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| Dominican Republic Tours Don't forget to send Debbie your review | For reviews of Bavaro Runners Safari Adventure, First Class Fishing, Manati Park Mike's Marina Fishing Charters, Ocean World, Outback Jungle Safari & Punta Cana Fishing Charters : please go to more tour reviews |
| East Coast - Punta Cana Animal Adventure Park - Punta Cana Bavaro Shopping Tour Bavaro Splash Speedboat Ride Caribbean Festival Tour Cueva fun-fun Dolphin Island - Swim With Dolphins First Class Fishing Fun Buggy Marinarium Monster Truck Safari Punta Cana Explorer Reef Explorers Saona Island Tropical Sunset Cruise |
North Coast - Cabarete - Puerta Plata Sosua - Samana Catamaran from Coco Tours Catamaran from Riu Bachata Coastal Moto Adventures El Limon Northern Highlights Paradise Island River Rafting 7 Waterfalls Jeep Safari Yasika Adventures |
South Coast - Bayahibe - Boca Chica Juan Dolio - Santo Domingo Altos de Chavón at Casa de Campo Catalina Island from Bayahibe Eco-Tours Crazy Wheels Quad Bike Safari El Rancho Horse Riding Fishing - Boca Chica Santo Domingo Tour Groups |
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East Coast - Punta Cana Bavaro Runners Safari Adventure First Class Fishing Fun Buggy Manati Park - Swimming with Dolphins Mike's Marina Fishing Charters Monster Truck Safari Outback Jungle Safari |
North Coast - Cabarete - Puerta Plata Sosua - Samana Agua Marina Tours S.A. Bavaro Runners Safari Adventure Carib Bic Center - Windsurfing Coastal MotoAdventures Extra Tours Freestyle Catamarans Golf Adventures Iguana Mama Mountain Bike Isaira Tours - Personal Guided Tours Monster Truck Safari Ocean World Adventure Park Outback Jungle Safari North Coast Pub Crawl Playa Dorada Excursions |
South Coast - Bayahibe - Boca Chica Juan Dolio - Santo Domingo Bavaro Runners Safari Adventure Enduro Aventura - all areas Outback Jungle Safari Romana Tours: Discover the DR! Seavis Excursions Attractions Altos de Chavon |
| Punta Cana Explorer - Snorkeling on a Panga Boat | David and Monique |
What a great trip! Fishing was awesome, we caught a 50lb Mahi Mahi. Wow, so exciting to real in a big fish! I would recommend this adventure to all except this trip is not for the wimps due to the big waves...Water was rough. Must have a strong stomach!
| Punta Cana Explorer - Snorkeling on a Panga Boat | Tim & Melisa |
I just wanted to let people know that our group decided that out of all their excursions the "Snorkeling out on the Panga Boat" was the best by far!!! We all talked about how much FUN we had with Punta cana explorer that day!!! Thank You just doesn't seem to be enough for the awesome memories!!! So thank you so very much!!!!!
| First Class Fishing | Cheri & Rich |
I had the pleasure of meeting Peter and Claude after our fishing trip. They were excellent representatives for First Class Fishing Charters. Our captain, Carlos, was fun and entertaining. This was my first experience deep sea fishing and came away with a nice Mahi Mahi. That was very exciting. I would recommend First Class Fishing Charters to my friends. It was a great experience.
| First Class Fishing | Bruce |
Our fishing experience was a fun adventure .
The Boat ,Captain and mate were 1st class.
we went as 2 family's with 2 teenage girls and could not believe the
fish we caught.
It was a great time for all and hope to do it again the next time we
are there....thanx
| First Class Fishing | Thomas ~ Saint Louis, MO |
During the week of January 27, 2008 I had the pleasure of using the services of First Class Fishing in Punta Cana for three 4-hour charters-- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Especially nice was the pickup and return to the hotel where I was staying. The driver was always courteous and on time.
When I awoke on Tuesday morning, I knew we would be in for a tough day. The wind was blowing at full force as evidenced by the palm trees bending. Of the five persons on the shared charter, two were seasick before we even cleared the reef. We fished on the Shenika (?) with Capt. Jose but were unable to catch any fish that day due in large part to the tremendous wind and waves. The trolling lines were so bowed from the force of the wind that it was a wonder they did not become fouled. I was encouraged, however, when First Class Fishing's boat Intrepid returned with 3 nice mahi mahi. I knew that Thursday would be better.
On Thursday morning, the wind was blowing, but not as bad as on Tuesday. Again we had a 5 person shared charter on the Shenika. Shortly after clearing the reef, we hooked a yellowfin tuna. After boating it, we continued trolling. Two of the passengers became seasick. Later we hooked a mahi mahi and then mayhem broke out. All the rods had fish on. The mate, Michael, proved very adept at lifting rods over and around other rods and no fish were lost. In addition to bringing the fish into the boat, Michael also was able to rebait and return the bait to the water. We ended up catching 9 mahi mahi weighing from 10 to 25 lbs. Most were about 20 lbs. We were also fortunate to see two whales.
On Saturday afternoon I shared a 4 person charter on the Intrepid. Franklin was the skipper and we had two mates. Again it was windy, but not as bad as Tuesday. Throughout the afternoon I was impressed with the skill of the captain and mates as they went about their duties. We boated four nice mahi mahi which averaged 25 lbs. We saw another whale leap out of the water. We had a chance at a wahoo, but he sliced through the bait just missing the hook.
I had fished the Pacific coast of Mexico before, but this was our first trip to Punta Cana. It will not be our last! I heartily recommend First Class Fishing. Peter responded to our e-mail request for information by telephone within minutes of sending the e-mail. He and Claudel were very courteous and gracious. The boats were very clean and the crews skilled and friendly.
I would definitely recommend that anyone taking a charter use dramamine one hour before departing. Not doing so can make what should be a very enjoyable outing a very memorable one--for the wrong reason!
Another bonus of shared charters is the opportunity to meet people from other countries. I met very nice folks from the USA, Canada, England, Russia, and France.
Being from Saint Louis, MO, I wore my STL Cardinal hat which many Dominicans admired (not because of me but because of Albert Puhols, a native of the Dominican Republic). Claudel, I promise to bring some Cardinal hats when I return!
| First Class Fishing | Heather & Aaron ~ British Columbia |
On Nov 12th my husband and I went deep sea fishing with First Class Fishing Charters, we did a 4 hr shared charter with 4 other people. I started looking into it on the computer and sent them an email asking about availability, to my surprise they phoned me in Canada. I think we paid about -$25 less per person booking it from home. They picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel. We found them to be very friendly and professional. Unfortunately we were both a bit sea sick, they said it wasn't unusually rough but the waves seamed large. Next time I'll bring gravol.
We did catch a 98 lb Blue Marlin. It was very exciting and very tiring trying to get it into the boat. Well worth the work though!!
My only complaint is for the ladies, the toilet is very tiny and only about a foot off the floor, takes skill on a rocking boat.
I would highly recommend First class fishing!
| First Class Fishing | Ron ~ Ontario |
Just a quick note to say what a great time we had with First Class Fishing Charter, we rented two boats from them and they took out 14 of my friends.
I found them on the web on booked them online before coming down, the price was right, the service was door to door from the Majestic Colonial, and we saved a lot of money over the Hotel price.
My son who has never been deep sea fishing landed a 50lb Sword Fish for the thrill of a lifetime, and the other boat landed 2 Mai Mai
The name says it all, First Class all the way, Peter and Claudel did a great job of putting this together and please pass on my thanks to the boys.
