Your Travel Experience with Dom Rep Tours
Day 1
Santo Domingo
After the arrival transfer, the rest of the day is free for you to get to know the oldest city in the “New World”. This lively city of millions has a range of cultural and architectural sights to offer that you won't find anywhere else on Hispaniola.
Included meals today: None
Day 1 - 2
Overnight Villa Colonial (Std) / Nicolas de Ovando (Dlx)
Villa Colonial****(*) Standard The small Art Deco hotel is inconspicuously located in a side street of the well-known colonial zone of Santo Domingo where you have a variety of good restaurants and shopping opportunities. The house, dating back to 1920, has been uniquely and colourfully designed with original tiled floors, a tropical green courtyard and a small pool area for refreshment. The 11 elegant and quiet rooms have air conditioning, fridge, fan and Wi-Fi. The delicious continental breakfast with the best local products is served on a small terrace right next to the pool. A welcoming ambience and warm service await you. You will come in and feel at home in this pretty oasis.
Nicolas de Ovando****/ Colonial Imperial Built in the 16th century, the building has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The main building of the hotel was the residence of the first governor of America. The hotel is located in the centre of Santo Domingo's old town on the first street in America, Calle las Damas. All the sights and the city's most elegant restaurants are just a few minutes' walk away.The renovated hotel exudes a very special ambience and represents an enchanting combination of historical elegance and modern style. In an elegant, colonial atmosphere, you can savour the finest French cuisine with Mediterranean and local influences in the elegant restaurant “'La Residence”'. There is also a beautiful pool with a bar in the inner courtyard.
Day 2
World Heritage Site Old Town and Origin of the New World
After breakfast, your tour guide will pick you up at the hotel reception at 10:00 am. Today you will get to know the first city built by Europeans in America. This is where the first cathedral in the New World was built, the first governor resided, the first bishop was consecrated and the first hospital was opened. This bustling city of millions has a number of cultural and architectural sights to offer that you won't find anywhere else on the island of Hispaniola. You will spend the day in the historic old town, the so-called Zona Colonial, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour includes palaces, forts, museums, churches and squares. You will walk through the Calle de las Damas, the first street to be paved in Santo Domingo for the ladies of the Spanish nobility to stroll along, as well as the pedestrian zone El Conde with its many stores and street vendors, bars and restaurants.
After the city walk, we will serve you one of the most typical Dominican dishes for lunch. The stew known as sancocho is a flagship of Dominican gastronomy. In addition to various types of meat, the dish combines a variety of local Caribbean ingredients such as yam, musk pumpkin, manioc and plantain, which give the stew its characteristic flavor - a dish as rich as Dominican culture. Rice and avocado are served as a side dish. After the meal, you will be accompanied back to the hotel. Use the afternoon to relax or to stroll through the city. In the evening, you will be collected from the hotel at 6.00 pm to enjoy a very special open-air concert. Every weekend, the group Bonyé plays in the magical setting of the ruins of San Francisco. The group of around 20 singers and various instruments play merengue, son and jazz. The concerts are attended by Dominicans of all ages, who celebrate exuberantly, listen to the music and dance happily. European guests in particular are always impressed by the joy of the locals and get carried away by the atmosphere.
Included meals today: Breakfast
Day 3
Santiago de los Caballeros
Today's journey takes you to Santiago. Once there, you will visit Los Pepines, one of the most emblematic neighbourhoods in the historic centre of the city. In 2016, the local government decided to paint the most dilapidated areas and beautify the area in order to revitalise the local economy. Just two years later, Los Pepines became a tourist attraction in Santiago thanks to its colourful and expressive murals. During a walk, you will unravel the stories behind each painting: Who are the people depicted in the murals? What meaning do the colours have? How do they relate to the local culture? You will find out! Street food is of course a must on this walk. During the tour, you will make several stops to try the typical empanadas, dumplings filled with vegetables or meat, and fresh fruit juices - simply delicious! The tour then continues to Punta Rucia. The small fishing village is located on a breathtaking bay at the tip of a small headland, where the water shimmers in the most beautiful shades of blue and turquoise in the sunshine.
Meals included: Breakfast & snack
Punta Rucia
We then continue on to Punta Rucia. The small fishing village is located on a breathtaking bay at the tip of a small headland, where the water shimmers in the most beautiful shades of blue and turquoise in the sunshine.
Day 3 - 4
Overnight stay in Punta Rucia Lodge**** Standard & Deluxe
**Superior Garden View (Standard)** **Deluxe Ocean Front (Deluxe)**
The lodge is located directly on the beautiful beach and offers its guests a special kind of accommodation, away from mass tourism and surrounded by nature. Here you can unwind on the unspoilt white sandy beach with a view of the crystal-clear water. The nearest airport is Puerto Plata. Far away from the large resorts is the authentic little fishing village of Punta Rucia in the north-west of the island. The boutique hotel has 19 palm-covered bungalows in various categories, which are furnished in a charming, typical Caribbean style. The complex includes a beautiful infinity pool with a view of the beach and a jetty. The restaurant is well-known and very good, with excellent food and attentive service.
