THE CONQUEST OF MEXICO, PORTO RICO, CUBA, GUATEMALA, PERU, FLORIDA, COLOMBIA AND JAMAICA WAS MANAGED. ORIGINAL AND RECONSTRUCTED ITEMS ARE A GREAT ILLUSTRATION OF EVERYDAY LIFE IN COLONIAL SANTO DOMINGO. MEDIEVAL AND RENAISSANCE EUROPEAN ART IS PRESENTED HERE. ADDRESS: Plaza de España, Ph. +1 809 682 4750. OPEN: Tue. – Sun. 9:00 17:00. PRICE: 100, KIDS 20 DOP.

• FORTECA OZAMA – THE FORTRESS WAS BUILT BY THE SPANIARDS IN 1502-1508. THE OLDEST MILITARY BUILDING WITH EUROPEAN ROOTS IN AMERICA. AN EXAMPLE OF A MEDIEVAL EUROPEAN STYLE OF BUILDING IS THE TOWER PLACED IN THE CENTRAL LOCATION OF THE FORTRESS (TORRE DEL HOMENAJE). ADDRESS: Calle las Damas, Ph: +1 809-686-0222, OPEN: Mon. – Sat. 9:30 – 18:30, Sun. 9:00 – 16:00

• CATHEDRAL DEDICATED TO St. MARIA DE LA ENCARNACIÓN – THE FIRST STONE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CATHEDRAL WAS LAID IN 1514 BY DIEGO COLUMBUS. A LARGE GROUP OF ARCHITECTS WORKED HERE. THIS IS CLEARLY SEEN WHEN LOOKING AT THE GOTHIC VAULT, ROMANESQUE ARCHES AND BAROQUE ORNAMENTS. LACK OF FUNDS DID NOT ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWER. THE INTERIOR OF THE CATHEDRAL IS FAR FROM THE ORIGINAL. IT HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A COMMAND POST BY DRAKE – THE FAMOUS PIRATE. HE AND HIS MEN PLUNDERED THE BASILICA AND DEVASTATED IT BEFORE LEAVING. THE IMPRESSIVE VAULT AND 14 CHAPELS ATTRACT ATTENTION. CATEDRAL PRIMADA DE AMÉRICA ADDRESS: Calle Isabel La Católica NEAR Parque Colón. Ph: + 1 809 685 2302; OPEN: Mon. – Sat. 8:00 – 17:00; KIDS UP TO 12 YEARS FREE.

• THE ROYAL PALACE – BUILT IN THE EARLY 16^th CENTURY, CASAS REALES IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF SPANISH COLONIAL ARCHITECTURE. THE WHOLE CONSISTS OF TWO CONNECTING BUILDINGS. ONE SERVED AS THE RESIDENCE OF THE HIGHEST COLONIAL DIGNITARIES, AND IN THE SECOND THERE WERE GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND THE ROYAL COURT – THE FIRST COURT OF THE „NEW WORLD.” A VERY INTERESTING AND BEAUTIFUL PLACE, WHERE PEACOCKS WALK SLOWLY THROUGH THE INNER COURTYARD. ADDRESS: Calle las Damas / Calle Mercedes, Tel: +1 809-682-4202. OPEN: Tue. – Sun. 9:00 – 17:00; KIDS UP TO 12 YEARS FREE.

• THE OLD JESUIT CHURCH – CONVERTED IN 1956 INTO THE NATIONAL PANTHEON BY THE DICTATOR TRUJILLO MOLINA. AFTER THE JESUITS WERE DRIVEN OUT, THE TEMPLE PERFORMED VARIOUS FUNCTIONS. THERE WERE WAREHOUSES, SNUFF STORAGE, THEATRE AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
  IT CONSISTS OF EIGHT CHAPELS LOCATED SYMMETRICALLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MAIN NAVE AND THE CENTRALLY LOCATED ALTAR. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE HUGE, CENTRALLY HANGING CANDELABRUM AND SOME OF THE GRIDS WITH SYMBOLS OF THE NAZI SWASTIKA IS FRANCISCO FRANCO’S GIFT TO TRUJILLO. MURAL FROM 1958 BY RAFAEL PELLICER AND THESE TWO HIGHLIGHTS ATTRACT VIEWERS

