Beach Day?? Near Santiago

craigP

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Dec 4, 2012
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Hi guy's - I want to relieve the stress of city living - I am thinking a beautiful beach weekend may be the answer - I live in Santiago not far from the Caribe and Metro bus depots, any suggestions? * side note* I went to Boca Chica public beach about a month ago and quite frankly it reminded me of a scene common in Calcutta, India, the water looked filthy and murky , it was filled with what looked like hundreds of ' locals' dressed in street clothes in the water and quite frankly I could have sworn I saw one toddler defecating right in the water!! so any suggestions on a good beach near Santiago would be appreciated, I'll also need a hotel..... thanks
 

Castle

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Sep 1, 2012
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Or if you feel like doing something new, Montecristi is less than 2 hours also. It's a quiet town and very few visitors, so it's pretty relaxing.
 

craigP

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Dec 4, 2012
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Or if you feel like doing something new, Montecristi is less than 2 hours also. It's a quiet town and very few visitors, so it's pretty relaxing.

Montecrist that sounds very interesting, I am a little cautious about Sosua, From what I hear a single ( Gringo) gets harrassed quite a bit by 'vendors', the opposite of what my aim is this weekend.....
 
May 12, 2005
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Montecrist that sounds very interesting, I am a little cautious about Sosua, From what I hear a single ( Gringo) gets harrassed quite a bit by 'vendors', the opposite of what my aim is this weekend.....

Then try Playa Ensenada in Punta Rucia. Worth the effort to get there.
 

DR_Guy

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Feb 17, 2010
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Punta Russia. Very small and no one goes there. Excellent seafood. Not the best places to stay, but ok.

Also, there is the Riu Merengue which is cheap this time of year and probably your closest. I know people are talking about it, but seriously, I have a Brit friend there all this week and he says it is fine and worth going back. The Brit lives here and operates a small hotel in the center of the country. So, he is a good judge.
 

dv8

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Sep 27, 2006
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if you want to go somewher in caribe or metro you are pretty much limited to POP, sosua or cabarete at best. punta rucia is very pretty but off the beaten path, so is montechristi. you will have to take a smaller guagua from santiago and probably change at least once on the way to both of those places.
 

the gorgon

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Sep 16, 2010
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Punta Russia. Very small and no one goes there. Excellent seafood. Not the best places to stay, but ok.

Also, there is the Riu Merengue which is cheap this time of year and probably your closest. I know people are talking about it, but seriously, I have a Brit friend there all this week and he says it is fine and worth going back. The Brit lives here and operates a small hotel in the center of the country. So, he is a good judge.


Riu Merengue should be no problem..he is accustomed to seeing people take a dump in the water.
 

pauleast

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Jan 29, 2012
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Monte Cristi has my vote.Has restaurants a beach house where you can shower if you are just going for the day and places to fish.
 

VJS

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Sep 19, 2010
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You can take the Jamao road up north and turn right in Sabaneta to head to nice beaches around Rio San Juan, such as Playa Grande or Caleton (this one will be busy with Dominicans on the weekend though) - same 2 hours one way but with spectacular views most of the way. Alternatively, there are some nice river places around Jarabacoa, quite a bit closer to Santiago.
 

ramesses

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Jun 17, 2005
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Montecrist that sounds very interesting, I am a little cautious about Sosua, From what I hear a single ( Gringo) gets harrassed quite a bit by 'vendors', the opposite of what my aim is this weekend.....

It's funny people keep saying this. I must be ugly or scary...I rarely get approached. Some times they ask me if I want to check their shop or have a drink at their bar but it is never in any way aggressive and a polite no is all that is needed. Amazing.
 

craigP

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Dec 4, 2012
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It's funny people keep saying this. I must be ugly or scary...I rarely get approached. Some times they ask me if I want to check their shop or have a drink at their bar but it is never in any way aggressive and a polite no is all that is needed. Amazing.

A friend of mine recently told me when he was leaving Sosua he was afraid to look back lest he turn into a 'pillar of salt'!!!
 

Castle

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Sep 1, 2012
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A friend of mine recently told me when he was leaving Sosua he was afraid to look back lest he turn into a 'pillar of salt'!!!


I wonder what those tropical medusas had on their heads instead of snakes...
 

Amu

Member
Oct 4, 2010
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U might wanna give Playa Alicia a try (right next to Sosua's public beach), nice beach with an even better atmosphere:

 

monfongo

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Feb 10, 2005
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take the javilla tours bus and get dropped at cofresi ,10 min walk to beach ,plenty of places to eat, inexpensive drinks at the colmadon in ocean world .
 

Jumbo

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Jul 8, 2005
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If the OP is afraid of Sosua are there hotels close or on the beach in Monte Criste? Bus, Gua Gua's from Santiago.