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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Los Haitises private tour was phenomenal! Highly recommend it. Hi! We just came back from the DR and were under time-constraints but we wanted to see as much as... read moreHi! We just came back from the DR and were under time-constraints but we wanted to see as much as we could. We called Jose at Rincones and he was super helpful -- suggested trips to take based on what we wanted to see and also, tailored our trip to Los Haitises to our needs (we had to be back at our hotel by a certain time). With the Los Haitises tour one gets to see: caves, a remote beach, a small town where we stop to have breakfast and another where we stop to have lunch. I highly recommend Rincones and dealing with Jose! read less
Great tour My husband and I are world travelers, and although we were mainly in the DR for a beachfront vacay, we... read moreMy husband and I are world travelers, and although we were mainly in the DR for a beachfront vacay, we wanted to learn something about the country. On this tour, we learned about (and sampled) the food and drink, the culture, the people, and the history of the DR. Highlights included spontaneously being included in the filming of a TV trailer, seeing a music video being filmed, and learning about the complex racial and colonial history of the country. Our guide, Rainer, was very cheerful and informed. As a point to improve, I only understood about 90% of what he said due to accent, and when I asked for clarification, my husband missed it, as he didn’t hear my questions. Rainer also helped me find treats I could enjoy despite my very special dietary needs. Skip breakfast beforehand! read less
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