- Thread starter Palma
- Start date
driving advice
I am not sure, but the Senior Members here wil chime in and correct me... I have heard that you must first drive to the capital, and then on to Punta Cana.
1. If so, start early - at dawn.
2. Sleep in Boca Chica.
3. Start out in the morning for Punta Cana.
NO NIGHT DRIVING FOR YOU - NO WAY!
Read up on archived and old threads here about driving.....good luck!
1. If so, start early - at dawn.
2. Sleep in Boca Chica.
3. Start out in the morning for Punta Cana.
NO NIGHT DRIVING FOR YOU - NO WAY!
Read up on archived and old threads here about driving.....good luck!
I had a map( left it in the dr last week) that looked like it showed a ferry from Samana to Saban De La Mar....then you could take 104 and 106 down into Punta Cana....
If the ferry is working then you could take the shore road..I think its route 5 all the way down into the Samana Penninsula.
you can make good time on Rte 1 from Santiago to Santo Domingo, and then you may get lost in the capitol , just trying to pass through!!!!!!!!!
but once out..i made great time from the capitol to Higuey.
from Puerto Plata down through Santiago and on through the capitol and then over to Punta Cana...is a long way....at least 350 miles maybe more like 400 miles. That would take all day..on a good day.....
good luck
PS questions like this usually go into the general travel forum.. this is suppoed to be for trips TAKEN and reports on them...
bob
If the ferry is working then you could take the shore road..I think its route 5 all the way down into the Samana Penninsula.
you can make good time on Rte 1 from Santiago to Santo Domingo, and then you may get lost in the capitol , just trying to pass through!!!!!!!!!
but once out..i made great time from the capitol to Higuey.
from Puerto Plata down through Santiago and on through the capitol and then over to Punta Cana...is a long way....at least 350 miles maybe more like 400 miles. That would take all day..on a good day.....
good luck
PS questions like this usually go into the general travel forum.. this is suppoed to be for trips TAKEN and reports on them...
bob
I have driven it once and in total I would say it took me about 8 hours after dealing with traffic in Santiago and Santo Domingo. The only way I would do it again is on a road trip where I was stopping in a few different towns and getting there at a certain time was not a priority.
If you have never driven here before I would not recommend it. I would especially not recommend night driving - that is seriouosly taking your life in your hands.
You may want to check into Air Santo DOmingo Flights from Puerto Plata to Punta Cana.
If you have never driven here before I would not recommend it. I would especially not recommend night driving - that is seriouosly taking your life in your hands.
You may want to check into Air Santo DOmingo Flights from Puerto Plata to Punta Cana.
Forget the suggestion about the ferry. Only way to get there (unless you fly or charter a private boat) is by road and that road takes you to Santo Domingo first.
The suggestion to break it in two is a good one. You are talking about an approximate 500 km trip.
Would suggest you overnight in Colonial Santo Domingo, to get a feel for the old city that is quite a sight both during the day and the night. See listings for Santo Domingo hotels in http://dr1.com/directories/index.shtml
Basically you will be going west to Santo Domingo and then north to Puerto Plata. I would bring a compass to help you keep these coordinates. Also, I would get a cell phone with a Dominican number -- these can be had for about US$50 including a calling card -- at Orange or Verizon shops.
There have been quite a few posts on this forum with directions. Please do a search. But basically, you need to go Punta Cana-Veron-Higuey-La Romana. Once you get to La Romana there is an expressway to go to Santo Domingo. I would stop in a gas station in La Romana and try to find someone who is driving that way that you can trail, so you do not get lost. Then you can skip the town of San Pedro de Macoris, and the expressway will put you into Boca Chica and Las Americas Expressway. This leads you to cross the city by way of the Juan Bosch bridge.
Here if you are going to the Colonial City do not take the overpass (expreso lane). Take the left lane that heads south into the colonial city.
