Hey guys. Simple, yet complex question here. We will be backpacking mainly the Samana and POP area, however, will also be in Santo Domingo for some time. From SD, I'd like to get down to Bahia las Aguilas. I believe I have already been told that I can find guaguas going down to Barahona and from there, catching one to Pedernales. Please correct me if I am wrong. Will we be able to catch a ride from Pedernales up to Jarabacoa when we are ready to leave? After staying a couple nights there, I would then go to Samana. I know there are complications in everything, but I am hoping it will be fairly easy to catch a bus or motoconchos to get me to where I'd like to go. At this moment, I am banking on being able to ask around and be ok. I am trying not to get overwhelmed considering I am wanting to see all of these places. Thank you in advance for all tips.
- Thread starter chodgy
- Start date
Getting to, well, all over
Get a map..... you'll be going all over it.
Those are distances you're contemplating..... large ones... and perhaps awkward.
do you have time frames?
Those are distances you're contemplating..... large ones... and perhaps awkward.
do you have time frames?
In general you can get from any point in the DR to any otje.r point by combining, bus, guaga, route car, moto concho. All cheap too. Then taxi for more expensive point to point service.
I hope you have a fun trip, be safe.
I hope you have a fun trip, be safe.
This is a great little site which will give you the departure and arrival times of buses and guaguas from any part of the country to another.
Bus schedule Dominican Republic
Matilda
Bus schedule Dominican Republic
Matilda
The Rough Guide to Dominican Republic Rough Guides | Travel Guide and Travel Information
Invaluable with bus routes and travel times, hotels, food joints pces of interest off beaten track. Everything a backpacker needs
Invaluable with bus routes and travel times, hotels, food joints pces of interest off beaten track. Everything a backpacker needs
Check out
http://dr1.com/travel/samanaguide.pdf
http://dr1.com/travel/laromanaguide.pdf
http://dr1.com/travel/santodomingoguide.pdf
Will help you plan your trip.
Send us your suggested itinerary and we can make recommendations.
Public transport can get you anywhere for cheap if you have the time.
http://dr1.com/travel/samanaguide.pdf
http://dr1.com/travel/laromanaguide.pdf
http://dr1.com/travel/santodomingoguide.pdf
Will help you plan your trip.
Send us your suggested itinerary and we can make recommendations.
Public transport can get you anywhere for cheap if you have the time.
A suggestion:
Assuming you arrive at Las Americas (SDQ), start off in the capital staying in colonial zone and seeing the sites. Main bus terminus is close to ZC. (you could leave a few days at the end instead to explore the capital)
Head to South West first. Barahona then travel down to Pedernales (market days might be fun) and Bahis de las Aguillas. Head up to Lago Enriquillo, Jimani and visit the lake and isla and get a better view of the Baoruca Mountains.
You may want to visit the San Juan valley if you have time and see the central mountains from the southern side. Guide books will give you some insight here.
Heading back to the capital you should be able to pick up guaguas in Azua to San Jose de Ocoa and from there hopefully get transport over the mountains to the mountain town of Constanza. You can then head to Jarabacoa just over an hour away.
Jarabacoa to Santiago and see the second city and you could also take in a bit more of the Cibao from here.
Santiago to Monte Cristi then head back along coast to PoP, Cabarete taking in the sights.
From there continue along coast via Rio San Juan, Carera and Nagua to Samana Peninsula and explore all that this great province has to offer.
Take the four times daily ferry from Santa Barbara de Samana to Sabana de la Mar and use that as a base to view Parque Los Haitises.
From Sabana head to Miches over the mountains to El Seibo and Higuey and from there you can take in the main resort area of Bavaro and Punta Cana if you so wish.
Head back to capital and airport via Bayahibe, La Romana and all.
A bit of everything. Start planning. Google maps and Google Earth are good aids to guide books.
Thank you all. I will be sure to check out this information.
We booked flights prior to much research so we will be in SD first. And leave from Puerto Plata.
We are focusing mainly on seeing beautiful beaches, however, did want to see the mountainside. Jarabacoa is not necessay, are there other neat maybe closer mountain towns to stop by? I will look into Constanza.
We booked flights prior to much research so we will be in SD first. And leave from Puerto Plata.
We are focusing mainly on seeing beautiful beaches, however, did want to see the mountainside. Jarabacoa is not necessay, are there other neat maybe closer mountain towns to stop by? I will look into Constanza.
You did not say how much time you have given yoursleves for this trip .. I am assuming a month at least.
