There is so much more to the Dominican Republic than sun and beaches. Learn about the island’s fascinating culture and heritage through its most popular exports on a unique and lively shopping tour of Higuey. Visit hidden factories, workshops, markets and shops with a local guide who will help you to buy the best souvenirs ever! Along the way we’ll stop to admire some of the city’s most impressive architecture, learn more about the lifestyle of a typical Dominican and enjoy a traditional lunch at the home of a local family. Did we mention that we’ve negotiated factory prices for you? This is definitely the best way to shop for original handicrafts and souvenirs in Higuey and get a proper introduction to the island, too!
After a short ride in a comfortable, private vehicle from Punta Cana to Higuey, your tour will begin with an introduction to the history and culture of the island, outside the impressive Basilica de Higuey Cathedral. The cathedral is home to the La Altagracia Virgin, and we’ll stop to admire the modern architecture and hear the old colonial legend about how the celebrated painting of the Virgin first appeared. There will also be an opportunity to look at and purchase religious-themed art and gifts before we move on to take a look around San Dionicio’s Sanctuary.
After a short stroll to get to know the neighbourhood, we’ll arrive at a traditional saddlery to see how the famous Higueyan horse saddle is made. You’ll watch local artisans painstakingly stitching the leather together as you find out what makes these particular saddles so special.
Then we’ll lead you to a handmade cigar factory, where you will see how Dominican cigars are produced and find out why they are considered some of the best in the world. You can try one if you wish and buy cigars at a special factory price.
Next up, we are going to delight you with a visit to one of our favourite galleries to peruse the colourful artworks on offer. Watch the talented artists at work in the workshop and discover African, Haitian and Aboriginal-inspired works of art. We’ll give you plenty of time to browse and shop for a piece to take home with you.
A further walk through the buzzing streets of the city will take us to a very special artisanal shop that boasts an excellent selection of wooden handicrafts and musical instruments, as well as fine jewellery. Find out more about the Dominican Republic’s precious stones, such as amber and larimar, the latter of which is particularly special as it can only be found here on the island.
Our next stop will be the vibrant fruit and vegetable market, which boasts an extraordinary variety of food and flavours to taste. Your guide will talk to you about the most popular spices used on the island before taking you to visit another market known for its traditional medicines and potions.
Our walk will then take us to the home of a local family home where you will try some traditional Dominican food and get refreshed with an ice cold beer.
After lunch, we’ll make one last stop to pick up dessert at a local bakery famous for their sweet delicacies, including delicious rice and milk treats and coconut and banana bread.
Our shopping tour ends here. Don’t forget to ask your guide for tips on which restaurants to visit and secret local spots to call into. We are also very happy to help you find the best way back to your accommodation.
Dress standard: We recommend that you wear comfortable shoes for walking, and sunscreen and sunglasses are usually advisable. Women must wear pants or skirts below knees to visit the Basilica
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
Note that the food samples may vary from tour to tour depending on what is available that day
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Amazing monteplata waterfall tour My wife and I went on the Monteplata private waterfall tour from Santo Domingo. The entire experience was amazing. The... read moreMy wife and I went on the Monteplata private waterfall tour from Santo Domingo. The entire experience was amazing. The van was very nice as were Jose and Ranier, our guides. We went to three beautiful waterfalls and ate a delicious Dominican lunch at a cool country restaurant with great scenery. Jose took great pictures and sent them to us which was a huge bonus. They were very friendly and knowledgeable about Dominican culture and scenery. I definitely recommend Jose and would book again for a different tour next time. read less
BRILLIANT experience with SD Urban Adventures I did two tours this weekend with Santo Domingo Urban Adventures--City of Firsts, and Sights, Sounds, and Tastes--and both were... read moreI did two tours this weekend with Santo Domingo Urban Adventures--City of Firsts, and Sights, Sounds, and Tastes--and both were absolutely brilliant! Miguel (City of Firsts) and Rainer (Sights, Sounds, and Tastes) were fantastic guides. It's the low season for tourism right now in the DR and so for both tours I was on my own, but from the start it was like hanging out with old friends. I am so impressed with the knowledge and enthusiasm of Miguel and Rainer, and with their evident love of their city and passion for sharing it with others. I knew very little of the history and culture here before these tours, but now feel like I have seen Santo Domingo through the eyes of experts. I would highly recommend both tours for anyone who wants to see the real Santo Domingo and have a very memorable experience this fascinating city. More read less
5 STAR TOUR WITH JOSE URIBE!!! Jose's tour of Santo Domingo was amazing- His knowledge and engaging personality made our day exciting and memorable- Our adventure... read moreJose's tour of Santo Domingo was amazing- His knowledge and engaging personality made our day exciting and memorable- Our adventure included the Triekke tour which was not only informative but lots of fun, a 4D movie which was a very cool experience and a fantastic trip to the Three Eyes National Park which was absolutely breathtaking- All in all a private and personalized spectacular tour- We highly recommend Jose as your tour guide when you visit the Dominican Republic!!! read less
Great, personal guide with great service We booked a last-minute tour with Jose, who was more than accommodating. Touring with Jose was like touring with a... read moreWe booked a last-minute tour with Jose, who was more than accommodating. Touring with Jose was like touring with a family friend. He did a fantastic job of letting us be real tourists, but making sure we experienced the true local vibe and flavors. We ate delicious food, learned about the history, and had a fun time together. We had a group of six adults on our tour. Jose picked us up at our hotel and provided a historical overview as we drove the ~three hours into town. We then elevated our “look like a tourist” by putting on helmets and riding motorized trikkes around town with a guide. Every time we zoomed by a group of 40 visitors that had gone for the big group tour, we high-fived. After that, we visited Tres Ojos, which was beautiful. After that, we stopped at an adorable roadside stand for some of the local food and a view of the Caribbean Sea. The tour was a lovely way to spend a day in the Dominican Republic. read less
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