We're considering a short (day) trip from Santo Domingo to San Pedro de Macor?s at the end of August. We've passed through briefly on the way to Bayahibe, but are thinking about stopping there for a short period of time. Are there any things that people recommend doing there? (I did see that part of the city is flooded, so if the flood waters haven't receded, we'll consider somewhere else for now and visit later on.) What about cultural sites to see, such as museums and monuments? Any specific cultural highlights that you'd call attention to? Will the end of August and beginning of September coincide at all with the baseball season? I'd appreciate any suggestions!
- Thread starter ElNegrote
- Start date
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Things to do in San Pedro de Macor?s
San Pedro is a working town. There are no tourist attractions as such. It is not flooded, but floods every time it rains - ie yesterday, but the waters recede quickly. It is interesting to wander round as some of the architecture is lovely, but very dilapidated. it is worth checking out the fire station (near Iberia supermarket) and they will show you round. The park near Iberia is also nice to sit in and chill out. The baseball stadium is on the main road through the town - I don't think there are any games then. The Malecon comes to life in the evenings especially at weekends when it is full of music, and stalls selling food and drink. There is supposed to be a museum but I have never found it!!
Matilda
Matilda
The cathedral is also worth a quick visit but as Matilda says not much to see other that firestation and cathedral. It is indeed a working town and a shopping mecca for those of us who live in the area but for culture and sightseeing Santo Domingo is a better place to be.
That said if you want to spend a day at the beach, Stop in Boca Chica or Juan Dolio.
That said if you want to spend a day at the beach, Stop in Boca Chica or Juan Dolio.
San Pedro is a working town. There are no tourist attractions as such. It is not flooded, but floods every time it rains - ie yesterday, but the waters recede quickly. It is interesting to wander round as some of the architecture is lovely, but very dilapidated. it is worth checking out the fire station (near Iberia supermarket) and they will show you round. The park near Iberia is also nice to sit in and chill out. The baseball stadium is on the main road through the town - I don't think there are any games then. The Malecon comes to life in the evenings especially at weekends when it is full of music, and stalls selling food and drink. There is supposed to be a museum but I have never found it!!
Matilda
Thanks, Matilda. I've seen aspects of San Pedro highlighted on Santo Domingo Invita, like today when they highlighted the magnifying glass art of a guy whose name I cannot remember. (Was the art called "arte supala? Sulapa? Sulepa???) But it doesn't sound like there's too much there.
The cathedral is also worth a quick visit but as Matilda says not much to see other that firestation and cathedral. It is indeed a working town and a shopping mecca for those of us who live in the area but for culture and sightseeing Santo Domingo is a better place to be.
That said if you want to spend a day at the beach, Stop in Boca Chica or Juan Dolio.
Hi MommC, we've been to Boca Chica before, and further east. La Romana also looked like an interesting city.
MommC and Matilda pretty much hit the nail on the nead (Hi to both of you by the way). In the DR, San Pedro is home to my wife, myself and our children. We love it there, and have many friends in the area. That being said though, there isn't much to do there along the tourist lines during the day, other than the Cathedral and Firestation. Also, the malecon is a lot of fun at night - all of which was stated by MommC and Matilda. If you're into baseball, you could visit the Academies in the SPM area.
La Romana is also a shopping mecca but not much to do other than a jumping off point for boat tours to Catalina Island, Saona Island and Catalinita.
Of course there is also Alto de Chevon to visit outside La Romana(where we love going to the concerts in the amphitheatre!). There marina is a sight with all the gorgeous yachts but only takes a few minutes to view.
Rancho Cumayasa is nearby and I do have a schedule of activites and prices there if you are interested! Just PM me if you need it.
Of course there is also Alto de Chevon to visit outside La Romana(where we love going to the concerts in the amphitheatre!). There marina is a sight with all the gorgeous yachts but only takes a few minutes to view.
Rancho Cumayasa is nearby and I do have a schedule of activites and prices there if you are interested! Just PM me if you need it.
I've heard there's a restaurant (perhaps that's too grand a word) in SPM called El Rincon Cocolo which is supposed to be very good, with typical 'cocolo' dishes - recipes brought over from the English-speaking islands. There is also a good place to hear/dance/watch son. Maybe this will jog someoene else's memory - that's the best I can come up with!
The renovated Malecon looked quite nice last time I passed through, and if you stroll around the city centre and port area you see several old houses and warehouses from the city's boom period in the early 20th century. Some restored, others crumbling.
Further on from SPM on the road to La Romana is Cueva de las Maravillas. Go inland and you get to sugar cane and cattle country with all the bateyes (cane cutter settlements) and ingenios (sugar mills).
The renovated Malecon looked quite nice last time I passed through, and if you stroll around the city centre and port area you see several old houses and warehouses from the city's boom period in the early 20th century. Some restored, others crumbling.
Further on from SPM on the road to La Romana is Cueva de las Maravillas. Go inland and you get to sugar cane and cattle country with all the bateyes (cane cutter settlements) and ingenios (sugar mills).
Certainly worth a visit for the architecture if you are interested in that sort of thing.
There is I believe a small city museum to the left of the cathedral as you face the main front ? though closed last time I was there (last October).
On the main square restaurant ?el deportivo? (?) sells excellent pasteles en ojas (?) ? mashed yucca or plantain filled with mince and wrapped in a banana leaf ? delicious!
El Rincon Cocolo sounds good - will try and find it next time.
There is I believe a small city museum to the left of the cathedral as you face the main front ? though closed last time I was there (last October).
On the main square restaurant ?el deportivo? (?) sells excellent pasteles en ojas (?) ? mashed yucca or plantain filled with mince and wrapped in a banana leaf ? delicious!
El Rincon Cocolo sounds good - will try and find it next time.
Go a little futher east and you would be better off trying to get into casa de campo for the day,but it is very expensive so be warned,best to eat and drink in san pedro or la romana,then go.
Cueva de las Maravillas is a nice place to spend an hour or so. It doesn't take long to go through but is definitely worth checking out. I loved hearing all the stories from the guide - who speaks both Spanish and English.
When we were coming out of the elevator which takes you back out of the caves there was a GIANT tarantuala blocking our way! I think it is funny now, but at that moment I didn't. The guide told us there were lots of Tarantulas and Snakes around there but none were poisonous.
When we were coming out of the elevator which takes you back out of the caves there was a GIANT tarantuala blocking our way! I think it is funny now, but at that moment I didn't. The guide told us there were lots of Tarantulas and Snakes around there but none were poisonous.
Everyone, les agradezco mucho a ustedes for the responses and suggestions. We've tended to avoid the resorts like Casa de Campo, but I've had friends who've spent time in or passed through Altos de Chav?n, so one of these days I'll check it out. I'm very interested in architecture, which is one reason I love Santo Domingo's Colonial Zones and Gazcue, so if we get to SPM, I'll check out the suggestions! Thanks so much!