Trip itinerary - looking for input

.
This is how I would do the southwest

Day 2 Wake up early, do the Oviedo boat tour, see hoyo de pelempito, Go to Bahia de las Aguilas. (do not miss Bahia de las Aguilas! ) We were going to do this by ourselves but then we got a guide and we are soooo glad we did. He took us to clean inexpensive places to eat and told us about the history of the area.

Day 3 Villa Miriam is a nice place but you can also just bathe for free in the same river by the road or down by the sea.

Day 4 Last July there were no trips to Isla Cabritos because of the rising water. The drive around the the lake is a lot longer than you would think and there is nothing to see. If I had to do it again I would go only up to las caritas take some pics and turn right back around. The Enriquillo entrance is just a few meters after las caritas you can ask the guard if they have trips to Cabritos but you would probably have to do it in Spanish. The towns around the area are very small. there is Neiba and not much else after that. You can go to duberje on your way back there are rest there.

Well I'm exhausted just reading it!
Sounds like you plan to pack a lot into your trip, good for you.
Don't forget to do a trip report afterwards.
Have a great time and enjoy your visit!

Day 1. Fly into Santo Domingo at 12:30pm. Overnight in the Colonial City. See DR1 Directories - Dominican Republic for hotels. I recommend this because the drive out to Barahona is long and since you are a first timer it can be stressful. This is a vacation. On the way out stop at Las Marias for stocking up on Dominican sweets.

Day 2. Leave early the next morning. See hotels at DR1 Directories - Dominican Republic
It will take you three hours to get there. Take the road San Cristobal, Bani, Azua, and then on to Vicente Noble, Neiba, Postrer Rio (Caritas), La Descubierta and drive around the south part of the lake to get back. In Duverge on your way back there is the La Zurza sulphur waters for a dip if it is not a weekend. On weekends too many people. Then it brings you on the way to Cabral, but you want to go south to see the Polo Magnetico, and then head to your hotel in Barahona.

The boat to do the Cabritos tour costs about US$100, and you would need to book it in advance and then you need to ask to start early. At 6:30am would be best to avoid the hot sun. You need to stock up on lots of water, hats and sun lotion. It is probably the hottest point in the Caribbean – can get as hot as 37C. I think it is worth it. Read up a lot before you go out there, so you know what you will be seeing. At the hotel they can help you arrange this, but it would be best to get it started before and then just confirm the strip once you get to the DR. There is the possibility you could join an already arrange trip, but this is not very likely, so best to make arrangements in advance. If this is not possible, then just enjoy a walk and seeing the iguanas.

I suggest you visit Cachote, with its many hiking trails. Cachote: Take this 20 kms uphill route where you will discover the cloud forest in the mountains of the Eastern Bahoruco. The route takes you around the Padre Miguel Fuertes natural monument to Cachote. Cachote is a town with less than 50 inhabitants and three rustic cabins for visitors that operate at about 1,300 meters above sea level and include a nature center and walking tours.

Day 3. Enjoy the panoramic highway along the southwest coast. My favorite for this area. Take your time.
You will also have to make arrangements for booking the excursion at Oviedo. That is also worth it, but you want to take the guided tour out. You need to book the excursion with a day in advance and get there no later than 6am for bird watching. I suggest you staying at Dona Chava in Pedernales. Oviedo is on the way there. At Dona Chava hotel they can book the trip to Oviedo for you.

Day 4. Suggest you visit Hoyo de Pelempito one morning early so you can do some birdwatching, and then in the afternoon head out to Bahia de las Aguilas. For Bahia de las Aguilas you also need to take lots of sunscreen, water and hats. You can get there by 4 SUV but suggest you pay for the boat trip. By vehicle you have to climb down a cliff that unless you are a very experienced driver and have a very strong vehicle, I would not recommend it.

Day 5. While it looks good on the maps, the road up to San Jose de Ocoa and Constanza is in bad condition, so you would need to have a good 4wheel drive vehicle to do this. It will probably take you 4 hours given the condition of the road. Your other option is to head back to Santo Domingo and spend another night in the city, enjoying its excellent restaurants and night life and shopping.

If you return to Santo Domingo, then you take the Carretera Duarte north and get to visit Bonao. Check out the Candido Bido Cultural Center, and the Cristian Tiburcio house-museum, the Dominican Gaudi. At both places ask for instructions to visit with the Santos de Palo artists. Have lunch or breakfast at the Tipico Bonao on the way to Constanza.

Day 6/7/8. Head out to Jarabacoa. Stay at Rancho Baiguate and book their river rafting excursion. Needs a day in advance. Visit Salto de Jimenoa. Have lunch at La Parillada in town.

Day 8. Head out to Constanza through Jarabacoa. Road is not good, but doable. Lovely sights. Take care with distractions.

Day 9. See Aguas Blancas. Enjoy the town of Constanza. Bring sweater. Ebano Verde reserve is off the road to Constanza. It is worth a visit for its lovely trails.

Day 10-14. Head to Santiago to visit the Centro Cultural Leon, they have a good cigar ensemble you can visit. They are the owners of Aurora cigars.

Day 11. Head to Quita Espuela via Salcedo. Check out the lovely murals route where native artists from the province have painted almost every wall in the town. More than 135 murals. Visit the Mirabal Sisters Museum in Ojo de Agua. If you are into hiking, there is the coffee route in Jamao, near Salcedo, where various trails are walkable. To book a tour, email dominicana@ucodep.org

Stay at the Scientific Reserve Quita Espuela located close to Salcedo in Duarte province, near the city of San Francisco de Macoris. Obsere cocoa cultivation, bird-watching with about 58 avian species. See Fundaci?n Loma Quita Espuela for booking a tour and stay at the small parador.

It’s 2 hour drive to get back to Santo Domingo.

You would still be missing the north coast and the northeast and the east. Enough for another 2 week vacation.

Let us know how things go.

When you are in Santo Domingo, buy a good map. The Garr maps are good.