The most out of 5 days on the south/east coast.

[islandhopping]

I making a trip to the DR very soon. I been in Santo Domingo before and spend most of time near the colonial zone. I seen comments on other areas of the city worth visiting. I would like to know where they are and how to find them on a map. I am familiar with the subway system and major autopistas.

I would like to make day trips to San Pedro de Macor?s, Higuey, Barahona and small towns in the hills. I know Metro and Carbi Tours has buses. I do not know the guagua routes, not looking to travel at the gringo price.

I have not decided which city to base my travel from, because I do not know what the night life is like outside of the capital.

I am looking for places where locals hangout and not too many tourist. Seeing eco-tourist locations, working middle class communities, cultural events and architecture is enjoyable. I think my limited Spanish and phone app can get me by.

Avoiding any the nests of Sosua nightlife is preferred, no offense to Sosua (which I plan to visit in day light).

If I travel to stay out late, I would need a cheep way home to Santo Domingo if I choose the capital to stay.

Thanks

 

[curlando]

Will you be traveling alone? Where exactly will you be staying? Santo Domingo/Bavaro?
That is a lot of ground to cover in five days by bus and you should speak a little Spanish. I have been to a few of these places you mentioned; to me there is not much to see. No reason to go to Sosua in the day time unless you are going to the beach, but that's all part of vacationing in DR. You have to visit and experience these places to learn.
At night use a taxi. I use a car to get around DR. I find it faster and convenient. Sorry I couldn't help much one of the members on this site maybe able to help guide you to these destinations.

 

[Julia31]

The 2 most beautifull spots in the DR are the southeast Barahona/Bahia de las Aguilas and Samana. Samana can be reached easily by bus in a smooth ride on a new highway in like 3 hours..the trip to the southwest takes longer but is beautifull and really interesting since u will be passing several climate zones.

 

[Julia31]

The 2 most beautifull spots in the DR are the southeast Barahona/Bahia de las Aguilas and Samana. Samana can be reached easily by bus in a smooth ride on a new highway in like 3 hours..the trip to the southwest takes longer but is beautifull and really interesting since u will be passing several climate zones.

 

[bob saunders]

I had a German professor rent my apartment overnight, then again 7 days later. In two weeks vacation, by bus he managed to climb pico Duarte, Santo Domingo Colonial city, B?varo, Miches, the park of the east, Saman?, Las Terrenas, Playa Rinc?n, Constanza, Lago with the crocs .....etc.

 

[islandhopping]

Will you be traveling alone? Where exactly will you be staying? Santo Domingo/Bavaro?
That is a lot of ground to cover in five days by bus and you should speak a little Spanish. I have been to a few of these places you mentioned; to me there is not much to see. No reason to go to Sosua in the day time unless you are going to the beach, but that's all part of vacationing in DR. You have to visit and experience these places to learn.
At night use a taxi. I use a car to get around DR. I find it faster and convenient. Sorry I couldn't help much one of the members on this site maybe able to help guide you to these destinations.

Yes, I will be alone. Where I am staying depends on how a plan a schedule for visiting multiple cities. I would wish to avoid travel back and forth form where I do decided to stay. If being the middle, between Santo Dominigo and Higuey is ideal, I will choose that. If staying in SDQ is best, I am open.

I speak enough phrases in Spanish and have a phone app to communicate my thoughts. I can read many of the common signs.

A taxi ride could be 30 minutes or 90 minutes at 1am.
Maybe I should ask for everyone's experiences in those places.

 

[islandhopping]

I am looking to get the details on how travel between my selection of towns, without solely relying on the Autobus.

 

[RV429]

"I would like to make day trips to San Pedro de Macor?s, Higuey, Barahona and small towns in the hills. I know Metro and Carbi Tours has buses. I do not know the guagua routes, not looking to travel at the gringo price."
First off day trips to these places means spending the "day" of a day trip in a bus, San Pedro less so. Second the Caribe Tours buses are not at "Gringo Prices" as they are cheap. And guaguas take too long for the most part for any day tripping. If you want to go to the hills, Jarabacoa is great, to the SW, Yes Barahona is great, both via Caribe Tours. If you love Higuey, there is a bus (not Caribe) line all day long. To really get the most out of any of these areas you should plan an overnight.

 

[VIMAN68]

I would really suggest you pull out a map and really look at the distances and traveling time....I would say that you can do the East (SPM, Higuey)/Samana in 5 days, but adding the SW (Barahona) is going in the opposite direction and will eat up more time. Anything off the beaten path (i.e. towns in the hills) are going to take up more time. IMO just be realistic about what you can accomplish in that short time...and allot enough time to actually enjoy the places you decide to visit.