• TRAMPOLÍN – CHILDREN’S MUSEUM. IT’S WORTH SHOWING TO CHILDREN. THEY WILL HAVE FUN. Calle las Damas, HOUSE OF RODRIGO DE BASTIDAS, Ph: +1 809 685 5551; OPEN: Tue. – Fri. 9:00 – 17:00 Sat – Sun 10:00 – 18:00. TICKET 200, KIDS 100 DOP.

• ZONA COLONIAL – BEAUTIFUL OLD TOWN. A COMPLEX OF HISTORICAL BUILDINGS FROM THE PERIOD FROM 1495 TO ABOUT THE 19^th CENTURY. FAMOUS CALLE DE DAMAS, BEAUTIFUL TOWNSMEN’S HOUSES, CHURCHES. WONDERFULLY DECORATED ROYAL PALACE, ROYAL MUSEUM. BOTH OBJECTS FULL OF EXHIBITS AT A HIGH LEVEL. CHURCHES AND THE CATHEDRAL ARE IMPRESSIVE.

• STARTING FROM BÁVARO ONE HAS TO TRAVEL A FEW KILOMETRES BY BUS, THEN BY BOAT OR CATAMARAN.
  REALIZING THAT ORGANIZING A TRIP TO SAONA THROUGH THE COMPANY WILL BE MUCH SIMPLER WE WERE LOOKING FOR A TOURIST AGENCY. AFTER NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE OWNER OF THE D’ Juany NRU 1 GIFT SHOP STORE (LITERALLY ON THE BEACH. ON THE EXTENSION OF THE PATH RUNNING THROUGH THE SHOPS WHICH COME TO CALLE PEDRO MIR) THE PRICE OF US $ 80 / P INCLUDES ALL TRANSPORT, DRINKS AND LUNCH ON THE ISLAND.
  AFTER ABOUT 1½ HOURS BY BUS, WE ENTER THE SPEEDBOAT AND SAIL AROUND THE NATIONAL PARK „DEL ESTE”. THE FIRST 15 MINUTES STOP. ONE CAN SNORKEL AND WATCHING THE UNDERWATER FLORA AND FAUNA. ANOTHER STOP. THIS TIME NEAR THE SHORE ON THE SHALLOW (80-100 cm). ONE CAN JUMP INTO THE WATER; GO TO THE PALM TREES SOARING ABOUT 100 m AWAY; SEE A STARFISH FROM UP CLOSE; GET SOMETHING TO DRINK …
  SAONA. ISLAND-LIKE FROM THE PICTURE. PALM TREES, SEA, LIGHT AND FINE SAND. LUNCH. RETURN BY CATAMARAN. ON IT, RUM AND COKE, MUSIC, DANCES. IN TOTAL, A COMMERCIAL TRIP, BUT MOST RECOMMENDABLE.

FOOD

• GUESTHOUSE LAS PIEDRAS – A FEW TIMES PREPARED TO ORDER VERY COOL, SEAFOOD AND DOMINICAN FOOD. THERE IS NOTHING MORE BEAUTIFUL AND STYLISH IN THE AREA. DELICIOUS FISH WITH SALAD. ALL COURSES ALWAYS VERY GOOD. VERY HIGH LEVEL OF SERVED DISHES

• STREET STALL – TWO PIECES OF ROAST CHICKEN, PUREE OF BAKED BANANAS + YET SOME STRANGE WEEDS

• SAUSAGES IN BATTER; BALLS OF MINCED MEAT (BETTER THAN A GRUB IN AN AEROPLANE)

• CHEAP RESTAURANTS ON Calle Duarte I Nuestra Señora Del Carmen St., EXPENSIVE ONES ON Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó AND Libertad (Libety St.) FROM MEDIUM TO EXPENSIVE ONES ON THE 27 de Febrero STREET