I will be coming back to DR in Jan 08 for another 2 weeks and will definitely use them again.
| First Class Fishing | Capt Dave, Sherill, Capt Bob, Anne, Kenny, Barb, Charlie and Connie (the fish catcher) |
First Class Fishing Charters, Our trip was a great time! Capt Moreno and Roberto got our group on the fishing spots, we were the only boat to catch fish that day. Even with seas between 10 to 12 feet (Dominican Republic 2-4 feet) our Capt kept the boat steady and we were able to enjoy our trip. Thanks to the entire First Class Fishing team!!
| First Class Fishing | TJ James |
I would like to take this opportunity to submit this testimony with respect to my recent experience with Claudel and First Class Fishing Charters located in Punta Cana, DR. I am the owner of a high-end custom homebuilding firm and I travel with my wife and two sons fishing from the Outer Banks, Florida Keys, and most of the Caribbean including the Bahamas, Honduras, Caymans, Jamaica, Mexico, Belize, Northern Antilles, US Virgin Islands and BVI’s. We fish from deep-sea to back water tarpon and bone fishing.
This was the first trip we had all taken to Punta Cana and were in search of a knowledgeable firm to keep in tune with the high expectations that we perpetually have, having been spoiled by some of the best of the best operating in the Caribbean. We, unfortunately for some firms, are a family of seasoned and very experienced fishermen, and know when we are with professionals and when firms attempt to take you for the proverbial ride.
In my business, I cater to the elite and “who’s who” and must say that we were catered to and treated as more than clients, but as friends. We were completely and absolutely astonished by the degree of professionalism that Claudel and First Class Fishing Charters exhibited. They far exceeded our expectations and made every effort to ensure that our fishing trip a successful one. Our first mates constantly changed baits and kept busy trying different rigs to catch various fish. (Many just sit back and let the rod sleep, only occasionally checking on a rod’s line and bait here or
there) Their workmanship was flawless and at the same time effortless, a sign of true pros. They insisted upon themselves to keep baits clean, fresh and organized. In no time, we landed one of the nicest bull-head dolphins I can remember. We continued landing the fish famed as Mahi-Mahi and immediately upon our return our fresh catch was then immediately prepared for us at the area’s anchor restaurant located adjacent to First Class Fishing’s beach front office, Captain Cook’s restaurant. Again, the personnel were courteous, professional and friendly. The dolphin melted in your mouth and we sought nothing more than a hammock when finishing our beautifully prepared meal. Many can and have claimed experience in their slogans, advertised satisfaction in their brochures all at the same time charging exorbitant amounts for a gimmick outing. First Class Fishing is exactly as they call themselves, First Class. Nothing more and certainly nothing less. If you are remotely considering a fishing trip while in the Punta Cana area, or are looking for a destination to fish, you would be doing a disservice to yourself and your group if you did not retain this firm to pamper you as they did to me and my family. We were sad to leave Punta Cana, mostly in part by leaving the new additions (First Class
Fishing) to our extended family. They are the type of outfit that makes sure to know you on a personal level. I know that I could call on them next year and they are the type to not only remember you and all of your family’s names, but all the stories you had both shared and places that you have fished before. We constantly call upon firms throughout the Caribbean and they immediately recognize us and we have regular captains/crew. Similarly, Claudel and his staff are ones that will also remember you and your family and treat you, well, First Class. Again, we were saddened to leave, but were comforted in the thoughts of our eventual return to Punta Cana and the endless smiles from all of our friends at First Class Fishing Charters.
| First Class Fishing | Cynthia ~ Alabama USA |
Our July 4th 2007 vacation was great on the first class fishing boat. We started out our day with 7 people on the boat all wanting to catch fish. Luckily we hooked a Blue Marlin fairly quickly and it was a large one. We worked that fish for probably an hour and a half before finally getting it into the boat. My daughter caught that one with a little help from her boyfriend. We trolled for a while and were worried that we would not catch another one, when finally another blue marlin on the line. Awesome.I was a jumper and got it all on camcorder. It was successfully brought into the boat. Then within a short period of time we hooked a white marlin and what a beautiful fish it was. It was also a jumper and it was brought into the boat.
Next we hooked 3 Mahi Mahi all at one time. 3 Mahi mahi were successfully brought into the boat and they were cooked for us and a great supper feast. You can't go wrong fishing with these people. They really put out an effort to catch the fish. They worked very hard for us. We will fish with them again next year for our vacation. Great people to fish with. Special Thanks to First Class Fishing....| Tropical Sunset Cruise | Angela |
Next one we did was the Tropical Sunset cruise, which departs from the Jellyfish restaurant on the beach, it is advertised as a romantic cruise, it's really not it's more of a party, and had they advertised it as a party I probably would not have gone, but I am so glad we did. We went snorkelling in the ocean, to another natural pool, more booze and then to the Jellyfish restaurant for lobster dinners. Keep in mind, the lobster isn't like lobster from Maine, it's tasty, but not amazing. But it was such a cool restaurant and great staff on the catamaran!
| Dolphin Isalnd - Swim With The Dolphins | Sue & Friends ~ Grand Bank, NL Canada |
Don't let "bad reviews" deter you from enjoying the great experience Dolphin Island offers. My friends and I were extremely hesitant about taking this excursion due to numerous "bad reviews".
We felt compelled to write this GOOD REVIEW after our completely positive experience at Dolphin Island.
It is definitely NOT inhumane, NOT poorly managed, and certainly NOT a rip off!
For a wonderful, heartwarming, and memorable Dolphin Swim - Dolphin Island is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Compared to other Dolphin interaction experiences I've had --- Dolphin Island rates 4.8/5. Well worth the $$!
My Dolphin encounter in Cuba was not a good experience; the Dolphins were not cared for properly (poor physical condition) and of course the Dolphins responded aggressively (can't blame them). However, Dolphin Swim in Punta Cana is professionally operated; Dolphins are very docile, well cared for, in good health, and good physical condition.
FURTHER DETAILS:
Cost: $110 US
Timeframes: Morning, afternoon, and evening excursions available
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Dolphin Swimtime: 10 minutes per group, plus approx. 5 minutes interaction
BUS TRIP: Dolphin Island bus picks you up at resort.
RECEPTION AREA: You arrive at Dolphin Island reception area. This is a beautiful quiet area located beside "natural" Dominican beach (palm trees surround area, also hammocks provided). Your guide presents general information sheets and waiver to sign.
INFORMATIVE VIDEO: While waiting for the boat to take you to the Dolphin swim area .... you are directed to a room where you watch a DVD instructional video on the do's and don'ts during your Dolphin encounter. The whole set up is very professionally operated. Important to follow all instructions ... the Dolphins well being is of the utmost importance. Remove any jewellry, hair accessories, no smoking, remain calm etc.
BOAT TRIP: The guides divide the people into two groups. Eight to ten people per group. Floatation waist belt is provided and mandatory.
DOLPHIN ENCLOSURE: You arrive at the ocean enclosure located approx. 1-2 miles out to sea. A boardwalk surrounds two separate areas; one for snorkelling and one for swimming. Lockers provided for personal belongings. Your group is directed to appropriate enclosure. Each group enters water slowly/quietly - remain calm - and stand on platform awaiting Dolphin trainer instructions. Group one swims to middle of enclosure and experiences ten wonderful minutes with TWO Dolphins. Group one returns to platform and group two enjoys their Dolphin swim.
INTERACTION: Each group stands on platform to enjoy Dolphin tricks, splashing, touching.
NO CAMERAS: No personal cameras are allowed at Dolphin enclosure.
PHOTOS: Professional photographer takes pictures during your Dolphin experience. Each person also gets a Dolphin KISS photo opportunity at the end of the session.
PHOTO CD: When you return to the reception area, you can purchase the CD for $40 US.
DRINKS: You are provided complimentary drinks at the outdoor bar.