 

[islandhopping]

"I would like to make day trips to San Pedro de Macor?s, Higuey, Barahona and small towns in the hills. I know Metro and Carbi Tours has buses. I do not know the guagua routes, not looking to travel at the gringo price."
First off day trips to these places means spending the "day" of a day trip in a bus, San Pedro less so. Second the Caribe Tours buses are not at "Gringo Prices" as they are cheap. And guaguas take too long for the most part for any day tripping. If you want to go to the hills, Jarabacoa is great, to the SW, Yes Barahona is great, both via Caribe Tours. If you love Higuey, there is a bus (not Caribe) line all day long. To really get the most out of any of these areas you should plan an overnight.

Thanks for your advice on Jarabacoa. I will have to see if time permits or consider it for another trip.
I have never been to Higuey or San Pedro, which is why I want to explore them.
It seems staying overnight in each city is the best realistic option. That will cause me to move every day.

 

[islandhopping]

I would really suggest you pull out a map and really look at the distances and traveling time....I would say that you can do the East (SPM, Higuey)/Samana in 5 days, but adding the SW (Barahona) is going in the opposite direction and will eat up more time. Anything off the beaten path (i.e. towns in the hills) are going to take up more time. IMO just be realistic about what you can accomplish in that short time...and allot enough time to actually enjoy the places you decide to visit.

I have looked at the map, to decided if 12 hours is enough to fit a trip in each day for SDQ, SPM and Higuey. Samana is not a consideration for this trip. Barahona was wishfull thinking, I admit it is not a good fit within the time frame.

This trip is to get my bearings in those towns, meet people, locate an apartment to rent and see their best they have to offer. My future trips may include staying longer at each, depending on this trip.

 

[rafael]

The 2 most beautifull spots in the DR are the southeast Barahona/Bahia de las Aguilas and Samana. Samana can be reached easily by bus in a smooth ride on a new highway in like 3 hours..the trip to the southwest takes longer but is beautifull and really interesting since u will be passing several climate zones.

Pretty sure you meant southwest.

 

[rafael]

Thanks for your advice on Jarabacoa. I will have to see if time permits or consider it for another trip.
I have never been to Higuey or San Pedro, which is why I want to explore them.
It seems staying overnight in each city is the best realistic option. That will cause me to move every day.

Yes. You would be better off packing light and staying one night in each of the towns. If you are doing SPM and Higuey, you may want to add La Romana and Bayahibe to your list. These can all be covered pretty easily in your time frame if you switch hotels each night.
If I was looking to live somewhere, Bayahibe would beat san pedro and higuey. In fact most towns would beat san pedro.

 

[kapitan75]

Get an apart-hotel or cabana touristico at bayahibe, and make you side trips from there.
This area leaves you an 1 hr away from punta cana area and an hr from casa de campo. So from bayahibe you can visit boca de yuma, eco park, national park of east, laromana , sna pedro ,j dolio , etc

 

[islandhopping]

Get an apart-hotel or cabana touristico at bayahibe, and make you side trips from there.
This area leaves you an 1 hr away from punta cana area and an hr from casa de campo. So from bayahibe you can visit boca de yuma, eco park, national park of east, laromana , sna pedro ,j dolio , etc

That suggestion does place me in the middle of most places on my list. I would ask for specific tansporation options, to keep the cost of travel down. 400 to 500 Pesos a day is my travel budget.

Spending 10 to 12 hour day in each location, what activities which are unique to those locations make a visit worth the time?

San Pedro, La Romana, Higuey, Punta Cana and Bavaro.

The National East Park is selfexplanitory.

I like to culturally know about the communities beyond the tourist publication.

 

[islandhopping]

Yes. You would be better off packing light and staying one night in each of the towns. If you are doing SPM and Higuey, you may want to add La Romana and Bayahibe to your list. These can all be covered pretty easily in your time frame if you switch hotels each night.
If I was looking to live somewhere, Bayahibe would beat san pedro and higuey. In fact most towns would beat san pedro.

What is there to do in the day and at night Bayahibe and Higuey?

 

[kapitan75]

During the day, its mostly boating traffic for the excursions, the community hussle for the day getting people on boats. There is also the tourist
office for tickets to the parque. Then there are 2 public beaches to hang out. Theres also a huge bus parking area.
At night its mostly reaturaunts and bars to hang out, nothing loud and dangerous. They gather by the colmado for some loud music n beers.there is another beach 10 minutes away at dominicus. The bayahibe village is a small town, with some italian investment. Dominicus is the sa,e , but more touristy. You can go to dominicus public beach, and walk east along the beach to the national park, 1hr.

 

[kapitan75]

During the day, its mostly boating traffic for the excursions, the community hussle for the day getting people on boats. There is also the tourist
office for tickets to the parque. Then there are 2 public beaches to hang out. Theres also a huge bus parking area.
At night its mostly reaturaunts and bars to hang out, nothing loud and dangerous. They gather by the colmado for some loud music n beers.there is another beach 10 minutes away at dominicus. The bayahibe village is a small town, with some italian investment. Dominicus is the sa,e , but more touristy. You can go to dominicus public beach, and walk east along the beach to the national park, 1hr.