Self-drive Tour for Beginners / Dominican Republic
SELF-DRIVE TOUR
8 days / 7 nights
Tour Highlights:
Santo Domingo • Jarabacoa • San Francisco de Macoris • Las Galeras • Bayahibe
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Our carefully designed self-drive programs offer expansive itineraries, as well as providing choice and free time. You will have the freedom of the independent traveller, still provided well-planned services and guidance throughout.
We include accommodation, the hire car, and transfers, as well as a wide range of optional programs to choose from.
The itinerary is well-balanced in terms of activities and time at leisure and can be extended with a beach holiday.
We provide land services such as accommodation, transfers, and the hire car, but airfare is not included. However, at your request and based on your choice of UK departure airport, perhaps your preferred airline, we will endeavour to find and add ♦ the best flights for you and therefore create a flight inclusive, ATOL protected package holiday.
♦ Flights will be quoted separately and will be payable combined with the land services. Airfares may have more restrictive payment terms, different from those mentioned in our booking conditions.
PACKAGE INCLUDES: 7 nights’ accommodation on bed & breakfast basis • rental car • transfer from the airport on arrival
DAY 1 - DEPARTURE
Arrive at the airport of Punta Cana and transfer to the old town of Santo Domingo.
DAY 2 - DAY AT LEISURE
Enjoy the day at leisure.
Optional Excursion: Santo Domingo City Tour
You will get to know the firs city buily by Europeans in the Americas. Here the first cathedral in the New World was built, the first governor resided, the first bishop was consecrated, and the first hospital opened. The lively city of over a million inhabitants has a number of cultural, especially architectural, sights to offer that you won't find anywhere else on the island of Hispaniola. You will start the day in the historic old town, the so-called Zona Colonial, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the city tour you will see the Palace of Diego Columbus, the historical museum Casas Reales, the Cathedral, and the Parque Colon with the bronze monument of Christopher Columbus. You will stroll through Calle de las Damas, the first street paved in Santo Domingo for the ladies of the Spanish nobility to stroll, and the pedestrian zone El Conde with its many stores and street vendors, as well as bars and restaurants.
DAY 3 - SANTO DOMINGO / LA VEGA / JARABACOA
Today, a representative will visit you at your hotel at 10:00 am and give you a short briefing. Thereby, you will receive valuable tips for your round trip. Afterwards, you will be driven to the rental car station. After picking up your rental car you will head north. You will start the ascent into the mountains of the Cordillera Central, also called the Dominican Alps, where many locals spend their summer vacations. The small town of Jarabacoa is located here at 600 meters above sea level and is surrounded by pine forests, rivers, mountains and valleys. Spring-like temperatures prevail here all year round. The climatic health resort is the center for hiking enthusiasts and nature lovers.
DAY 4 - JARABACOA / SAN FRANCISCO DE MACORIS / LAS GALERAS
Before leaving Jarabacoa you can visit the coffee factory "Monte Alto", where everything about the cultivation and processing of coffee will be explained to you. Also, a walk through the nature to the "Salto Baiguate" is recommended. Afterwards, the route goes in the direction of San Francisco de Macorís. On the way you should visit the "Sendero de Cacao". Here you will have the unique opportunity to learn everything from the cocoa bean to chocolate processing at the cacao plantation "Hacienda La Esmeralda", which supplies world-renowned chocolate factories.Today's destination is the Peninsula Samana. The 63 km long and between 10 and 20 km wide peninsula is characterized by a paradisiacal tropical landscape with secluded beaches in hidden bays, clean mountain rivers and rugged rocky coasts. Your hotel is located on a peak near Las Galeras.
DAY 5 - LAS GALERAS
Unwind on the beautiful and unique sandy beaches of this peninsula. We recommend you to visit the beach Playa Rincón, located west of Las Galeras, by car. Upon arrival, first visit the left side where you will discover the Caño Frio River. Here you can charter a wooden boat and visit the beautiful mangroves together with a local guide. Afterwards, you will take the car again and drive to the right side of the bay. At the very end, you will find a typical restaurant, this is the best place in the bay for swimming - a beach as you usually only know it from a postcard! Las Galeras also has beautiful beaches. From Playa Las Galeras you can take a speedboat excursion to Las Tres Playas, the three beaches. This excursion will allow you to discover the most beautiful beaches of the region. First, you will visit Playa Fronton beach, which can only be reached by sea. The water here is crystal clear. You can see colourful fish and corals while snorkeling. After that, visit Playita, a pretty little beach whose waters are transparent and turquoise (also accessible by car). Afterwards, the boat will take you along the coast to the previously mentioned beach Playa Rincon. From the boat you will experience the bay from a completely different perspective.
DAY 6 - LAS GALERAS / BAYAHIBE
After a long drive full of impressions towards the south, you will reach the village of Bayahibe. Here you will feel the energy of the Dominican Republic. Since this drive is very long, we recommend you to visit La Cueva de las Maravillas on the way. A cave system with underground river courses and the largest developed dripstone cave in the Dominican Republic. It holds many impressive drawings of the Taino Indians. The labyrinth in the same complex is also worth a visit - here you can put your sense of direction to the test.
DAY 7 - BAYAHIBE
You can't actually leave Bayahibe without visiting Isla Saona. The island has arguably one of the most beautiful, white Caribbean beaches surrounded by turquoise, clear water. There are countless catamarans and speedboats offering the excursion daily.
DAY 8 - RETURN TO THE UK
Enjoy the morning in Bayahibe, then drive to the airport according to your flight details OR extended your stay with a beach holiday.
We aim to provide accommodation as per the below list, however for operational reasons and based on circumstances we reserve the right to offer alternative accommodation within the same category (or higher) and with similar facilities.
• Santo Domingo (2 nights)
Hotel Villa Colonia
• Jarabacoa (1 night)
Hotel Gran Jimenoa
• Las Galeras (2 nights)
Casa El Paraiso
• Bayahibe (2 nights)
Bayahibe Guesthouse
Current temperature: 26 Co
Current weather: Clouds
We recommend to start the tour on a Saturday to guarantee all visits as per the itinerary.
• 7 nights' hotel accommodation on bed & breakfast basis
• Rental car with unlimited mileage and roadside assistance
• Transfer from the airport on arrival
• Welcome meeting and travel documentation with useful tips and information as well as road map
Car Hire Details:
• Europcar - Typ „CFAR“ (Suzuki Vitara or similar)
• CDWI (Collision Damage Waiver) Comprehensive insurance with exclusion of the deductible of USD 472
• TW (Theft Waiver) Insurance against theft excluding the deductible of USD 472
• CDWS (Super Collision Damage Waiver)
• This insurance reduces CDWI's deductible to zero
• TPC (Third Party Cover) Insurance against damage to third parties (things, buildings and animals) with cover up to USD 12,000
• Taxes and Fees
Not included:
• Return flights from/to the UK ♦
• Excursions, sightseeing and entrance fees
♦ Flights from/to the UK are not included in the prices shown; however, we are happy to book flights for you as per your preferred departure airport and the most suitable schedule (subject to operating carriers) and therefore, create a flight-inclusive, ATOL protected package. When completing your enquiry please make sure to indicate your flight request and preferences (such as any preferred carriers) in the “Comment” box.