So if you're an animal lover, and want a great Dolphin encounter ... don't hesitate to experience Dolphin Island ... Tony and Habi await you!!!
| Bavaro Splash Speedboat Ride | Alexis ~ Halifax NS |
We also did the Bavaro Splash Speedboat Ride. This is where you get to take a 2 person speedboat out and then do a little bit of snorkeling. We got a ride to the place, but there was no need to. It was about a 5 minute walk up the beach to the place where you depart from. The tourguides are a lot of fun and very informative. We really had a blast! You can get a video of the tour for $35US and a picture of yourself in the boat for $8. Nice souvenirs. There is also a little store here that has decent prices for some other souvenirs.
| Yasika Adventures | Alicia |
Hi Debbie,
I just got back from Dominican Republic . I was traveling with my husband and my two kids (6 and 10). We were staying in the Puerto Plata area in an all inclusive resort. We had a great time and were able to take advantage of all sorts of activities. We spent a week and did mostly beach related activities but one of the activities we participated it stands out because of how different it had been. My husband decided to go on a Zip Line Tour with Yasika Adventures. I was adamant about it because I felt that the kids were too young to do anything like that but to please my husband I went along. My intent was not to go on if I felt it was too dangerous for the kids.
He purchased the tickets and off we went. It was a beautiful drive going up a mountain. Once we reached the facilities we were given a training on safety and how to use our equipment properly. We had two guides one that went 1st and one that stayed behind to provide assistance if needed. I felt a bit more comfortable and after a few people went (including my husband) I allowed my son (6) to go and he went accompanied by a tour guide. My daughter was old enough to go by herself and then it was my turn. To make a long story short, this was a great family tour! It was definitely worthwhile, especially for my kids. Before we even completed the tour they were ready to do it again. They are still talking about it. It was safe and the tour guides were extremely helpful and accommodating. I recommend this to anyone that is ready for an adventure!!! If anyone is interested their web page is http://www.yasikaadventures.com
| Reef Explorers - Punta Cana | Amy |
We did the Reef Explorers tour and had a great time! It is a short drive to catch the boat and they take you to a floating dock just offshore where you can snorkel, get a massage or swim in the pens with stingrays (stingers are removed) and nurse sharks (very docile). Also, we got our pictures taken holding the stingrays which was very cool. We did the 1/2 day tour in the afternoon and found that it was perfect - we have done full-day tours in the past and found them to be too long.
The staff and trainers who run this tour are very experienced and very funny - it was a great time and I would recommend this excursion to anyone.
| Paradise Island | Lori ~ Calgary/Toront0 |
ith Nolitours we went to Paradise Island. It is a 2.5 hour bus ride and then a 30 min powerboat ride to this island. It is very close to Haiti, who is in the middle of a civil war right now. Sometimes the island is too submerged in water and the trip may have to be postponed. Ours wasn’t but we met a couple of girls who were returning because of a postponement. There are a few little bars, but it is limited what you can get. There is no shade so for the love of god PUT ON SUNSCREEN. I am very pale and I was wearing SPF 30 and I still burned. Snorkling the reef on this island was great, we saw many different types of fish and my boyfriends brother thought he saw a barracuda. Lunch is included on the shore. You’ll notice that the cats here are starving so try and save them a bit. My boyfriend’s mother put her plate on the ground for the cats. This is a bit insulting to the chief, so try to just hand feed them. It was amazing to see the poorer side of things out here. We had some candy on the bus with us and when we stopped in the villages we gave nearby children some suckers. This makes them very happy. In the towns, you can see that some people are fairly well off (nice car, bars on entries, nice structures) and others are very poor (shanties for houses, domestic dogs running wild thin as bones).
| Paradise Island | Jen |
We only did the one tour to Paradise Island. Snorkelling is my thing. One thing they don’t warn you (and also instruct you not to share with others at your hotel) is that it takes a long time to get there and even longer to get back to the hotels. We were picked up at our hotel lobby at 7am. There were others already on the bus that we learned were picked up at 6am. We then proceeded to stop at 2 other hotels (Iberostar and the Rui chain) before reaching the boat launch. You are loaded up into speed boats in groups of 10 – 15 or so. They insist you were lifejackets. However, the jackets provided merely slip around your neck and most only had 1 working buckle at the neck. If you went overboard, I seriously doubt it would help keep you afloat. Anyway, the ride out to the island is about 35-45 minutes. They teased us by saying if we were lucky we might see dolphins or even whales. No such luck. The island is small. Really it is more of a sandbar than “an island”. There is no vegetation but they have erected several huts to set up camp. There are several tour companies who use the island simultaneously so each group is set up in a specific hut. Sandwiches and open bar are set up as well as for those who don’t have gear, they provide it. We purchased our tour from the Sunwing rep at the hotel for $90 US each. He told us that breakfast was included. As we are picked up at 7am we understood this to mean something would be served on the bus (a bun or something). Nothing is brought out until you reach the island so make sure to take something from the buffet the night before to tie you over. It was mid morning before we could get something (ham or cheese on a bun). The snorkelling was not bad. They lead you out through the reef and one of the guides dives down and baits the fish. There are hundreds of fish all around you! Very cool. The reef is not as colourful as you’d like to see it. Hopefully, it is not dying, but it wouldn’t surprise me as there must have been 80-90 people there on that day and the tour runs 6 days a week. The guides baiting the fish carry the bait in plastic wrap. The first time I noticed it in the water I thought it was a jellyfish. However, when they are done with the bait, they let the plastic go in the ocean. As we made our way around the reef, we saw it happening again, and again. Really too bad as they brief you before you get to the island that in order to protect the natural habitat of the reef, you are not allowed to removed or touch anything in the ocean. Sad.
Following the approximately 2 hours on the island you are loaded back into your speed boat to travel over to the coastline to see the mangroves. I did a mangrove boat tour once in Margarita Island, and it was a blast. Traveled through lagoons, saw lots of wildlife, the guide would stop at the shore and show you shrimp and starfish. However, this part of the trip seemed to be about going as fast as possible and getting the tourists as soaked as they could. You couldn’t take pictures as the waves were crashing over the side of the boat. Your dry clothing you had hoped to change into was now soaked. I guess it might be considered fun for some, but I didn’t care for it at all. Once they reach the shore, they do slow down, but there are really no lagoons, only pockets of coves where they drive into so you can get up close to the mangroves. They stop and explain the importance of the mangroves to you which is interesting, but it is all over in about 15 minutes and they are off as fast as they can go again. You end up at their beach facility where they serve a decent lunch with open bar (beer extra for some reason). You can get somewhat cleaned up (outdoor shower) and washrooms where you can put on your soaked clothing for the bus ride back. The bus ride back takes you through the rugged natural park that you are in. The road is dirt, so quite a rough ride! They stop part way back at a shop where you can buy the same souvenirs you see everywhere and they make a big deal out of the mamajuana. Cigars are rolled in the hut to the right of the building, beyond the washrooms. After 30-45 minutes, you are back on the bus headed for the hotels. We arrived back at our lobby around 5pm. Interesting day, nice to see some of the country side, but way too long of a day for an hour of snorkelling.
| 7 Waterfalls Jeep Safari | Charlene |
We did one excursion which was the 7 Waterfalls Jeep Safari which we bought from a beach vendor named “Nelson” for $60 per person (we later found out that other people paid different amounts for the same excursion, some as low as $40 per person). Had we known about the type of excursion this one was prior to going, we likely would not have bought it as it is quite physical to do. However, we were not displeased and recommend you give it a try. Not recommended for elderly individuals or children under 10 years of age. You should rent the special shoes for $2 USD per pair as suggested and you will be provided with both a helmet and a life jacket. It takes about 20-25 minutes to get to the first waterfall and then you must climb up each one thereafter which includes short swims in deep water and assistance by three very capable strong guides who may at times bodily lift you to assist you in getting up to the next level. Coming down was fun as there were natural waterslides to go down, with the choice of jumping or water sliding down the last two. We would do this one again.
| Monster Truck Safari | Rob and Diane ~ Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
Our Sunquest vacations rep. at the hotel (Hollie) put us onto a couple of great side trips. Try the Monster Truck Safari to see the Dominican people and surrounding country side. It’s a full day excursion and will open your eyes. www.monstertrucksafari.com Pack some giveaways for the local school kids. i.e. pens, pencils, ball caps. And for some fun on the water try the Happy Hour Cruise. There is snorkeling, swimming, and drinking on a catamaran before watching the sun go down from out at sea. Thanks Hollie for all your TLC.
| Monster Truck Safari | April |
The monster truck tour was much more professional and they did warn us about not giving money to the locals and throwing items to the kids, which of course most tourists chose to ignore. We were asked to please not give them candy as their teeth were beginning to rot but of course many people ignored that as well. Our guide was very informative and not once did he try to ask for tips.
