Dear DR1 readers,
This is a warning for those planning to visit the Sanchez-Las Terrenas area. On 29 November 2003, at 5 pm, three friends and I were held up at gun point on the Sanchez-Las Terrenas road.
We were stopped at an unmarked senic overlook with a wonderful view of the Samana bay - about 2 or 3 kilometers above Sanchez. As we were out of our car, taking pictures, two Dominican men in their mid 30's came out of the forest firing guns. They made off with our wallets and took the rental car.
Luckily, no one was hurt and there were very friendly locals who came to our rescue shortly afterwards.
I do not believe this was the first time this has happened to tourists - as there were other bullet shells from the same guns lying around at the site where we pulled off.
The police in Sanchez were extemely unhelpful and rude. They took no action and in the end they refused to issue a police report. They instructed us to go to the police in San Francisco, who were just as corupt and unhelpful. In fact, dealing with the police was worse and more frustrating than being carjacked!
As a warning - do not get out of your car at the overlook on the Sanchez-Las Terrenas road. There is only one spot to pull off the road on the bay side of the mountains. Since the police are ineffective and lack resources, I believe the crimnals act with impunity and may stalk this site again.
Otherwise, this is a really beautiful place.
This is a warning for those planning to visit the Sanchez-Las Terrenas area. On 29 November 2003, at 5 pm, three friends and I were held up at gun point on the Sanchez-Las Terrenas road.
We were stopped at an unmarked senic overlook with a wonderful view of the Samana bay - about 2 or 3 kilometers above Sanchez. As we were out of our car, taking pictures, two Dominican men in their mid 30's came out of the forest firing guns. They made off with our wallets and took the rental car.
Luckily, no one was hurt and there were very friendly locals who came to our rescue shortly afterwards.
I do not believe this was the first time this has happened to tourists - as there were other bullet shells from the same guns lying around at the site where we pulled off.
The police in Sanchez were extemely unhelpful and rude. They took no action and in the end they refused to issue a police report. They instructed us to go to the police in San Francisco, who were just as corupt and unhelpful. In fact, dealing with the police was worse and more frustrating than being carjacked!
As a warning - do not get out of your car at the overlook on the Sanchez-Las Terrenas road. There is only one spot to pull off the road on the bay side of the mountains. Since the police are ineffective and lack resources, I believe the crimnals act with impunity and may stalk this site again.
Otherwise, this is a really beautiful place.
