Question about main roads / care rental / etc

[Tailspin]

Hi!

I will be in the DR in the next month and reading a few of these excellent threads in the last few days (driving to Samana and Monte Cristi) has put me in the mood to take a side trip while visiting. I've visited a few times in the past and rented a car but only to drive short distances.

My question is regarding the roads for Puerto Plata to Los Terrenas and Mont Cristi .. Assuming I take the main roads (5 to Samana and 1 to Monte Cristi). I am assuming the roads are in good enough condition that I do not need an SUV? I was planning on a mid-sized car but will get an SUV if required... Also I was planning on staring my drives at 5am.. Is is possible to reach these two destination in three hours or am I just practicing some wishful thinking?

I appreciate any knowledge you can pass along... Thank you very much!

 

[dv8]

you will be fine with a normal car just beware that with recent rains there has been lots of landslides and roads have worsened. so do not drive in the dark. start off at 7am where there is enough light for you to see where you are going.
if at your destinations you will go out of town or around poorer barrios you may be be better off with a small SUV unless you know how to drive through potholes

 

[william webster]

The LT part of the trip is in quite good shape. No washouts that I know of,.... I drove it last week.

Can't speak to the Monte Cristi section.

dv8 is right about anywhere off the beaten path...... all bets are off.
Small streams become BIG problems after rains.

 

[dv8]

i drove the road to naverette yesterday, it has been cleaned but in several places the road slid down the hill. if it is your first time around keep your eyes open and maintain lower speed.

 

[windeguy]

i drove the road to naverette yesterday, it has been cleaned but in several places the road slid down the hill. if it is your first time around keep your eyes open and maintain lower speed.

You mean along the main highway from POP to Santiago?

 

[Castle]

I've never driven to Montecristi out of Puerto Plata, but out of Santiago instead. The road from Santiago is fair, not great but doable on a non-SUV with no problems at all.

 

[dv8]

You mean along the main highway from POP to Santiago?

yeah. the POP-navarette part is in a really bad shape. you can see that earth has been pushed back off the road (danilo visited) but in few places parts of the road were washed away, say one meter or so. you can pass but you have to look where you are going. new holes too. not fun to drive in the dark, especially considering recent weather and rains at night...

 

[william webster]

Same problem on the new SDQ to Nagua autopista.... lots of mudslides and sometime flooding.

We drove it Saturday to the airport and it was clear but it was apparent that there had been earlier problems.

The recent rains we had on the No Coast seemed not to touch that area..... rivers and water levels were quite normal.

 

[drstock]

I don't think you will get to Las Terrenas from Puerto Plata in three hours. I would allow at least four unless you have been taking lessons from Sebastian Vettel!

 

[Tailspin]

Thanks to everyone for the replies.. I said 5am, I should have said "At first light" - I have no intention of driving in the dark! Sounds like using a car and allowing for four hours travel time should work.

 

[william webster]

Very close to 3 hours...

POP (airport ) to Cabrera = 1.5 hours max.
Cabrera to AZS = 1hr

Then the new toll road @450 drp or the long route.... a bit more time.

between 3 and 4 hours, w/ no allowance for sightseeing.

watch the turn in Nagua.... left at the hospital s poorly marked..... then bear right at the next light.