We did take some items and waited until we got to the school to give to the director. I am sure they have quite a few pencils and perhaps could use other things. The children are very crafty in their begging and it was very sad to see these beautiful children begging at every opportunity.
| Monster Truck Safari | Ben and Tracy |
We did a lot, we went on a Monster Truck Safari which takes you into the countryside of the Dominican, and it was shocking to see how these people really live. I've never seen poverty, so it broke my heart to see how happy these children were with how little they had. We stopped at a school and I gave away my hat. My Fiance works at Dare Foods so we had all kinds of candy to give away, it was touching to see how happy it made them to get little treats. Everyone we passed on the trip was always smiling and waving, they really love the tourists down there. If you do this trip bring candy to throw, as alot of the people you pass on the way don't recieve as much as the people do at the stops on the trip. I think this trip was 190US for Tracy and myself. It was a great trip but a very long day starting at 8am and ending at 5:30-6pm.
| Monster Truck Safari | Katie |
We did 1 trip as they can be a bit pricey but YOU MUST go on this its called Monster Truck Safari look it up on the internet, It was the best way to see some of the island and meet the locals, drinks were great food was lovely, we drove through huge rivers and swam in a beautiful river. we went to a lovely little school where the children run out to see you and wave, if you do go on the this take something for the kids, any toys or old clothes you may have as they really need it and they are so gorgeous I wanted to take them all home, you also see where the film jurassic park was made, Please make sure you go on this trip it really made our holiday.
| Monster Truck Safari | Dave ~ Canada |
The Monster Truck excursion was the best. It was highly recommended by all reviews we read before visiting and it is well worth what you may spend. We highly recommend it to everyone. It's fun, educational, humbling and eye opening at the same time. Happy hour every twenty minutes. Beer, rum and coke, soft drinks and water ever flowing. Lots of stops to see things and the country is beautiful. They stop at a school, home, cheese factory, river ride, and gift shop. This excursion made the trip memorable. Something we will remember for a lifetime.
| Monster Truck Safari | Diana ~ Canada |
I highly recommend going on the Monster Truck Safari. The tour guide knows the country the people and answers all your questions .You are made very welcomed to his country . He was very funny and knowledgeable as a guide ask for Little Joe.
If you go on this tour bring items for the children, tooth paste brushes , they love stickers, paper , pencils, hair ribbons etc. the Monster Truck people raise money to fund three schools.
| Fishing - Boca Chica | William |
I am a fishing nut so I brought a three piece travel saltwater rod and some tackle. There are a number of options for fishing. If you walk down Boca Chica beach there is a sports fishing pier, you can see it from the Hamaca Beach. There are a variety of charters available from full blown 30+ Foot Sports Fisherman for $500 to $800 for ½ or full day to modified Yolas (the local open fishing boats16’ to 20’ fitted with mono and wire trolling rods) $40 -$50 and hour. I really didn’t want to spend a lot of money or leave my wife for hours while I went fishing so I took another route. Almost every morning I was out early walking the beach casting I did catch some small jacks and a small barracuda. The second morning I was fishing off the pier of the Pelican restaurant and some local guys came by in a yola catching bait. I called them over and they were willing to take me out for $10 an hour. This is a basic boat, they fish with hand lines, didn’t speak any English and you supply your own tackle though the next day they did come back with fresh ballyhoo for bait. I had fun with them they took me out to the point to the east and we caught big barracuda, spanish mackerel (that’s what I think they were) and jacks.
| River Rafting | Liz |
We also went River Rafting, which was a blast! My favorite excursion thus far (we also went to Paradise Island and on a Jeep Safari last time). The only downside is from ICD it’s about a 3 hour bus ride to get there. But you stop half way to go to the bathroom and grab snacks and drinks. They give you breakfast, then you suit up (in a wetsuit, helmet, and lifejacket). And you drive another 20-25 minutes in open toped jeeps though a small town and up into the mountains. Then you go rafting for about 2 and half hours. There are professional guides in each of the rafts and they explain everything you need to know before you start. It was so much fun! I actually was the only single person to fall out, but it wasn’t bad. You just swim back to the boat and they help you back in. In one of the rapids a whole raft tipped over and they all fell out except for the guide, but they have safety people who go down before all the tourists in case anything like that. They have a medical team that goes with you also, on our trip one guy got hit in the eye with a paddle and we all pulled over and they cleaned him up. You stop halfway for a snack and some lemonade. Then continue on until the end. At the end you stop at another ranch and they give you drinks (beer, soda, or water). Then you take the jeeps back to the regular ranch and have lunch (chicken, rice, salad, bread, veggies). From there you get to watch a video of the trip, which the safety boat took. That’s was cool, you could buy it for $35 (we would have bought it but was at the end of our trip and we didn’t have anymore money) they also take a picture of your raft at one point, and you can buy those for $5. The trip was awesome and I would defiantly recommend it! We paid $80p/p.
| Eco Tours | Paul Gerace |
I have been traveling to the DR twice a year for the past 18 years and I have recently discovered the Southwest. There were many sites in the area that I wanted to see, so after exploring a few on my own I decided to look into going with a tour group to make the most of my time.
I decided to go with Eco-Tours which is a small tour business that has a French girl and a Dominican driver. It cost 2000 pesos (about $65). That included lunch, van & boat transportation, stop overs at Los Patos, a cave with a couple of taino faces, & a fresh water swimming hole.
They picked us up at 8 am and we returned at 8 pm. There were 2 other tourists besides me.
Bahia de las Aquilas lived up to it's reputation as a gorgeous beach. Powdery white sand, the most crystal clear water that I have seen in the DR (including Isla Saona, Samana, Bayahibe, Playa Rincon) and on a par or even better than Grand Cayman or St. John's US Virgin Island.
It was different because there were no palm trees. There were sea grape trees and other trees and shrubs that I had never seen before that provide shade. We were dropped off by boat and got to spend 5 hours there.
I highly recommend taking the boat to get there from the nearest town called Las Cuevas. The views along the coast to get to the beach were spectacular. There were large rock formations, pelicans, eagles nests, crystalline green water, small hidded white sand beaches. Still , that was overshadowed by the beauty of the beach of Bahia de las Aguilas.
It has no hotels, no facilities and I hope it stays that way. That was part of the beauty.
All in all it was well worth the distance traveled to get there. Fifteen years ago when I first traveled to Barahona I saw one beach that had rocks and I thought this is not what I wanted in a Caribbean beach vacation. Where was the soft sand and palm trees? Now that I have been to most parts of the country I have a deep appreciation for the unique beauty for this area.
