Dominican Republic!

Trip Highlights

• 8 Days/7 Nights in the Dominican Republic!
• Stays in the Nation's Capital, Historic Colonial Zone and Sport Beach Town of Cabarete on North Coast!
• Welcome Dinner in the Zona Colonial
• White Water Rafting in Jarabacoa!
• Yasica River Exploration & Remote Beach Bonfire Dinner!
• Horseback Riding & Tubing!
• Canyoning in the Septentrional Mountain Range!
• Coastal Exploration in Rio San Juan with Scuba Diving and Snorkeling!
• Optional Activities Day with Surfing Lessons & Deep Sea Fishing!
• Giant Catamaran Sail with Snorkeling!
• Farewell Dinner on Cabarete Beach!
• Round-trip Group Airport Transfers!

Trip Descriptive Itinerary

Day 1: August 13, 2005, Saturday

• Arrival to Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ).
• Group transfer to Zona Colonial, Santo Domingo.
• Accommodations at Mercure Comercial, 3-star.
• Orientation Session.
• Arrival Dinner at Coco's Cafe..
  

Day 2: August 14, 2005, Sunday

• Breakfast in the hotel.
• Transfer to Jarabacoa Rancho Baiguate
• Breakfast buffet at the ranch.
• White Water Rafting
  A beautiful adventure in breathtaking surroundings. The Yaque del Norte river is the longest in the DR, and offers fantastic rapids, demanding technical stretches, a narrow canyon, and adrenalizing drops. Rapids are soft and gentle in the beginning allowing enough time to learn skills and commands. The second part offers rafting at its best with awesome drops, like Mike Tyson and the Mother-in-law. Includes round-trip transportation, boat, equipment, guides, instruction, light breakfast, and lunch. Rating: Class III. Swimmers only.
• Lunch Buffet at ranch.
• Transfer to Cabarete.
• Yasica River Exploration & Remote Beach Bonfire Dinner
  A short distance from the Laguna Cabarete & Goleta park office, on the banks of the Islabon River, Wilson Zapeta has a small ranch of wildlife in temporary captivity. Here we have the opportunity to see some of the Dominican Republic's more elusive wilderness creatures, such as the Carey Turtle, Boa Serpent, Tarantula, Rhinoceros Iguana, North American Crocodile, Turkey Vulture, Sparrow Hawk, and Mongoose. From there you board a boat for a leisurely float down the Wilson River to its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean. Your dinner this evening is served on the beach, amongst the sand dunes and a roaring bonfire.
• Accommodations in Windsurf Resort, Cabarete

Day 3: August 15, 2005, Monday

• Horseback Riding and River Tubing
  Enjoy your day in the foothills of the northern most mountain range in the Dominican Republic while on horseback, along with tubing in the Yásica River. This ride starts way out in the back county, and includes refreshments, a light meal, guides, and round-trip transportation. Rating: All riding levels. Swimmers only.
• Dinner at El Magnifico.
• Accommodations in Windsurf Resort, Cabarete

Day 4: August 16, 2005, Tuesday

• Canyoning in the Septentrional Mountain Range
  Rappel down a 50 meter waterfall to enjoy challenging jumps from as high as 12 meters. Includes professional guides, refreshments and fruit, equipment, a day of guaranteed adventure, and round-trip transportation. Rating: Intermediate-Advance hikers looking for an intense experience. Swimmers only.
• Late Lunch/Early Dinner at El Tigre.
• Accommodations in Cabarete.

Day 5: August 17, 2005, Wednesday

• Coastal Exploration in Rio San Juan
  Heading east from Cabarete along the North Coast road, we venture to the lazy-paced town of Rio San Juan. This small fishing village and quiet tourist town is best known for its five beaches and the Gri Gri Lagoon with its towering labyrinth of mangrove trees. After a journey through the mangrove lagoon and along the Atlantic Coast, we have the opportunity search out sea-life by snorkeling or scuba diving. We will be on the lookout for Squirrelfish, Arlequin Bass, Fairy Basslet, Groupers, Yellow Snappers, Spotted Drum, Stingrays, and more. The coral formations are quite beautiful as well, and we can expect to see at least six different types growing abundantly. Returning by boat to our bus, we cruise a little farther down the coast to the sprawling and beautiful Playa Grande where our own lunch buffet will be set up for us. Before returning to Cabarete we have plenty of time to play in the waves and collect sea shells. Day's adventure includes round-trip transport, equipment, instruction, guide, snacks, and lunch. Rating: All levels. No prior snorkeling experience necessary. Swimmers only.
• Lunch on Playa Preciosa.
• Dinner at Pomodoro.
• Accommodations in Windsurf Resort, Cabarete.