You will find that for public transport, all roads leave from the Capital.
That is.. in order to get from Pedernales to Jarabacoa, you have to go to Santo Domingo to catch the bus. Now.. there might be a gua gua that might intersect somewhere on the highway but I would not rely on any one to actualy KNOW that.
You will have a lot more fun .. and see a lot more of the country.. if you avoid Caribe Tours pretty much completely except for the big hauls.. like from SD to Dajabon.. and take the smaller buses, the guaguas, which leave from Parque Enriquillo... or Duarte con Paris.. These smaller buses are now pretty much all air conditioned and leave very regularly
For instance, to get to Pedernales, the guagua is easy. If you take the Caribe tours bus, you will have fewer options of leaving times, and then you will have to fit into a crowded guagua for the last few hours from Barahona to Pedernales. Best to just take the guagua all the way. By the time you include the waiting time, the guagua is best (taught to me by several peace corps workers in that area)
There really is no place which is a 9 hour trip.. unless you are trying to get from Dajabon to Punta Cana in one day, I suppose./
Matilda's interactive is interesting but I would not actually COUNT on it.
Jarabacoa .. from Dajabon.. we had to take a bus to La Vega, then a cab cross town to the gua gua.. So I do know that is possible.
There is also the "da me una bola" which is hitch hiking.. which may or may not be dangerous.. depending on where you are and who you are and how your Spanish is and your mind set is.
During these particular times, serious minds would advise against it.
here is a list of the various places which have guaguas.. Lista de Paradas de bus, treny ferry en Repblica Dominicana
the map will then connect to the one Matilda posted.
from this .. you will see that .. for instance, there is no posting for a direct bus from Constanza to Jarabacoa Horario de Buses de Repblica Dominicana
plus only one bus is posted for leaving .. which I doubt is true.
just as there is only one bus posted for leaving Pedernales.. Bus schedule Dominican Republic
which I KNOW is not true.
But, HEY,, it is ALL about the adventure, right?!??!!!
(note that you should still expect to pay about $1000 pesos a night for a hotel room with a door and a bathroom and cold water and a fan and there are no places to really camp)
You will find that for public transport, all roads leave from the Capital.
That is.. in order to get from Pedernales to Jarabacoa, you have to go to Santo Domingo to catch the bus. Now.. there might be a gua gua that might intersect somewhere on the highway but I would not rely on any one to actualy KNOW that.
You will have a lot more fun .. and see a lot more of the country.. if you avoid Caribe Tours pretty much completely except for the big hauls.. like from SD to Dajabon.. and take the smaller buses, the guaguas, which leave from Parque Enriquillo... or Duarte con Paris.. These smaller buses are now pretty much all air conditioned and leave very regularly
For instance, to get to Pedernales, the guagua is easy. If you take the Caribe tours bus, you will have fewer options of leaving times, and then you will have to fit into a crowded guagua for the last few hours from Barahona to Pedernales. Best to just take the guagua all the way. By the time you include the waiting time, the guagua is best (taught to me by several peace corps workers in that area)
There really is no place which is a 9 hour trip.. unless you are trying to get from Dajabon to Punta Cana in one day, I suppose./
Matilda's interactive is interesting but I would not actually COUNT on it.
Jarabacoa .. from Dajabon.. we had to take a bus to La Vega, then a cab cross town to the gua gua.. So I do know that is possible.
There is also the "da me una bola" which is hitch hiking.. which may or may not be dangerous.. depending on where you are and who you are and how your Spanish is and your mind set is.
During these particular times, serious minds would advise against it.
here is a list of the various places which have guaguas.. Lista de Paradas de bus, treny ferry en Repblica Dominicana
the map will then connect to the one Matilda posted.
from this .. you will see that .. for instance, there is no posting for a direct bus from Constanza to Jarabacoa Horario de Buses de Repblica Dominicana
plus only one bus is posted for leaving .. which I doubt is true.
just as there is only one bus posted for leaving Pedernales.. Bus schedule Dominican Republic
which I KNOW is not true.
But, HEY,, it is ALL about the adventure, right?!??!!!
(note that you should still expect to pay about $1000 pesos a night for a hotel room with a door and a bathroom and cold water and a fan and there are no places to really camp)
Welcome back!!!!!
Hello...............................
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In Santo Domingo,a good starting point to stop would this colonial zone hostel and Chris & Katherine know the island well and can help with the logistics of your other stops.
Island Life
Island Life