You can see my photos from that trip on my website at www.geraceimages.com as well as in my Ebook "Images of the Dominican Republic" also available on my website.
Eco-Tours is based in the town of Paraiso. Their tel # is 809-243-1190. Their website is http://www.ecotour-repdom.com/
| Cueva fun-fun - Punta Cana | Kraeg & Anna |
After finding out about the other tours from various guests, we think this is the best tour to go. The most exciting, interesting, and best value for money spent.
$90 pp consisting of the following:
Pick up at the resort at 7am.
A 3 hour drive into the interior. This takes you through some large cities and small towns giving you a view of the island you don't even realize exists while on the resort.
A lunch upon arrival at the ranch.
All equipment is included.
A 40 minute horseback ride to the rainforest.
A 45 minute hike through the rainforest.
A 18m repel into a cave system (discovered as recently as 1997)
A 4 km dry hike through the caves.
A 2 km wet hike through water within the caves including a brief underwater swim.
(The whole cave hike took about 2 hours)
Emerging into the rainforest where another guide waits with water, beer or Coca Cola.
A 30 minute horseback ride back to the ranch.
A hot lunch/dinner waiting there.
Our guide Henry was friendly and very knowledgeable. The information he shared with us during the horseback ride there, the rainforest trek and the cave exploring was fascinating and thorough. He earned a good tip from us as well as a tip for his assistant who was there to lend a hand through the trickiest climbs within the caves themselves.
| Northern Highlights | Wayne and Sara |
The Northern Highlights tour was okay. I would have liked longer at the fort to learn more about the history and much less time in Susua - the vendors there are so pushy - almost demanding - it was difficult to get away. But the beach was nice as was the lunch served at the resturant . The Rum Factory, Amber Museum and the Cigar factory were interesting as was the short walk we took down the street and back again. Again - the store keepers seemed a little too eager to have you come into their store. We were met by a couple of Haitian ladies who really wanted us to buy thier goods but we didn't. One tied some beads on my wrist and asked for a couple of pesos for her trouble - I guess tieing those knots was hard work - anyway Wayne had a 100 peso bill (just over $3 US) and gave it to her, she was so happy she literally danced down the street. Next year we will take a more history based tour.
| Animal Adventure Park | Joey and Maria |
Next day we went on a newer excursion to the Animal Adventure Park. Here we paid extra to spend the day with the trainers and animals. As it is new, they haven't got everything open and running yet. They put on a show with the sea lions and even get a group of guests into the pool to interact with one. People would hold a hoop in the air while in the pool and the sea lion would jump through it. Later there was a bird show were they had parrots and other birds do tricks like riding little bikes and sorting through different shapes, very entertaining. They also had a little monkey that you could get your picture taken with. As the bird show ended, they brought out a beautiful white tiger that people could get their photo with. This part we got to feed the tiger his bottle and chicken while pictures were being taken. They also brought out a python to get pictures taken with. After all this they would take you out to their shark pen. Here you got to swim around with the sharks and got your picture taken with one of them on your lap. The pen was walking distance out in shallow waters. Most tours here are only for half days, but since we were there for the full day, we got to participate in much of the shows and activities in the afternoon. This is highly recommended trip if you like animals. We really enjoyed our day here.
| Bavaro Shopping Tour from Riu Place Macao | Crystal & Curtis |
The one thing about our trip that was very disappointing was some of our day trips. When we got there, our Sunquest (will never travel with them again - I can't even begin to list all of our problems we had with them) rep basically scared us into booking trips with them. Gave us some terrible scenarios about booking with unreliable tour groups etc. One of the excursions we booked with him was the CoCo Tours (Sunquest affiliate) "Bavaro Shopping Tour". This was a total scam. We were told they would take us to a rum factory, cigar factory then into a town to do some shopping (promises of cheaper prices than on the resort). The ride was fun at first. They played some dance music & passed around rum (which our tour guide ended up getting on a lot of our clothes). We first went to the cigar factory where they gave us a sales pitch for their products for about 10 minutes then gave us around 5 minutes to actually see where they made them. Then rushed us out. When we got to the "rum factory" the tour guide flat out said "This is not a rum factory. This is where they paint bottles for rum". They proceeded to try selling us the painted bottles & other items. We then went on to the shopping portion which ended up being at another resort which was exactly like shopping on my resort (why did I pay for this??). We had to pay 1/2 up front to the Sunquest rep then were supposed to pay the other 1/2 when we were coming back from the trip. The tour guides forgot to charge us coming back. All but 2 (they handed the driver cash) of our group walked off the bus (honestly forgetting) without paying. Once we realized our mistake, we were all glad because everybody felt we had been ripped off since we didn't really get what we were promised/paid for. Everybody in our wedding group left a few days later. 5 days after the "shopping trip", me & my husband were presented a bill for 14 people. I'm not sure why they waited until everybody but me and my husband left. We now had a different Sunquest rep at our hotel & he didn't know anything about the situation (as I tried to explain 2 had already paid fully). This was extremely annoying because he didn't want to deal with it either. He just kept giving me his cell phone to talk to the original rep (not sure where he went to). I explained our complaint to the original rep who then gave us a whopping $2 off per person. We talked to several other people on our trips who had been ripped off by this same excursion/company. We had also booked another trip through Sunquest/Coco Tours which was the Contiki Snorkeling trip. While it was somewhat fun, it wasn't what was explained to us either.
| Caribbean Festival Tour | Vera |
Caribean Festival is much more lively, involving a large catamaran that takes you to a snorkeling place, and afterward, a kind of swimming pool where you can swim with sharks and sting rays, using masks and snorkels. All snorkeling equipment is provided. Although we were only permitted to swim at the surface and observe them from above, one could question the ethics of confining these magnificant marine species to a tank for the enjoyment of tourists. Some of the sharks had squeezed themselves into one corner, like sardines, and just lay there, on the sandy bottom, which hardly seems like a natural behaviour. The brochures depict tourists holding up a sting ray, but this wasn't done on our tour. On the way home, local youth performed traditional dances in the most incredible, colourful costumes. Afterwards, everyone can dance, and drink rum, of course!
| Caribbean Festival Tour | Susan and Dale |
Caribbean Festival - swimming with the sharks, sting rays and along the coral reef. Cancelled the first day we booked due to the wind but when we went, it was well worth it. Unfortunately, since I was not that good at snorkelling, I passed on the coral reef part of the trip and regret it. Our friends say it was beyong belief and bought the DVD. Can't wait to see it.
Again, the people working on the boat were very friendly and helpful.
| Santo Domingo Tour Groups | Renée and Phil |
We went on the Santo Domingo tour - the Capital of the Dominican Republic - was a four and a half hour drive from the resort. We stopped in La Romana on the way for "toilets" at a gift shop - by toilets I mean holes in the ground. The tour guide was awful, we couldn't seem to understand any of the languages she was trying to speak (English, Spanish and French - we are fluent in English and French). The history and culture of the city was interesting - be prepared to walk though! Eat before you go because there is no breakfast and lunch is at 2pm. Would I recommend this tour? For a history buff, yes. For a 20-something party animal, no.
| Santo Domingo Tour Groups | Crystal & Curtis |
Prieto Tours were absolutely great. The trip was $62 per person. They had us out from 6:30am until almost 9pm. The ride was long but our guide kept it interesting. They took us to a rest stop that had a store at which you didn't have to barter - just set prices which were low. Got some rum & coffee at really good prices. We then went to the Three Eyes Caves, The Santo Domingo Aquarium, the home of Diego Columbus (Christopher's son), the oldest Cathedral in the Americas (can't remember the name), another Cathedral which holds tombs of Dominican heros, a colonial market and went to several monuments. The $62 included admission to all of the above & a very nice lunch at a restaurant by the river. The tour guide also impressed me when he took care of an elderly woman who was sick from the beginning. He got her a taxi (made sure the driver spoke English) to take her to the hospital & made several calls to the hospital to follow up. I would recommend this tour company to anybody.
| Santo Domingo Tour Groups | Kevin Anderson ~ MD |
I feel somewhat obligated to write a review about one of the local tour booking companies out of Santo Domingo. My wife and I and another couple were recently there for a conference and had a little spare time. We were staying at the Melia hotel, a very nice place by the way, and they set us up with a company called Turinter. We arranged to take a half day tour with them for a tour of the city. This was not a good tour. We were hoping to get a guide who would know some of the city's rich history. We both spoke some spanish but hoped for a good english speaking guide as it would make things a lot easier. Our guide spoke about as much english as we did spanish and knew very little of the history. He and his driver were basically a very expensive taxi.