If you have decided to do the trip in one go, then take the overpasses all the way through until you see a sign that says Dr. Delgado. Do not get off on that one, but the next. The next will take you to a small street that will lead you west to Leopoldo Navarro street. Then you take the Leopoldo Navarro street north to San Martin Avenue (left here at the stoplight) -- about a km. A slight swerve to the south will put you on John F. Kennedy Avenue. This will convert into the Autopista Duarte highway that will take you to Puerto Plata, via Santiago-Navarette.
We always recommend travelers to stop and stop. Buy a good map (sold at many gas stations) and ask and ask as you go from point to point on the map. Since you will have the map, show people where you are headed, and they will tell you what hte next stop is so you keep on mark. Dominicans are friendly and will help you.
Driving is an excellent way to get to know the country, but we recommend that you start early, and as recommended above, do not drive at night.
The suggestion to break it in two is a good one. You are talking about an approximate 500 km trip.
Would suggest you overnight in Colonial Santo Domingo, to get a feel for the old city that is quite a sight both during the day and the night. See listings for Santo Domingo hotels in http://dr1.com/directories/index.shtml
Basically you will be going west to Santo Domingo and then north to Puerto Plata. I would bring a compass to help you keep these coordinates. Also, I would get a cell phone with a Dominican number -- these can be had for about US$50 including a calling card -- at Orange or Verizon shops.
There have been quite a few posts on this forum with directions. Please do a search. But basically, you need to go Punta Cana-Veron-Higuey-La Romana. Once you get to La Romana there is an expressway to go to Santo Domingo. I would stop in a gas station in La Romana and try to find someone who is driving that way that you can trail, so you do not get lost. Then you can skip the town of San Pedro de Macoris, and the expressway will put you into Boca Chica and Las Americas Expressway. This leads you to cross the city by way of the Juan Bosch bridge.
Here if you are going to the Colonial City do not take the overpass (expreso lane). Take the left lane that heads south into the colonial city.
If you have decided to do the trip in one go, then take the overpasses all the way through until you see a sign that says Dr. Delgado. Do not get off on that one, but the next. The next will take you to a small street that will lead you west to Leopoldo Navarro street. Then you take the Leopoldo Navarro street north to San Martin Avenue (left here at the stoplight) -- about a km. A slight swerve to the south will put you on John F. Kennedy Avenue. This will convert into the Autopista Duarte highway that will take you to Puerto Plata, via Santiago-Navarette.
We always recommend travelers to stop and stop. Buy a good map (sold at many gas stations) and ask and ask as you go from point to point on the map. Since you will have the map, show people where you are headed, and they will tell you what hte next stop is so you keep on mark. Dominicans are friendly and will help you.
Driving is an excellent way to get to know the country, but we recommend that you start early, and as recommended above, do not drive at night.
Dolores...thats what i did. Went into SD and stayed near the Conde, then started off for Higuey the next morning... made the stop on the way back In juan Dolio...
I dont know If I would recomend pulling out a map.
I think that puts a huge target on your head, especially from all the on lookers....
I could have used those SD directions in oct!!!
bob
I dont know If I would recomend pulling out a map.
I think that puts a huge target on your head, especially from all the on lookers....
I could have used those SD directions in oct!!!
bob
The risk of having the bad luck of asking a bandit is very low compared to the benefits. And what I am suggesting is for them to ask someone in a car or SUV. That means they get escorted into Santo Domingo. Because of the lack of adequate signage, the expressway is difficult to find and get off at the right points.
So, I find the best way is to trail someone.
Once, heading out to Punta Cana, a Dominican single woman flagged us down on the highway near La Romana. She asked us for directions to get to Melia Bavaro. We were headed to Punta Cana, but told her to follow us and we got her through Higuey and then showed her where to turn to head to Bavaro.
People wont mind. They will be happy to help. It wont be difficult to find a vehicle that is headed back to the capital city that the person in the rented car can trail. All one has to do is explain one's case.
I do it all the time when I travel abroad, especially valuable when one does not speak the language.
So, I find the best way is to trail someone.
