Las Galeras and La Playita Beach, Samana Peninsula, Dominican Republic
Having experienced most forms of Dominican transportation–taxis, buses, boats, catamarans, scooters, natural water slides–it was time for the final frontier: GUA GUA. The gua gua is a common form of transportation in the Dominican Republic and the cheapest. It is a bus, but that term is used VERY loosely. Most of the gua guas we saw…
Los Haitises National Park, Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic
Another win for Vacation Rental by Owner! VRBO is great because you have an immediate network of people that give insiders advice on how to have the best vacation possible. Arriving at a secluded beach with an infinity pool, we were met by a friendly group that have been coming to this spot for years. Best…
Playa Rincon, Samana Peninsula, Dominican Republic
I guess there are as many “best” beaches as there are people making lists. Playa Rincon is a must-see because it’s on someone’s list of the five best beaches in the world. So we hired a driver to take us to yet another “best” beach. And we were not disappointed! There are five kilometers of…
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Mount Isabel de Torres soars above Puerto Plata at 2600 feet. A cable car ride takes you to the top–and the panoramic views go on forever! It’s hypnotizing to watch the change in vegetation as you climb. I didn’t realize how high we were until I watched a cable car return down the mountain and…
Twenty Seven Waterfalls, Saltos Damajagua, Dominican Republic
I love everything I’ve done in the Dominican Republic but THIS IS MY NUMBER ONE! Schedule a trip to the Dominican Republic now and thank me later because you won’t regret experiencing the Twenty-seven Waterfalls. It takes about 30 minutes from Puerto Plata into the mountains to reach Rio Damajagua. At the entrance, you’re given…
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
The “Zona Colonial” (or colonial zone) of Santo Domingo is enchanting. The area is rich with history because these buildings were the first European structures in the New World. We stayed at Hostal de Ovando, which was the first governor’s residence. It’s in the center of Zona Colonial. I would highly recommend this hotel for…
Bayahibe, Dominican Republic
Bayahibe is on the opposite side of the south coast from Barahona. Getting there involved a crowded ride from Santo Domingo with an almost constant scraping of metal-on-metal. Summer remained pleasant albeit concerned; Chanel did not. I was desperately attempting to navigate the hapless driver while he stopped to ask directions every mile or so!…
Will It Be Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, or the Dominican Republic?!?
I’m more excited than ever about this endeavor! I LOVED Austria, Belize, and the Czech Republic. I never would’ve visited the Czech Republic unless I needed a “C” country–and I think it’s my favorite. BUT IT’S A NEW YEAR. And I’m looking at my “D” choices. Surprisingly, there are only four. Let’s start with Denmark Eighteen…
Barahona, Dominican Republic
Getting to Barahona from the Santo Domingo airport turned into a raucous dance party. Our driver, Jairo, and his wife Julia were most accommodating when we asked for merengue music (merengue is the national dance/music of the Dominican Republic). Julia flipped through radio stations while Chanel and Summer busted out moves, limited only by their…
the alphabet travelogs 