Private Tour: Made In Higuey
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!
Highlights
- Visit a local art gallery, a cigar factory, a handicrafts gallery and a horse saddle workshop
- Shop till you drop while your local guide helps you negotiate the best prices
- Browse the lively markets and discover the diverse fruits and vegetables that make up the typical Dominican diet
- Enjoy a delicious Dominican lunch in the home of a super-friendly local family.
- Stop to admire Higuey’s historic and cultural highlights, including its unusual 1970s basilica
Full Itinerary
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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DeparturePick-up at centrally located hotels in Punta Cana
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Departure Time9:00 AM
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Return Time3:00 PM
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IncludedLocal English-speaking guideTransport in a private vehicleLunch in a local home consisting of traditional Dominican food
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Not IncludedAdditional food or drinksItems of a personal natureTips/gratuities for your guide
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Maps
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Testimonials
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Incredible tour at an incredible price! This tour was amazing! A blend of both the historical elements of the city as well as the natural elements... read moreThis tour was amazing! A blend of both the historical elements of the city as well as the natural elements found at the National Park. The Los Tres Ojos park was simply breathtaking and our tour guide (Rainer) brought us to see another area of the caves where a 4th lake is. He even discussed the films that have used footage from this area including the original Jurassic Park. It was amazing how some of the lakes seemed to glow a bright teal when the sunlight hit them. Rainer's extensive knowledge of the historical buildings and areas of the city was also excellent. He described the city and his country with such pride and passion. It was exciting to hear about the history from someone who so clearly loves to share it with others. I cannot believe the price of this tour considering how much you are able to see and experience. My only word of warning, when you are leaving the Los Tres Ojos, there are many vendors set up who will instantly harass you and try to get you to buy things. The prices are ridiculous and they are very aggressive. I ended up buying a couple of things just to satisfy them and leave but when my friend politely declined (at least 20 times), the second she turned around, I saw them sneer at her and start speaking very "rudely" about her. They assumed we couldn't understand... This tour was amazing! A blend of both the historical elements of the city as well as the natural elements found at the National Park. The Los Tres Ojos park was simply breathtaking and our tour guide (Rainer) brought us to see another area of the caves where a 4th lake is. He even discussed the films that have used footage from this area including the original Jurassic Park. It was amazing how some of the lakes seemed to glow a bright teal when the sunlight hit them. Rainer's extensive knowledge of the historical buildings and areas of the city was also excellent. He described the city and his country with such pride and passion. It was exciting to hear about the history from someone who so clearly loves to share it with others. I cannot believe the price of this tour considering how much you are able to see and experience.My only word of warning, when you are leaving the Los Tres Ojos, there are many vendors set up who will instantly harass you and try to get you to buy things. The prices are ridiculous and they are very aggressive. I ended up buying a couple of things just to satisfy them and leave but when my friend politely declined (at least 20 times), the second she turned around, I saw them sneer at her and start speaking very "rudely" about her. They assumed we couldn't understand and continued to say some pretty awful things until our group left. Just be prepared for that. (Not the fault of Rainer or the tour). Again, if you are looking for a way to see a large amount of landmarks and take in the beauty of the city at a very small price, do yourself a favor and book this tour! More read less 
shepdep4 years ago -
Detailed lecture; listing needs update. Our guide was friendly and entertaining, offering local insight, and the Ciudad Colonial is lovely. However, please note, as of... read moreOur guide was friendly and entertaining, offering local insight, and the Ciudad Colonial is lovely. However, please note, as of the date of this review the itinerary for this tour has changed and the TripAdvisor event description is not up to date; the visit to Los Tres Ojos, coffee, monastery beer, bakery stop, etc. are not included. Please contact the agency for modified tour details. read less 
Paul G4 years ago - 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
Ben K5 years ago - 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
_kleissle5 years ago
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