Day 4
The island of paradise
Today you will go on an excursion to the sandbank Cayo Arena, also known as Paradise Island. It is a jewel of the Dominican Republic and a highlight during your stay in Punta Rucia. After breakfast, you can take a boat directly from the beach to Cayo Arena in around 25 minutes. Here you can enjoy the tranquillity in paradisiacal surroundings, take a refreshing dip or watch shoals of tropical fish in the shallow turquoise waters. After a few hours, you return to the hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 5
Puerto Plata
After breakfast, you will travel to Puerto Plata, known for its pretty Victorian-style wooden houses, which are located around the central park and the 800 metre-high Isabel de Torres mountain. On a guided tour through the historic city centre, you will explore the history and culture of the city. You will visit the Amber Museum and the Fortaleza San Felipe fortifications, one of the oldest surviving fortresses from the colonial era. The large, imposing complex was built in 1577 to make attacks from the water more difficult. You can also take the cable car up to the 800 metre high Isabel de Torres mountain and enjoy the spectacular view over the port city and the coast. At the summit is a huge statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the province's landmarks, as well as a beautiful botanical garden. Before continuing, visit the Macorix House Of Rum, the visitor centre of the local rum brand Macorix. During the tour, you will learn all about the history of the rum factory and the production process. A rum tasting at the end of the tour is of course a must! Meals included: Breakfast
Cabarete
You then continue to Cabarete. This small town is popular with surfers and has made a name for itself worldwide as a Caribbean water sports centre.
Day 5 - 6
Overnight stay in Villa Taina (Standard) / Natura Cabana (Deluxe)
Villa Taina****(*) / Superior The 61-room Hotel Villa Taina is a family-run hotel located directly on the beach in the centre of Cabarete on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Small, dreamy sports hotel in Mediterranean style under German management. The right choice for active holidaymakers who prefer a personal atmosphere and enjoy water sports. It is very centrally located yet quiet. Guests benefit from the great location for water sports activities such as windsurfing or kitesurfing, long walks on the beach or nightlife. The perfect place for those who don't want to spend their holidays in an all-inclusive resort. The hotel has beautiful gardens, a lovely pool, Serenade beach restaurant, beach bar and its own windsurfing and kitesurfing school (at an extra charge).
Natura Cabana***** / One Bedrrom Bungalow The boutique hotel Natura Cabana is located - wonderfully quiet and secluded - nestled in beautiful nature on a private sandy beach between Cabarete and Sosua in the Perla Marina complex. Cabarete can be reached in just 10 minutes by car. Nature is the essence of the idyllic hotel concept; everything in the surroundings revolves around it. The ecological structures, the sound of the sea and the yoga or spa treatments on offer contribute to a relaxing stay. The large, individually furnished bungalows of the eco-lodge are decorated with great attention to detail according to Feng Shui and are separated from the private beach by the two restaurants.
Day 6
San Francisco de Macorís
Today the tour heads towards San Francisco de Macorís. You will visit the Sendero de Cacao. Here you have the unique opportunity to experience everything from the cultivation of the cocoa bean to chocolate processing at the Hacienda La Esmeralda cocoa plantation, which supplies world-famous chocolate factories. Of course, a cocoa and chocolate tasting is also part of the programme. Lunch is provided during the tour. Afterwards, you will continue to Tamboril and visit a cigar factory, where everything about tobacco processing and cigar manufacturing will be explained to you.
Meals included: Breakfast & lunch
Day 7
Jarabacoa
The journey today takes you back south along the mountain flanks of the Central Cordillera. Here you make a detour into the Dominican Alps. Many locals spend their summer holidays here due to the pleasant temperatures. Jarabacoa lies 600 metres above sea level and is surrounded by pine forests, mountains and the valleys of the Rio Yaque del Norte and Rio Jimenoa rivers. Spring-like temperatures prevail here all year round. The climatic health resort is the centre for hiking enthusiasts and nature lovers. You will tour the charming town of Jarabacoa and visit the Monte Alto coffee factory, where the cultivation and processing of coffee will be explained to you. Afterwards, a typical lunch awaits you in the cosy Café Colao restaurant in the centre of the village.
Then continue to La Vega, where a visit to the Museo del Carnaval Vegano is on the programme if the day falls between Wednesday and Sunday. The colourful museum provides fascinating insights into one of the Dominican Republic's most important carnival traditions. Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight Villa Colonial (Std) / Nicolas de Ovando (Dlx)
Villa Colonial***/ Standard Nicolas de Ovando**** / Colonial Imperial
Day 8
Punta Cana
Today we head south-east. On the way, you will visit the interesting Cueva de las Maravillas cave system with underground rivers and stalactite caves. It is the largest accessible stalactite cave in the Dominican Republic and contains many impressive drawings by the Taíno Indians. Afterwards, you will visit the replica of a 16th century Mediterranean village on the banks of the Chavón River. The village of Altos de Chavón was reconstructed true to the original plans of an Andalusian settlement with Roman-style elements made of coral limestone. There is a church, an amphitheatre and an archaeological museum of the Taíno culture with various exhibitions. Artisans, painters and sculptors still live and work here today. Afterwards transfer to the airport. If you would like to enjoy your time on the island a little longer to savour the impressions of your trip, book a beach extension. Relax on the beach in Bayahibe or Punta Cana, your transfer is included with us as long as the beach extension is also booked with us. Your return flight from Santo Domingo is also included. Meals included: Breakfast