What they did know very well was how to find their way to the gift shops they wanted us to shop at. Turinter must get a good portion of their income from kickbacks from these shops, as they seemed to be the highest priority. All in all, a waste of money.
The next day we had already arranged with these people, and paid up front $320 for the 4 of us, to have them take us to Isla Saona. My wife is pregant and had injured her foot on the tour. We tried to get a refund for her and they took that as a cancel. They essentially no-showed the next day, absconding with our money. We tried various ways to get our money back but to no avail. Basically highway banditry and nothing we could do about it except contact you.
Turinter Travel is a scam. Please post this so that no one makes the same mistake we did. I would suggest that travelers to Santo Domingo either find another tour company with a shred of honor or, what I would suggest, find a cab driver they like and have him drive you to the sites you want to see. It will cost a fraction of the tour cost and I was surprised when we found out how much our cabby knew. Far more flexible as well without the stops to the junky gift shops.
| Coastal Moto Adventures | Darren ~ Halifax, Nova Scotia |
Just returned on April 7th from Puerto Plata and had the amazing pleasure of taking an excursion with Rob Riley and his Coastal Moto Adventure Tours. For a true motorcycle enthusiast, that has excellent trail riding skills, this is the excursion for you. I was treated to the most professional and friendly experience that could not be matched by anyone.
Rob went out of his way to travel for an hour, in a borrowed truck, to pick me up and take me for a ride, on a motorcycle that he supplied, through the interior and the coast of the D.R. in the Puerto Plata area. This was an experience that I will never forget. He shows you land, people and and sights that the normal tourist will never imagine or ever get to see.
It was a truly challenging ride that made the experience that much better, it started out with steep rocky trails that were very technical and evolved to small trails through villages, rolling hills, river beds, beaches and finally dirt roads to cool off and wind down. We spent approximately 4 hours riding and I had my money's worth after 2.
Rob has a superb, friendly and outgoing attitude that made it very easy to feel comfortable him. He is also very knowledgeable about the areas and sights that are seen which go hand in hand with the action pictures of myself that he took while riding in front of me, and then promptly emailed them to me the next day.
I will highly recommend this excursion to anyone who is not lying about their talent or capabilities of riding a motorcycle , and is looking for a great challenge and even better, making a great new friend.
| Coastal Moto Adventures | Kent ~ Little Rock, AR |
I actually stumbled across Coastal Moto as I would never have thought this sort of opportunity would exist in the DR. As they say, better to be lucky than smart! This trip was simply AWESOME! Having ridden for a large part of my life, I know that a good ride starts with the right equipment and a knowledgeable guide. Rob Riley does not disappoint in either category. The equipment was fantastic, with the right sizes in the best safety equipment. And the ride was just absolutely incredible. We did some beach riding right along the ocean, then moved up through the foothills and into the mountains, going through small Dominican villages all along the way. The people were so friendly, and it was such a great way to get a real flavor of what life is really like in the DR. The scenery was beautiful and the riding was a perfect mix of challenge without intimidation. Rob takes great photos all along the way so you can capture the moments forever. DO NOT MISS THIS TRIP! It was an absolute highlight. Thanks Rob!
| El Limon | Dan And Tammy |
The view was worth it but I would not do it again. Make sure you are physically fit - my legs were jello for 2 days later. Make sure you wear clothes you do not mind ruining, The red mud is really difficult to get off. Another note this is a very difficult ride up & down the mountain part by horse and part without. The part by horse is so difficult that they have a guide for each person to help you and the horse through this rough terrain. When the outing was done I gave my guide $6 tip, I think she was expecting more. The tour operator said he thought $5 was fair but sometimes people gave them more. Some thing to think about
| Crazy Wheels Quad Bike Safari | James ~ UK |
Crazy Wheels Quad Bike Safari - Bayahibe - One of the Best Excursions I have ever been on! ride your own quad bike down tracks and through the sugar cane plantations all great fun! be aware that you stop at a village and are inundated by children begging for money, my fiancée took colouring books and crayons for the kids and they loved it, quite a moving experience; when having the sugar cane demonstration they will also ask you for money (not surprisingly as they earn $6 a day) the guides were very professional and kept control of all situations although their English is not good; all in all a real insight into the real DR and the bikes are great fun highly recommended.
| EL Rancho Horse Riding | James ~ UK |
EL Rancho Horse riding - Bayahibe - Very dodgy; staff couldn't care less its just about the money don't go unless you know how to ride.
| Catamaran from Riu Bachata Water Sports | Daria |
We booked the Catamaran sail and snorkel tour from the water sports center on the beach. We were told that we would enjoy sailing, snorkeling, all you can drink, fabulous entertainment, a visit to a beautiful secluded beach and an amazing buffet. Well...., we sailed for maybe 10 minutes, there was no snorkeling due to bad weather which we fully understood until later learning that every other boat that day had amazing snorkeling (our boat didn't even have any snorkeling gear on it). All you can drink, was one beer between six of us and then the bar ran out. The beautiful secluded beach was piles of garbage and dead, rotting animal carcusses directly beside our buffet. The food look disgusting and no one could eat it. Then we learned that we were being taken back to the resort by bus (which noone informed us of). We call this drive home the death drive. The driver drove so fast and crazy, that the van almost rolled and our friend actually flew off her seat and smashed her face against the window. Even after this incident, and other passengers getting angry and yelling at him to slow down he didn't. Once we returned to the resort we went straight to the manager to complain. As mentioned before his only reaction was to be concerned about this outside company (which puts on these excursions) and the rent they pay to sell in the Bachata's front lobby.
| Altos de Chavón at Casa de Campo | Lee Ann ~ USA |
(Taxi and on our own)(Cost: $56 for two people and taxi tip)(Time: Approx. 2.5 hours or less) We saw pictures of this place before heading out and knew that it would make for a good sightseeing tour after a day of swimming and before dinner.
We found out at the resort that you could take a taxi on over for about $50 round trip (plus a tip) There is a small entrance fee (I think, but am not sure, that the entrance fee is about $3.00 per person). The taxi was a really nice van. The taxi driver takes you over and then waits for you for two hours (this is all included in the taxi fair: the round trip and the 2 hour wait). Our recommendation for any one going to this very beautiful place is for them to find another couple to share the taxi ride with (the taxi van had a lot of room and it would help keep cost down)
En-route, the very pleasant taxi driver talked about the gated community at Casa de Campo and the town made of coral. After just a fairly short taxi ride (I think 15 minutes), we went through the Casa de Campo very well guarded gates. We then traveled down a long road and pulled into the Altos de Chavón parking lot. We walked around this very beautiful town, marveled at the sites, and took photos. We were there for about an hour and a half.