• DINNER IN THE RESTAURANT – SHRIMP, OCTOPUS AND BEER

• ITALIAN RESTAURANT (Calle Duarte) -LOBSTERS – GRILLED WITH SALAD AND ADDITIONAL SEAFOOD

• VEGETABLES, FRUITS – HUGE AVOCADO 20 DOP; TINY GREEN SPICY PEPPERS – 5 DOP / pc.; LARGE MANGO – 20 DOP; VERY LARGE PAPAYA 20 DOP, LARGE LOCAL FRUIT – 45 DOP / pc.

• OTHER FOOD – 5 L BAG OF ICE 50 DOP; ONE CAN ALSO BUY 1/2 BAG; CANNED TUNA 120 DOP; PIÑA COLADA IN A CAN 80 DOP (AFTER A GOOD FREEZING AND ADDING ICE TOGETHER WITH ALCOHOL ONE CAN GET 3 FANTASTIC DRINKS)

• VERY GOOD, INEXPENSIVE RESTAURANT ON THE CORNER Calle Separación I Calle 12 de Julio

• ONNO’S BAR – SEA DELICACIES; A DECENT, SLIGHTLY SPARKLING WHITE CHILEAN WINE.

• HOTEL PARAISO CAÑO HONDO – DINNER AT THE HOTEL RESTAURANT: 2 CRABS – ONE IN THE DOMINICAN STYLE, SECOND IN CREOLE STYLE. DELICIOUS. BREAKFAST – ON REQUEST IN THE DOMINICAN STYLE – MASHED SWEET POTATO, A PIECE OF BAKED CHEESE AND ROASTED MEAT, TASTING LIKE EASTER HAM. I THINK IT WAS HAM. ON TOP OF THAT, JUICE, FRUIT, COFFEE. LOOKING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE IT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST BREAKFAST IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. PRICE DIFFICULT TO CALCULATE BECAUSE IT WAS CUMULATED WITH ACCOMMODATION (SEE HOTEL PARAISO CAÑO HONDO IN „SAMPLE PRICES”)

• DAMA IMPERIAL – DINNER IN THE RESTAURANT – A DISH FOR TWO. DISH OF SEA DELICACIES. A BOTTLE OF WINE AND 2 X DAIQUIRI

TIPS

IT IS HARMFUL FOR THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TO BE PERCEIVED AS A DANGEROUS STATE.

SAMPLE PRICES

TRY TO BUY IN SUPERMARKETS

• BOTTLE OF RUM FROM 300 + + + DOP. DO NOT COUNT, HOWEVER, THAT YOU WILL DRINK IT AS IN EUROPEAN BARS IN EUROPEAN STYLE, I MEAN, JUST A GLASS. THE ORDER OF A GLASS OF RUM WILL NOT BE CARRIED OUT ANYWHERE. EITHER A BOTTLE OR NOTHING. THE BOTTLE OF COURSE, IN A PAPER BAG. ONE WILL GET RUM-BASED DRINKS, ONE WILL GET WINE IN THE GLASS, HOWEVER, THE RUM IS BOUGHT ONLY FOR BOTTLES. THAT’S IT. WE DID NOT SEE DRUNKEN DOMINICANS. RUM IS THEIR NATIONAL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND DRINKING IT MODERATELY IS CREATING ONE OF THE ASPECTS OF THE DOMINICAN LIFESTYLE.

• TIPS – FROM 50 DOP

•  MOTORBIKE – 1/p.