Once, heading out to Punta Cana, a Dominican single woman flagged us down on the highway near La Romana. She asked us for directions to get to Melia Bavaro. We were headed to Punta Cana, but told her to follow us and we got her through Higuey and then showed her where to turn to head to Bavaro.
People wont mind. They will be happy to help. It wont be difficult to find a vehicle that is headed back to the capital city that the person in the rented car can trail. All one has to do is explain one's case.
I do it all the time when I travel abroad, especially valuable when one does not speak the language.
I just made the trip from La Romana to POP. I left at 10:30 AM and arrived at 4PM, stopping only once for gas and coffee. Taking the route Delores described, except since I was going to the East end of PP, I took the Carretera Touristica on the last leg from Santiago. Add about 2 hours from Punta Cana I would think.
Whether this is a 1 or 2 day trip would depend entirely on your schedule and how much you like (or despise) driving.
Whether this is a 1 or 2 day trip would depend entirely on your schedule and how much you like (or despise) driving.
Dolores what i discovered as the best way to not get lost in the city( and I have now done it several times and it IS THE WAY TO GO)
I pull up to a motoconcho waiting for a fare... and say I will follow you to the end of the city and pay you there.... they are more than happy.. and it may cost 30-80 peso's.
when i got lost in San Pedro De Macoris at 9:30 pm, I asked at a gas station for direction to the road that runs along the shoreline...hopeing to find a hotle there to check into. we he said follow me...he must have been the manager, because he had a pistol stuck into his waistband for all to see....I was a little apprehinsive(sp?)...but when his wife and two kids got in the car...I was happy.... he took us to the Coral Hilton...and I paid him the 300 pesos he asked then another 150........from then on I got the idea to just pay someone and follow them......bob
I pull up to a motoconcho waiting for a fare... and say I will follow you to the end of the city and pay you there.... they are more than happy.. and it may cost 30-80 peso's.
when i got lost in San Pedro De Macoris at 9:30 pm, I asked at a gas station for direction to the road that runs along the shoreline...hopeing to find a hotle there to check into. we he said follow me...he must have been the manager, because he had a pistol stuck into his waistband for all to see....I was a little apprehinsive(sp?)...but when his wife and two kids got in the car...I was happy.... he took us to the Coral Hilton...and I paid him the 300 pesos he asked then another 150........from then on I got the idea to just pay someone and follow them......bob
You are right about the motoconchos and we have recommended this when replying to previous posts, but it is for finding a way through a town. But the person here was on a highway. You will not find many a motoconcho traveling on the Autovia del Este (expressway) from La Romana to Santo Domingo. Thus the recommendation to ask a car or a SUV.
Also, you would ask people that will not charge you. I think the person who you paid the $300 to was the exception, even more than he accepted the money and asked for an additional $150. It is unusual for someone to charge for helping another traveler, unless, of course it was a taxi driver or motoncho that does that as a job.
Also, you would ask people that will not charge you. I think the person who you paid the $300 to was the exception, even more than he accepted the money and asked for an additional $150. It is unusual for someone to charge for helping another traveler, unless, of course it was a taxi driver or motoncho that does that as a job.
actually he gave us directions out of SPdeMacoris...but they were cpmplicated.....so he said if you pay me 300 pesos I show you!!!..
which was really decent , because he had to leave the gas station to one other person while he was gone. And it was a 20 minute drive...and he had to drive back as well!!!
the 150 was not asked for!!!
I offered it as an extra thank you tip!
bob
which was really decent , because he had to leave the gas station to one other person while he was gone. And it was a 20 minute drive...and he had to drive back as well!!!
the 150 was not asked for!!!
I offered it as an extra thank you tip!
bob
Okay now I understand. I misread your post, my mistake. This was a person who was working at the gas station -- you mention he could have been the manager -- not just a person who was filling up in the station.
Then it is understandable, but a price should have been pre-agreed then.
Then it is understandable, but a price should have been pre-agreed then.