Casa de Campo is a gated community for the rich and famous, vacationers staying at Casa de Campo and anyone participating in the many events that go on here throughout the year. This 7000 acre resort community is home to international polo matches, 4 top-ranked championship 18-hole golf courses (some of the best in the Caribbean), An all-Inclusive resort, a marina, Altos de Chavón, a 5,000-seat outdoor amphitheater and many beautiful mansions, many of which have ocean frontage.
Altos de Chavón is a 16th century replica of a Mediterranean village built high above the Chavón River. It was completed In 1976, and built on a verdant plateau high above the river. Many Dominican stonecutters, woodworkers, and iron-smiths were involved in helping create this stunning town. (I believe that a large La Romana sugar company that owned/operated Casa de Campo com a Hollywood set designer to design this)
Altos de Chavón architecture is reminiscent of another era from the Coral block and terra cotta buildings, to the church, to the cobblestone paths, to the water fountain and bell tower we definitely felt like we were transported back to the 16th century. These impressive buildings house quaint shops, exclusive boutiques, art galleries, archeological museum, an art school and first class restaurants.
Great arts and crafts can also be found here and the town is known for it. Altos de Chavón School of Design, gallery and museum are here. This well respected Caribbean art school is tied into/does many things with a very famous New York art school. The gallery is really nice to see.
There are many excellent viewing points to view the vistas of the surrounding area. From one of these main viewpoints, we looked down and saw the Chavón river (and boy is it down there - the town is very high up from the river) and then looked out (we think north or northwest) and saw one of the golf course holes and the distant mountains of eastern Hispaniola in the back. What a magnificent view.
Off to the side from Altos de Chavón is the Grecian-style 5,000-seat outdoor amphitheater. Although nothing was playing that night, It would be great to go back to see something. The acoustics in this theater are amazing. Their ongoing show Kandelá musical review show looks wonderful. Frank Sinatra inaugurated this outdoor theater in 1982 and Carlos Santana The amphitheater has hosted concerts, symphonies, theatrical events, and festivals featuring such renowned artists as Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Sergio Mendes, Dizzy Gillespie, Air Supply, and Pilobulos
| Catalina Island | Lee Ann ~ USA |
Catalina Island - Snorkel Trip
(Tour Operator: Scuba Caribe, located on-site at Casa Del Mar)(Cost: $35 per person and tip)
(Time: 9AM - 3PM)(Food, beverage and water included)
This was a really great way to spend a day at the resort. From the Casa Del Mar beach, we boarded the nice size boat and got on our way to Catalina island. Catalina island is near the town of La Romana and Casa de Campo - so it is west of the resort. We were with about 20 other people. I always enjoy these boat rides because i like to look at the resort from way out in the water, see the shoreline, and check out the water.
We anchored just off shore of Catalina Island and went snorkeling. Snorkeling lasted for about an hour, give or take. We could see reefs, fish and other things. I believe that we where near what is referred to as the Catalina Wall. The following is a description of it: Catalina Island Wall. The wall contains corals and sponges in all colors, shapes and sizes, elkhorn corals and myriad of colorful Caribbean fishes in shallow water. You can enjoy them just with snorkeling gear (6´to 15´)
I noticed that it is best to be one of the first in and one of the last out - for when all 20 people are snorkeling the snorkeling is good - but just not as good (less fish). And yes, I have to say that most of the fish I saw I had seen at the shore reef at Sunscape and/or at the far out reef at Sunscape. But, non-the less the snorkeling was great fun.
We then got back on board and headed to our second destination - the Island of Catalina. BOY.... this place is beautiful. Even Tad who has seen more of the tropics than i have and other people who had done extensive travel could not get over the sheer raw beauty of this place. From the sand (yes even the sand was something to be hold) to the clearness blueness/turquoise color of the water, everything was stunning. Their was a huge coral cliff at one end which looked great cutting into the water. The blue color of the water against the orange/tan of the cliff was stunning. We swam for a while, did a small hike and enjoyed the island from the boat. The vendors were not too pushy - one even gave each girl a pretty shell necklace. (Notes: There are a few vendors here selling their stuff and the beach chairs cost like $2.00. They have fairly clean bathrooms)
Our journey back involved hugging the coast to see the sights of Casa de Campo and the gated community. Boy, are those mansions impressive and to be located on the water - how nice that must be. We went into the marina there and hugged the coast some more to see the homes of the rich and famous. This was a great side trip and well worth it. It is believed that Michael Jackson, Sammy Sousa, Cheereka, Julio Iglesias, and other famous people have vacation homes here.
| Fun Buggy | Eileen ~ Pittsburgh |
My group of 6 made reservations via the fun buggy website/email in advance. We were picked up promptly and taken to the Fun Buggy Location where we paid for our trip ($84 per person). This is an all day trip. We left our hotel around 7:10 and didn't return until around 6:00.
This is a great tour and our group really enjoyed it. We've previously done Outback Jeep Safari and Bavaro Runners, but I think we liked this better. It really adds something when you get to drive yourself.
Wear old clothes as you probably will get dirty (depending on your driver and the amount of puddles you encounter). The buggies are all stick shifts and fit 4 to a car. You can take turns driving. Drinks are provided as well as lunch. I think there were five buggies of tourists, plus the guide in the front and the mechanic in the back for a total 7. There was a videographer who taped the whole tour and it was for sale at the end for $35.
We got to drive through the "city" and around lots of back roads as well as some of the main streets. It seems we even drove through the city dump? (see my pics). There was also a road that had a huge ditch like maybe they were running a water line or something. What an adventure!
First stop was a visit to a local general store and typical home. They did a cock fighting demonstration as well.
We visited a cave and got to do some exploring. Wear good shoes!
The next stop was Rancho Jonathan for lunch and then a short horseback ride on "automatic" horses. LOL (meaning they pretty much know where to go without any help from you).
Then back on the road again to the local school: Escuela Rur Cana a Honda. We got to go inside the classroom and hear about the typical school and see the children. You can leave donations with the teacher of cash, toys, notebooks, etc.
You will pass lots of kids on the roads. Some will ask for money or just wait for candy or toys. The tour guide suggests you pull over if you want to give something to the children. Do not throw things at them as this is a dangerous practice. I've read that some people think it is a bad idea to give candy and money because it teaches begging to the kids and many don't even have toothbrushes. It is up to you what you want to do. We brought some school supplies for the kids and left it with the Beyond the Beach Foundation. I do wish we would have kept some to give to the kids along the road and at the school.
The next stop was a beautiful public beach. You will see that almost all the tours come to this beach. You are given time to swim and relax. There are some vendors - mostly jewelry - on the beach. There were also children selling fresh coconuts that they open up for you to drink for $1.
The final stop was at the Vivaldi Cigar Shop & Museum. You will learn all about cigars and get a sample if you like. They are also available for purchase.
From the cigar shop it is a quick trip back to Fun Buggy Headquarters. Here we end the day with a cuba libre (or two). It's a great way to end the tour before getting transferred back to the hotel.
Pics here: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/562477277RFPpME?vhost=outdoors
| Fun Buggy | Kimberly and Rich ~ Dallas, Tx, USA |
Fun Buggy is without a doubt the absolute best excursion!!! The fun buggy website has a video of all the places you go and it is fabulous. We are part of a group of 10 people who travel together every year. We made reservations for everyone directly through fun buggy on their website - they arranged for all of us to be picked up and dropped off back at our hotel and there were no problems whatsoever. We were all picked up at 7:15 am and didn't return until after 6:00pm that night - This is an all day event and it is worth every penny! When you send e-mails through their website you are dealing with the people who run the show. They are very professional and helpful and speak several languages - English, Spanish, German - which, as you'll see, comes in handy with all the different people you encounter.