• MOTOCONCHO

• GUA-GUA – FROM 20 TO 200 DOP (SEE TRANSPORT)

• SCOTIABANK TELLER– IT REPORTEDLY TAKES THE SMALLEST PAYMENT FOR CASH WITHDRAWALS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

• GUESTHOUSE LAS PIEDRAS – A DOUBLE APARTMENT WITH BREAKFAST

• HOTEL NARAGUA – WITHOUT BREAKFAST

• TAXI AIRPORT – HOTEL

• A TRIP TO SALTO DEL LIMÓN WITH ALL FEES BUT NO TIPS (THE GUIDES ARE VERY INSISTENT AND IT IS GOOD TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING BEFORE THE START OF THE TRIP) NOTE: SOME GUIDES ASK FOR TIPS SAYING THAT THIS IS THEIR ONLY PAYMENT FOR THEIR WORK. WE DID NOT LIKE IT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE AGREED. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE WHEN THEY GOT 200 DOP (ABOUT 4.6 $ PER HEAD) THEY WERE NOT HAPPY. PERHAPS WE ARE NOT RIGHT, BUT IT IS GENERALLY ACCEPTED THAT THE TIP IS ABOUT 10% OF THE PRICE. WE PAID 1700 DOP FOR ALL-INCLUSIVE. SO THEY GOT MORE THAN 23.5% TIP.
• A CAN OF COCA-COLA IN A RESTAURANT NEXT TO THE EL LIMÓN WATERFALL – 50 DOP, A GLASS OF COCONUT MILK 37.5 DOP

• HOTEL PLAYA CARIBE – A DOUBLE ROOM WITH A BATHROOM WITHOUT BREAKFAST FROM US$ 50

• DINNER IN THE RESTAURANT – SHRIMPS, OCTOPUS AND BEER

• BUS TO SANTO DOMINGO. TICKETS ARE SOLD AN HOUR BEFORE DEPARTURE. AT THE STATION, FREE ACCESS TO WI-FI (IS ON EVERY PASSING STATION OF CARIBE TOURS ON THE WAY TO SANTO DOMINGO)

• THE EXCHANGE AT THE AIRPORT IS COMPLETELY UNPROFITABLE (THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EXCHANGE THERE AND IN THE TOWN WHEN EXCHANGING US $50 IS 510 DOP)

• ONNO’S BAR – SEA DELICACIES, DECENT WHITE, SLIGHTLY SPARKLING CHILEAN WINE.

• HOTEL KEVIN – A DOUBLE ROOM WITH BATHROOM WITHOUT BREAKFAST

• HOTEL MOUNTAIN VIEW – A DOUBLE ROOM WITH BATHROOM WITHOUT BREAKFAST

• HOTEL PARAISO CAÑO HONDO – UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT HAVE A DOP (BIG MISTAKE) AND THEREFORE THE COST WAS OVER US $ 10 HIGHER. BREAKING DOWN INTO INDIVIDUAL EXPENSES: CHECK-IN WITH BREAKFAST AROUND US $ 89. THE REST: 2 BEERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY AND THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED 3-COURSE DINNER WITH A BOTTLE OF CHILEAN WINE. IT MUST ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED THAT A TOTAL OF 28% OF TAXES ARE ADDED TO ALL PRICES.

• “LOS HAITISES” NATIONAL PARK – 2000 + 200 DOP PASS / 2 PERSONS; THE TOUR ONLY (BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS: WITH/WITHOUT LUNCH) COSTS EITHER 3000 DOP (PRIVATE TOUR, WITH A PERSONAL GUIDE), OR IN A GROUP OF AROUND 700, 800 DOP (DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE GROUP)

• FROM PARAISO CAÑO HONDO HOTEL ONE CAN APPROACH THE ENTRANCE TO THE NATIONAL PARK AND NEGOTIATE PRICES DIRECTLY WITH THE GUIDE-CAPTAIN OF THE BOAT.

• HOTEL CASA DEL SOL – A DOUBLE ROOM WITH BATHROOM WITH BREAKFAST

• PRIVATE CAR FROM THE BUS STATION TO THE COLONIAL ZONE

• DINNER AT DAMA IMPERIAL RESTAURANT – A DISH FOR TWO. PLATTER OF SEA DELICACIES. A BOTTLE OF WINE AND 2 X DAIQUIRI