If you're from a cold country and have come to the DR for the heat and the beaches, stop reading now as this will seem completely pointless to you.
Constanza's attraction is its cold weather. For Dominicans and people who've lived in the DR for many years, especially people from warmer climes, this is truly exotic. In the summer especially, it's the best way to escape the heat of the rest of the country. There are other highland areas where the temperature drops, but they are either too touristy for some (like Jarabacoa) or not touristy enough (parts of San Juan province, Monci?n, Villa Trina, Cambita). It was about 11?C at night when we were there, but it can go down to below zero in some areas. During the day the weather is springlike - warm in the sunshine and chilly in the shade.
Constanza has several hotels - at least two of good standard though not luxurious. We stayed at Altocerro, which looks about 30 years old but is reasonably up to date. The rooms were clean and basic - but cold as there is no heating. You can also rent a cabin, some of which have fireplaces. The dining area is large and has a couple of terraces as well as the indoor area. Staff are welcoming, food is varied - plenty of choice, local specialties like crema de cepa de apio, strawberries, rabbit stew and international dishes, but we all thought the food was much too salty. Breakfast is OK apart from the "colmado" bread which was disappointing. There is a sort of apr?s-ski feel to the place in the late afternoon/evenings as people come back from a day's exposure to the elements in search of a bowl of hot soup or a mug of hot chocolate. It's also a chance to show off your winter clothes that rarely get an airing.
The hotel has horse-riding, mountain-biking, a zip line, a football pitch, camping and barbecue areas, and they organised a bonfire for the guests on Saturday night. They also have conference facilities.
The other main attraction of Constanza is the landscape - it is so un-tropical that you feel you're in another country. Arriving via the winding road that links the valley of Constanza with the Duarte highway is a magical experience. Mountain mist gives way to crystal clear visibility as you reach the agricultural valleys of Tireo and Constanza.
Attractions to visit using Constanza as a base:
Valle Nuevo National Park - cold weather, mountain scenery, misty, mostly uninhabited. Visitors usually head for the Pyramid that supposedly marks the geographical centre of the country. There is a visitors' centre, an army/park ranger post, and camping facilities (free). Nearby is also the monument to Francisco Alberto Caama?o, a national hero who was killed on that spot. The road is unpaved but mostly OK.
Aguas Blancas waterfall - the road is windy and unpaved. It's a fairly challenging drive if you're in a normal vehicle, so best for 4-wheel drive jeepetas and camionetas, trailbikes or quads. There is a swimming area which is a bit grubby, with some litter, and the water is too cold for swimming for most people except perhaps in the summer months. what we did was take the sendero (trail) before you reach the falls, which takes you up to the viewing platforms for dramatic views of the falls and over the valley.
Piedras Letradas - Ta?no rock carvings - terrible road - 4x4 only - some parts are too narrow to let oncoming vehicles pass. We were lucky in that we didn't encounter any oncoming traffic, but unlucky in that we got a puncture! Once you reach the site there are no signs pointing to the rocks. We were shown the way by a campesino but there is no permanent presence there, let alone official guides. It is a very short, steep downhill scramble through forest vegetation to the rocks, not for everyone, and although the petroglyphs are intricate and impressive, the rock has been defaced with graffiti.
Local specialties are the strawberries, and the vegetables grown in these valleys, especially cepa de apio - celery root. The hotels and restaurants serve it as a soup, a breakfast mang? or a side dish accompanying meat or fish. As well as the hotel restaurants, there are several restaurants in the town centre. We were recommended one called Aguas Blancas where we thought the food there was very good indeed.
Constanza's attraction is its cold weather. For Dominicans and people who've lived in the DR for many years, especially people from warmer climes, this is truly exotic. In the summer especially, it's the best way to escape the heat of the rest of the country. There are other highland areas where the temperature drops, but they are either too touristy for some (like Jarabacoa) or not touristy enough (parts of San Juan province, Monci?n, Villa Trina, Cambita). It was about 11?C at night when we were there, but it can go down to below zero in some areas. During the day the weather is springlike - warm in the sunshine and chilly in the shade.
Constanza has several hotels - at least two of good standard though not luxurious. We stayed at Altocerro, which looks about 30 years old but is reasonably up to date. The rooms were clean and basic - but cold as there is no heating. You can also rent a cabin, some of which have fireplaces. The dining area is large and has a couple of terraces as well as the indoor area. Staff are welcoming, food is varied - plenty of choice, local specialties like crema de cepa de apio, strawberries, rabbit stew and international dishes, but we all thought the food was much too salty. Breakfast is OK apart from the "colmado" bread which was disappointing. There is a sort of apr?s-ski feel to the place in the late afternoon/evenings as people come back from a day's exposure to the elements in search of a bowl of hot soup or a mug of hot chocolate. It's also a chance to show off your winter clothes that rarely get an airing.
The hotel has horse-riding, mountain-biking, a zip line, a football pitch, camping and barbecue areas, and they organised a bonfire for the guests on Saturday night. They also have conference facilities.
The other main attraction of Constanza is the landscape - it is so un-tropical that you feel you're in another country. Arriving via the winding road that links the valley of Constanza with the Duarte highway is a magical experience. Mountain mist gives way to crystal clear visibility as you reach the agricultural valleys of Tireo and Constanza.
Attractions to visit using Constanza as a base:
Valle Nuevo National Park - cold weather, mountain scenery, misty, mostly uninhabited. Visitors usually head for the Pyramid that supposedly marks the geographical centre of the country. There is a visitors' centre, an army/park ranger post, and camping facilities (free). Nearby is also the monument to Francisco Alberto Caama?o, a national hero who was killed on that spot. The road is unpaved but mostly OK.
Aguas Blancas waterfall - the road is windy and unpaved. It's a fairly challenging drive if you're in a normal vehicle, so best for 4-wheel drive jeepetas and camionetas, trailbikes or quads. There is a swimming area which is a bit grubby, with some litter, and the water is too cold for swimming for most people except perhaps in the summer months. what we did was take the sendero (trail) before you reach the falls, which takes you up to the viewing platforms for dramatic views of the falls and over the valley.
Piedras Letradas - Ta?no rock carvings - terrible road - 4x4 only - some parts are too narrow to let oncoming vehicles pass. We were lucky in that we didn't encounter any oncoming traffic, but unlucky in that we got a puncture! Once you reach the site there are no signs pointing to the rocks. We were shown the way by a campesino but there is no permanent presence there, let alone official guides. It is a very short, steep downhill scramble through forest vegetation to the rocks, not for everyone, and although the petroglyphs are intricate and impressive, the rock has been defaced with graffiti.
Local specialties are the strawberries, and the vegetables grown in these valleys, especially cepa de apio - celery root. The hotels and restaurants serve it as a soup, a breakfast mang? or a side dish accompanying meat or fish. As well as the hotel restaurants, there are several restaurants in the town centre. We were recommended one called Aguas Blancas where we thought the food there was very good indeed.
