First and foremost thank you to Minerva for giving me a few tips for my trip.
Left Santiago on Tuesday April 10th @ 11 am. Arrived in Pedernales @ 8:30pm. The trip would have been shorter if we didn't make so many stops. We stayed at the Hostal Dona Chava. The owners are SUPER NICE and go out of their way to make sure you are comfy. That night hung around the only city park which is in the center of town. Had a few beers and chit chatted with the locals. In bed by 11ish.
Wednesday April 11th
Got up @ 8am and went for BF @ an Hostal a block away because the cook for Hostal Dona Chava was out of town (slow season). Back to Hostal Dona Chava by 9:30 to meet a local guide I hired the night before ($1,000 pesos). I didn't want to take any chances of getting lost due to the little time we had for this trip. Based on the owner of Dona Chava we opted for two sites. El Hoyo De Pelemplito in the Sierra de Bahoruco and Bahia De Las Aguilas. We arrived @ El Hoyo De Pelemplito by 11am. It was breathtaking (a word I'll be using a lot in this trip report). The views, the temperature, the fresh air MY LORD the air up there filling your lungs. The smell of the trees and nature. I can easily spend a few days there camping. A few others in my group and I loved it. Unfortunately, others didn't as they are more beach goers. We left the site around 1 and headed for Bahia de Las Aguilas. Got there by 2:30 and made a stop in Cabo Rojo. Bahia de Las Aguilas was everything and more than I had hoped for. Breathtakingggggg!!!!!!!! I had never experienced such a beautiful beach (other than Playa Rincon in Samana). As previous reports have stated there is nothing there so bring a cooler if you can with refreshments and snacks. The boat to Bahia is $1,500 pesos. They say the road to Bahia is in really bad condition but to be honest I think it's so that you are forced to take the boat! Wonder if anyone has tried the road? We were at Bahia until 6ish. We opted not to eat at the seafood restaurante @ the caves (where you take the boat to Bahia) because we were told the prices are higher than the restaurants in town. We ate @ a local restaurant in Pedernales (can't remember the name) and the food was really good. Langostine for 500 pesos...can't beat that!!! Back to Hostal Dona Chava by 9ish...shower then hit the malecon and park in Pedernales. Not much to do on a weekday. Just a few of the locals playing dominoes, chit chatting and having a few cold ones. In bed by 2am.
Thursday April 12th
Up by 9am...breakfast @ a hostal a block away and off we went to stop @ Los Patos which we had all agreed on. We left Pedernales around 10:30 and reached Los Patos by 12ish. Hung out there till 3ish and off to Santiago we went. We got to Santiago by 11pm. Although I had not one but a few backup drivers I did all the driving myself. I feel more secure with ME on the wheel.
Anyhow here is the gallery. Hope you all enjoy.
trip to the south - Dominican Republic - a set on Flickr
Left Santiago on Tuesday April 10th @ 11 am. Arrived in Pedernales @ 8:30pm. The trip would have been shorter if we didn't make so many stops. We stayed at the Hostal Dona Chava. The owners are SUPER NICE and go out of their way to make sure you are comfy. That night hung around the only city park which is in the center of town. Had a few beers and chit chatted with the locals. In bed by 11ish.
Wednesday April 11th
Got up @ 8am and went for BF @ an Hostal a block away because the cook for Hostal Dona Chava was out of town (slow season). Back to Hostal Dona Chava by 9:30 to meet a local guide I hired the night before ($1,000 pesos). I didn't want to take any chances of getting lost due to the little time we had for this trip. Based on the owner of Dona Chava we opted for two sites. El Hoyo De Pelemplito in the Sierra de Bahoruco and Bahia De Las Aguilas. We arrived @ El Hoyo De Pelemplito by 11am. It was breathtaking (a word I'll be using a lot in this trip report). The views, the temperature, the fresh air MY LORD the air up there filling your lungs. The smell of the trees and nature. I can easily spend a few days there camping. A few others in my group and I loved it. Unfortunately, others didn't as they are more beach goers. We left the site around 1 and headed for Bahia de Las Aguilas. Got there by 2:30 and made a stop in Cabo Rojo. Bahia de Las Aguilas was everything and more than I had hoped for. Breathtakingggggg!!!!!!!! I had never experienced such a beautiful beach (other than Playa Rincon in Samana). As previous reports have stated there is nothing there so bring a cooler if you can with refreshments and snacks. The boat to Bahia is $1,500 pesos. They say the road to Bahia is in really bad condition but to be honest I think it's so that you are forced to take the boat! Wonder if anyone has tried the road? We were at Bahia until 6ish. We opted not to eat at the seafood restaurante @ the caves (where you take the boat to Bahia) because we were told the prices are higher than the restaurants in town. We ate @ a local restaurant in Pedernales (can't remember the name) and the food was really good. Langostine for 500 pesos...can't beat that!!! Back to Hostal Dona Chava by 9ish...shower then hit the malecon and park in Pedernales. Not much to do on a weekday. Just a few of the locals playing dominoes, chit chatting and having a few cold ones. In bed by 2am.
Thursday April 12th
Up by 9am...breakfast @ a hostal a block away and off we went to stop @ Los Patos which we had all agreed on. We left Pedernales around 10:30 and reached Los Patos by 12ish. Hung out there till 3ish and off to Santiago we went. We got to Santiago by 11pm. Although I had not one but a few backup drivers I did all the driving myself. I feel more secure with ME on the wheel.
Anyhow here is the gallery. Hope you all enjoy.
trip to the south - Dominican Republic - a set on Flickr