Favorite Towns/Villages to Visit

[mcee123]

Buenos dias mis primos,

I'll be taking a trip along the North Coast, have already been to the more famous spots like Sosua Las Terrenas etc and I will definitely be stopping by again, but I would like to go a bit deeper this time. Anybody familiar with Punta Rucia, Luperon, Rio San Juan, or any other smaller towns along the coast? Somewhere small, peaceful with minimal tourist infrastructure where I can stay as a solo traveler for cheap and enjoy the culture is what I'm hoping to find. Also looking for decent nightlife/music, is Cabarete still the go to? Recommended spots to surf are welcome as well. Also looking to do some hiking so anywhere with access to some nice trails where I can see some wildlife or jump in a river is also of interest, along with anything you feel is a must see but often overlooked.

Thank y'all very much in advance!

 

[SKY]

Look this place up if you can find somewhere to stay there.

Cabrera, María Trinidad Sánchez - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Northern Coast Diver]

Well MC, you have asked about the Cibao and the North Coast. But I think that the mountains between the two offer many of the qualities you mentioned. Villa Trina comes to mind, nestled in the hills above Moca. A vehicle with high clearance, and proper tires, is recommended to explore the area as most roads are dirt. Hiking, rivers, and waterfalls abound. Domestic tourism on the weekends, very quiet during the week.

 

[drstock]

Punta Rucia is nice and quiet, but there is not much to do there apart from visit the nearby island, which I think is called Cayo Arena. There is a beach called Playa Ensenada just outside Punta Rucia which has good swimming and lots of fish restaurants. It gets very busy with Dominicans, especially at weekends. A little way down the coast is La Isabela which has a lovely little beach with a few small restaurant/bars and shallow water for swimming, snorkelling etc. However, there is absolutely nothing to do at night except sit outside the colmado on a plastic chair, Dominican style. We only found one hotel which at the time was not on the booking sites, but it is pretty good.

As you suggest, Cabarete is still a good place to go for nightlife and music, although it is the low season now and the best musicians are few and far between.

 

[Fulano2]

Buenos dias mis primos,

I'll be taking a trip along the North Coast, have already been to the more famous spots like Sosua Las Terrenas etc and I will definitely be stopping by again, but I would like to go a bit deeper this time. Anybody familiar with Punta Rucia, Luperon, Rio San Juan, or any other smaller towns along the coast? Somewhere small, peaceful with minimal tourist infrastructure where I can stay as a solo traveler for cheap and enjoy the culture is what I'm hoping to find. Also looking for decent nightlife/music, is Cabarete still the go to? Recommended spots to surf are welcome as well. Also looking to do some hiking so anywhere with access to some nice trails where I can see some wildlife or jump in a river is also of interest, along with anything you feel is a must see but often overlooked.

Thank y'all very much in advance!

As we live between GH and RSJ I could recommend you a two or three day stay at Bahia Blanca hotel Rio San Juan.
It is a 500 meters from the Caribe tours bus stop.
It is basic but almost in the sea and will hear the waves all night long.
The centre is close and CHEO serves decent lunch and drinks on walking distance.

 

[Fulano2]

I wanted to add that this is not for everybody the ideal place. If you want a luxury parvenue hotel no…if you like reading a book, or writing your diary at night on the terrace with a drink and a cigar, hearing the waves and the voice of your beloved one with a drink, go for it.

 

[JD Jones]

I've got lots of great memories at Bahia Blanca. Had a cigar with El Ciego de Nagua one time.