I also take the "cumbre". As others have suggested, do not be in a hurry and drive slow and as always, do not assume that the puddle you are about to drive in will not swallow your car or jepeta. I snapped my neck on that road last year while hitting one of those pot holes. Thankfully for my Chiropractor in Cabarete I can turn my head again. The Santiago-Navarette-Puerto Plata road is quite dangerous. I watched as a truck, attempting to pass another truck nearly wipe out an entire family on the side of the road.