A few options
Hi,
The last comments about La Romana are correct, but the best option in the south-east region is close by at Rio Cumayasa. There are several properties with docks, and prices to rent or buy are still ( comparatively ) reasonable. BUT........as anyone here will confirm, be extremely cautious about going about the business of buying property here. In Cumayasa the prevailing wind blows from an organisation called CEA, this is the huge sugar industry-related co-operative that seems to own nearly all the land in various areas of the country. In Cumayasa CEA holds sway and many properties offered for sale by 'owner' turn out to have questionable titles and often get re-possessed by CEA, occasionally leaving a lot of egg on a lot of faces ! So buyer be-double-ware.
Also we recently had a disaster in this river, and dozens of vessels were destroyed by freak flash-floods caused by some 12 inches of rain falling in less than an hour after the passing of Hurricane Jeanne last September. We have used this river as a hurricane refuge for several years, and this year it turned around and bit us on the .......well you know which bit. I doubt that this will happen again any time soon....but as Murphy rules all matters maritime, so who can say ?
As regards other areas, Luperon on the north coast is a favourite, and there is a massive development taking place at present which, if it comes to fruition, should offer many possibilities to cruising/settling folk. It is probably the safest port in the DR. We have kept our small cruiser/racer there for 7 years now, and have never had any problems with storms or other natural phenomena. It's not a river though. On the north coast navigable rivers are in short supply, most are shallow and only flow strongly in times of heavy rain, and as such would not be suitable for sailboats. Manzanillo Bay, near Monte Christi, has some possibilities, and this is a good day-sailing area, protected from the prevailing easterlies, and has many little islands ( mostly the Seven Brothers / Seite Hermanos ) to cruise around. Again not a river setting per se.
East coast.....forget it, too rough and no rivers worth talking about. Samana Bay is gourgeous, and has quite some possibilities, not for river living, but bayside. But go check it out first, Samana has a 'flavour' all of it's own, and it definitely isn't to everyone's taste. Los Haitises national park is one of the true jewels of the Caribbean, and should not be missed, although staying there long term isn't really an option.There is a new marina under construction at Punta Cana ( Cap Cana ) which is a very up-market affair, and unless your pockets are several metres deep not really a viable option. Plus there will be relatively few days that one would wish to poke ones nose out of the marina into prime Mona Passage conditions.
South Coast going East to West, Cumayasa as above, San Pedro is very industrial, and not a scenic river at all, also limited cruising from the river. Boca Chica, not a river setting, a few small marinas, very popular, especially with Dominicans, but not really a cruising base either.
Santo Domingo, two rivers, the first is right by the Zona Colonial ( old city ) and has a sort of marina, but no private property in navigable areas. Rio Haina is the official port of Sto Dgo, and is very dirty and garbage strewn. There is a 'yacht club' but it is a motor-boat oriented affair, not recommended for idyllic living at all. Next is Salinas bay, no river, and lots of bugs, some of them bloody great four engine jobbies, carry extra blood supply if you want to stay here !
After this things get even more sparse, Barahona is the next major town, not really much for sailboats, after that Pedernales peninsula, and the area between there and the Haitian border, which is reputed to be both lovely, and the next major area for touristic development....but we've all heard that a few times !
And that's it in a nut shell, sorry that there aren't more delightful possibilities, but this stunning country does have some limitations from the sailing aspect.
Good luck and have fun,
CB
