Explore the natural treasures of the Dominican Republic on this private tour of the idyllic southwestern part of the island. Think nature reserves, deserted beaches and some of the biggest sand dunes in the entire Caribbean. Throw in some tasty local street food and a traditional lunch in our favourite seafood restaurant and you have a recipe for an unforgettable day trip! Just make sure your camera/phone is fully charged to capture some breathtaking holiday snaps!
Our adventure starts from Santo Domingo. We’ll head out in a private, air-conditioned vehicle and make our way to the barely explored southwest of the island. Here nature and culture remain almost untouched by tourism and modern life.
Our first stop will be at a local parador, a sort of luxury residence where you will learn about Dominican cuisine. You will also have an opportunity to try local dishes such as pastel en hojas, made with plantain and roots, stuffed with mouth-watering stewed beef and covered with plantain leaves.
If your visit happens to coincide with the mango season, we will visit Bani, known by locals as mango land! Here we will stop to taste some of the sweetest and most delicious varieties of the fruit that you’re likely to taste anywhere.
At our next stop you will try some really special native treats made from locally grown corn. The recipe goes back hundreds of years and the sweet and salty varieties remain popular with locals. As we eat our snacks, you will be served a refreshingly cold coconut water (in the coconut of course!) and your guide will talk to you about the types of handicrafts that are indigenous to the island.
With our bellies happy, we will arrive at the Dunes National Park, where we’ll channel our inner explorer and go and study the biggest dune. If you are feeling adventurous, you can climb to the top where you will be rewarded with dazzling views of the Caribbean and the secluded, cobbled beach below.
From here we’ll take you to Salinas Beach — with its powdery sand and palm trees, this is that tropical beach you dream about during the long, cold winters back home! We will spend some time here, soaking up the beach vibes and maybe going for a swim, all the while admiring the beauty of this secluded bay.
After some relaxation time on the beach, we’ll make our way to the nearby salt works, where you will learn how organic sea salt is traditionally made, right here on the island. Get your camera ready because this place is impossibly picturesque and will be an envy-inducing addition to your social media feeds!
Finally, we will enjoy a fabulous dinner together at a local family restaurant where you can enjoy delicious Dominican seafood (most likely caught that day) with an ice-cold beer in hand.
Your guide will then take you back to your accommodation. Before you go, don’t forget to ask for more tips on what else to see, do and eat during your stay in the stunning Dominican Republic.
Note that the food samples may vary from tour to tour depending on what is available that day
Dress standard: Please wear closed-toe shoes to walk at the dunes, hat or cap, sunglasses, bathing suit, towel and change of dry clothes.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at your hotel for pick up. Please check your hotel details are correct on the voucher. If your details are not correct, it is very important to please email us to confirm your correct pick up hotel using the contact details on the voucher. If you prefer you may also phone the change through to us during business hours. If you make your last minutes booking, you should call to our local hotline number to check the availability
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
Dietary Notes: We can accommodate vegetarians and other dietary restrictions. Please notify us in advance if you have any dietary requests. You can do so in the ‘Additional information’ box at checkout, or by emailing us at info@dominicananadventures.tours
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Excellent tour with historical background of Santo Domingo This was an excellent walking tour that was organized properly. They set up these different stops so that you can... read moreThis was an excellent walking tour that was organized properly. They set up these different stops so that you can escape the heat by visiting different stores. If you are not used to hot weather, I suggest that you wear a hat. We made a stop to buy bottled water, but for me, I brought some water with me from the start. The traditional fruit market was the highlight for me. This tour was professionally done. We started on time at 9 am, and we ended way after 1 pm. Rainer took us to different places of Santo Domingo: a small pastry shop/cafe with Arabic influence on its architecture (I think the foods were influenced by Arabs as well), a fruit market (traditional market) where you can try different fruits (nispero was awesome), another Dominican pastry shop, and a bakery in Chinatown. We also went to souvenir shops. No one pressure us to buy anything (of course, shopkeepers will try to get your attention to come visit them). At the painting stores, Rainer explained the difference style of Dominican painting versus Haitian painting. As we walk from one place to another, he explained to us the history and the culture of Dominican Republic. If you are interested in these topics (history and culture), you must take this tour. More read less
It was just great! We had a super great day in Santo Domingo. We learned so much about the culture and customs in the... read moreWe had a super great day in Santo Domingo. We learned so much about the culture and customs in the Dominican Republic. Time flew by as we walked through the city. The food samples were also delicious! From first sight, we had a cordial relationship with our guide. He was just amazing! Thank you so much for this awesome tour! read less
Fantastic tour with Jose! We spent a wonderful day with Jose who arranged a tour for us during our trip to the Dominican Republic.... read moreWe spent a wonderful day with Jose who arranged a tour for us during our trip to the Dominican Republic. We went horseback riding and hiked to a beautiful waterfall, then had a lovely home-cooked lunch in a local woman's home. Jose was extremely knowledgeable, his energy is infectious! Our two boys, ages 11 and 14, will never forget it! read less
Walking/cave tour and shopping tour We did the walking/cave tour with Jose and Luis, and then the shopping tour with Jose a couple days later,... read moreWe did the walking/cave tour with Jose and Luis, and then the shopping tour with Jose a couple days later, and we had a great time. Got to see a lot of places that you'd just pass by if you weren't in the know. read less
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