Day 6: August 18, 2005, Thursday

• Optional Day: Deep Sea Fishing or Surf Lessons.
• Mini Surf includes: 3 hour lesson and full time supervision and board rental, Round-trip transfer from hotel to Encuentro, and Drinking Water. 9 a.m. to 12 m. US$30/guest.
• Deep Sea Fishing Join Ramon aboard his professional 45' and 32' fishing cruisers to get where the fish are biting faster. Includes round-trip transportation, sandwiches and refreshments, equipment, and guide. Rating: All levels. Every day. 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. US$75/guest.
• Dinner on own.
• Accommodations in Windsurf Resort, Cabarete

Day 7: August 19, 2005, Friday

• Giant Catamaran Day Sail with Snorkeling
  A day of sailing along the North Coat from Puerto Plata to Sosua and back enjoying the views, Caribbean music, and friends on a giant Catamaran. Includes light morning snack, juice and national beverages, lunch, snorkeling gear for the reefs, and round-trip transportation. Rating: All levels.
• Farewell Dinner at Lax on Cabarete Beach.
• Accommodations in Cabarete.

Day 8: August 20, 2005, Saturday

• Transfer to Las Americas Airport (SDQ), Santo Domingo
  
• Hasta Pronto!

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Accommodations

Mercure Comercial, Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo

Located in the heart of the historic and picturesque Colonial Zone, the Mercure Comercial is only two blocks from the famed "First Cathedral" and surrounded by cafes, shops, ancient ruins, and modern convenience. This building was completely refurbished in 2000 and is the best starting point for a visit of all historical monuments of the old town center. 30 km from the airport. Rooms are clean and comfortable with a/c, cable television, telephone, room safe, and private bathrooms. A full service bar and restaurant on located off the lobby on the Conde pedestrian walkway.

Windsurf Resort, Cabarete

One-bedroom condo units are fully appointed and contain fold-out couch which makes them capable of holding 4 people. Plus, all units have full kitchens, one bathroom, a combined living and dining area, and an outside balcony facing the pool.

In addition to amenities the Windsurf Resort also provides:

Dates

August 13 (Saturday) - August 20(Saturday), 2005

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Participant Evaluation

Ratings from 1 (very poor) to 5 (outstanding). MEAN / MEDIAN / MODE

Pre-Arrival Information & Communication: 3.8 / 3-4 / 4
Accommodations, Cabarete: 3.9 / 3 / 4
Excursions & Activities: 4.8 / 4-5 / 5
Meals: 4.3 / 3 / 5
Organization & Sructure: 4.4 / 3 / 5
Guides: 4.6 / 4.5 / 5
Comfort of Transportation: 3.9 / 4 / 4

Participant Comments

Accommodations, Santo Domingo

• Good location. Good size rooms.

Accommodations, Cabarete

• Great location. Well stocked kitchen. Good outdoor areas. Bit cramped for 4 people.
• Having lots of space was nice. Loved the pool, a/c, bar & comforable beds.
• Helpful staff.

Excursions & Activities

• Tell people that they can bring a waterproof camera.
• Closed-toe shoes for canyoning.
• Awesome selection.
• Fun. Active. Great for group bonding.
• Second to none.
• Good mix of activities. Well managed by leaders.

Meals

• Beach dinner excellent. Ali's Surf Camp excellent.
• Great diversity of meals.
• Good variety of ambiance and food.

Organization & Structure

• Schedules were good. Guests should be aware that things move slowly in the DR.
• Activity mix was good as was the sequence.

Guides

• Interesting, knowledgable guides.
• Couldn't ask for more helpful and friendly.
• More like friends than guides.
• Very accommodating.
• Richard and Genesis were helpful guides.

Comfort of Transportation

• Clean, A/C !!
• Comforable and well coordinated.

What is the most memorable part of this trip for you?

• Horseback riding x 2.
• Canyoning, horseback riding and dancing on the catamaran.
• Canyoning x 5.
• Group really coming together during canyoning.
• Canyoning because the group was really pushed to its limits.
• The people I met and bonded with.
• The MTREKers.
  

If you could change one thing on this trip, what would it be?

• Accommodations in Cabarete more communal.
• Better advise on what to bring, ie. aqua socks or booties for surfing.
• Having a waterproof camera with us at all times.
• Meals.
• I did not feel that (horseback riding provider) were as focused on safety as they should have been.
• Have breakfast included everyday.
• A little more free time.
• Less travel time to outings.

CONTACT THE MTREK 2005 LEADERS FOR MORE INFORMATION