Once we made it to the fun buggy location and got our quick lesson on driving the buggies (yes they are all stick shifts) we all picked out our cars. They place 4 people to a buggy - or if you're lucky like we were and it's the off season - you may be able to pay extra and have 2 to a car but that's not a guarantee. I would inquire online way before your trip. Once we were all set, off we went traveling all kinds of roads through DR. We must have been truly a sight to see - the leader guiding all 7 buggies plus the video guy in another buggy and yes the mechanic in another buggy bringing up the rear just in case and to be sure no one gets lost. (You will see what I mean when you get to DR.) We drove all over the place!! We toured a local "general store" and the home where the owners lived, learned about cock-fighting, hiked through a cave, and ate a fabulous lunch (better food than our hotel). Lunch was at a horse ranch where we then went horseback riding (which was not for the faint at heart). We drove on and got to swim at the beach - and finished the day touring a cigar factory/shop. You could actually go shopping at the general store and cigar shop and there were venders on the beach selling jewelry, etc.
The Fun Buggy people really took care of you the whole day - providing lots to drink at every stop - not so much alcohol though, after all you are actually driving those buggies almost like you are playing Pole Position only against all the pot holes, mud pits and other vehicles. And if you get stuck in traffic like at the Texaco in Punta Cana don't worry the mechanic will come from behind and start making a hole for you to drive through to keep up with the group!
You will want to take plenty of film, sunscreen, a towel and money if you like to shop. Bring a beach bag to hold it all. I never really saw much opportunity to give change or trinkets to the kids because we were driving. Maybe you could toss it lightly at their feet. Those kids were certainly everywhere waving and saying "Adios!! Adios!!" as you drove by.
The whole day was truly an experience and one that all 10 of us will continue to talk about for a long time to come!! I really can'y possibly say enough wonderful things about the Fun Buggy Excursion. You learn a lot about DR and practically live it for a day driving to all the places we visited. To all the guys at Fun Buggy who worked so hard - we take our hats off to you and once again say thank you for an incredible experience!!
| Catamaran from Coco Tours - North Coast | Kathy & Brad |
A full day of fun. The crew were fun, easy-going and dedicated to safety. Water fights with our sister catamaran, bellyflop competitions off of the boat for a 26-oz of Brugal rum, dancing, music, buffet lunch and an all-around great day. Snorkeling in two sites in Sosua Bay and feeding fish by hand - bread and bananas. Saw some fish you'd see in Finding Nemo movie and small sharks in depths below (not aggressive), small jellyfish, snails, crabs, shells, etc. Water was clear, warm and deep turquoise colour. Plenty of Cubre Libres and Presidente beer, but the full day of hot sun made us a bit queasy later that night. First time we were both ill. No wonder!
All buses were modern and air conditioned. We were generally picked up between 7:30 and 8 am and brought a bottle of water each, even though beverages are provided on the safari and Catamaran. It's a good idea to bring water with you everywhere, just in case it takes awhile to get to the destination. We were usually the first to be on the bus then went to other resorts along the way picking up others who had booked the same excursion. Our buses were always full, but not cramped.
| Catamaran from Coco Tours - North Coast | Stacey |
Catamaran - A full day of fun. The crew were fun, easy-going and dedicated to safety. Water fights with our sister catamaran, bellyflop competitions off of the boat for a 26-oz of Brugal rum, dancing, music, buffet lunch and an all-around great day. Snorkeling in two sites in Sosua Bay and feeding fish by hand - bread and bananas. Saw some fish you'd see in Finding Nemo movie and small sharks in depths below (not aggressive), small jellyfish, snails, crabs, shells, etc. Water was clear, warm and deep turquoise colour. Plenty of Cubre Libres and Presidente beer, but the full day of hot sun made us a bit queasy later that night. First time we were both ill. No wonder!
| Marinarium - Punta Cana | Carolyn |
We went on the Maranarium excursion and we had an amazing time! I would definitely recommend it. Even if you are petrified like I was. It took my husband 2 days to talk me into booking it. Swimming with sharks and sting rays just really isn’t my idea of excitement. But he caught me in a weak moment and I agreed. It was soo much fun. We met in the lobby at 12:45 and hopped on a bus for about a 35 min bus ride. They take you to a beach where you board a huge catamaran with about 40-50 other people. The boat ride is about 40 mins or so but the entertainment staff is fantastic and they get everyone involved. Even staying on the boat all day would have been fun! They give you rules and tips to follow and then off you go into the water and over to a large pen where the sharks and rays are kept. At first the sharks are very intimidating. You don’t really expect them to look like real sharks (like out of the movies) but they do, and they are about 10-12 feet long. The rays are also pretty big and one was about 4 feet wide. We stayed in the pen for about 40 mins. We brought an underwater camera and got some great snap shots. Back on the boat for some lunch/drinks/and dancing. Then they take you to a natural swimming pool. Basically a spot out in the ocean that’s very shallow. Overall and amazing time. Would certainly recommend trying it. Who can say that they went swimming with sharks and sting rays??
| Marinarium - Punta Cana | Angela |
The first was Marinarium. You go by bus to another stop, where you get on a catamaran and go out to sea, in the middle of the ocean is a caged off area where you can snorkel with nurse sharks and manta rays which was simply amazing. We had alot of fun on this catamaran, music, coco loco's and then off to a natural pool where the water is spectacular and there's a floating bar! Awesome.
| Marinarium - Punta Cana | Fran ~ Waterloo, Ontario |
My husband and I have been to the Dominican a couple times before this trip, but we met up with friends who'd never been. We decided to do a half-day excursion and settled on the Marinarium trip. To make a long story short, we weren't impressed. The half-day included snorkelling in the ocean, a stop at the natural swimming pool, the opportunity to swim with nurse sharks and stingrays, a snack and drinks on board the catamaran. The ocean was very rough that day and we were advised to snorkel without fins (not sure why, but what a mistake!). I spent the next 30 minutes struggling against the rough waves and currents, saw about 6 fish because the snorkel kept being filled with water and we were never told that the sharks/stingrays were on the opposite side of the boat we'd jump off of...so...lots of $$ (83 each) and no real event except for the boat ride and beverages. I do have one heck of a "snorkelling gone wrong" story for my friends and family though, so I guess it wasn't a complete write-off...The scenery on that trip was gorgeous, but as far as delivering what they promised I'd have to say I won't recommend this trip. I much preferred the Soana Island day and Bavaro Runners Safari Adventure day that we'd done in the past.
| Saona Island | Vera |
Saona Island is breathtakingly beautiful, with its white beaches and turquoise water, but the tour is slow-paced. We spent a long time looking at very few star fish and drinking lots of rum. After, we had 3 ½ hours time to relax on the beach, and after lunch there is little to do but drink. The many vendors of necklaces, coconuts, sun tan oil, and massages are extremely pesky at first, but they lose steam in time and grant you some peace. We very much enjoyed the ride home on a huge sail boat, and again – all drinks are included!
| Saona Island | Toronto |
DO NOT DO IT! What a waste of a day and money. The bus picks you up from the hotel at 6:30 AM for a 1.5 hour ride to the dock after passing through the city of Hiquey. Once you're on the dock, a "speed boat"
takes you to catamaran for another 1.5 hour ride to beach where you will remain for the next 4 hours. Around 2 pm or so, they load you back on the speed boat to take you to sand bar in the middle of the Caribbean ocean where you are able to do some swimming. We found this to be the coolest part of the trip because we were able to stand in waist high water in the middle of the ocean. After about an hour in the water, you're loaded back up and taken back to the dock for the 2.5 hour bus trip back to your hotel. The reason why it's now a 2.5 hour trip back is because they take you to a gift shop in the middle of nowhere and encourage you to buy items that are over priced. We felt this was completely a waste of time as everyone wanted to go back to the hotel.
