Your Travel Experience with Tierra Maya Tours
Day 1
Arrival in Santo Domingo
Welcome at the airport and then transfer to the old town of Santo Domingo. The rest of the day is at your leisure to get to know the oldest city in the "New World". The first cathedral was built here, the first governor resided here, the first bishop was consecrated here and the first hospital was opened here. The lively city of over a million inhabitants has a number of cultural, especially architectural, sights to offer that you won't find anywhere else on Hispaniola.
Included meals: none
Overnight stay at Hotel Villa Colonial *** or similar
Day 2
Santo Domingo
On today's city tour you will visit, among other things, the Palace of Diego Columbus, the Cathedral and the "Parque Colón" with the bronze monument of Christopher Columbus. You walk through the "Calle de las Damas", the Ladies' Street and the pedestrian zone "El Conde" with its many shops and street vendors. In the afternoon you will get to know the sights outside the old town centre including the "Faro a Colón" as well as "Los Tres Ojos".
Included meals: Breakfast
Overnight stay at Hotel Villa Colonial *** or similar
Day 3
Santo Domingo - Jarabacoa
Today you travel on the "Autopista Duarte" through rural areas. Stalls selling tropical fruits along the road invite you to stop. Soon the mountains of the Cordillera Central, also called the Dominican Alps, begin. You visit the charming town of Jarabacoa and the coffee factory "Monte Alto", where everything about the cultivation and processing of coffee is explained for you. After a short journey and a not too long hike along a natural path as well as some steps you will reach the beautiful waterfall "Salto Baiguate".
Included meals: Breakfast and dinner
Overnight stay at Hotel Rancho Baiguate *** or similar
Day 4
Jarabacoa - Cap Haitien
Today's drive takes you to the Cibao Valley. Coffee, tobacco, rice and bananas are grown here. You will pass the economic metropolis Santiago, the richest and second largest city in the country. At Villa Gonzalez you visit the huge tobacco fields and get a good insight into tobacco planting and processing. For some years now, the Dominican Republic has been competing with the neighbouring island of Cuba. Your subsequent journey takes you via the border station of Ouanaminthe to the neighbouring country of Haiti.
Included meals: Breakfast
Overnight stay at the Mont Joli ***(*) or similar
Day 5
Cap Haitien - Milot - Cap Haitien
Early in the morning, set off for Milot to visit the Citadelle Laferrière. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. Also visit the Palace of Sans-Souci, which was the seat of King Henri Christophe at the time. The palace was modelled on the building of the same name in Potsdam and was very splendidly furnished at the time, the domed building of the palace chapel "Chapelle Royale" is still in good condition today and gives you a good impression of what it was like back then.
Included meals: Breakfast
Overnight stay at the Mont Joli ***(*) or similar
Day 6
Cap Haitien - Monte Cristi
Today you will get to know the most important sights of Cap Haitien during a city tour. Afterwards, you will go visit the ruins of the Fort Picoulet fortification and from there back to the neighbouring country. You will cross the border and drive through increasingly dry landscapes to Monte Cristi. The famous 29-metre-high Swiss square clock stands in the centre of the Monte Cristi park. Before arriving at the hotel, a short visit to the salt works. Monte Cristi is one of the largest sea salt production areas in the country.
Included meals: Breakfast
Overnight stay at Hotel El Morro Eco Adventure Hotel **** or similar
Day 7
Monte Cristi - Puerto Plata
In the morning you climb the mountain El Morro. From this arid landscape you will continue to the amber coast, rich in vegetation, and on the way you will visit an arts and crafts cooperative. Puerto Plata is known for its pretty Victorian-style wooden houses. You will visit the oldest preserved fortress from colonial times: Fort San Felipe. Afterwards, a short stop at the beautiful Central Square.
Included meals: Breakfast
Overnight stay at Charming Countryside Chalet ***(*) or similar
Day 8
Puerto Plata - Las Terrenas
After breakfast, you will take the country's only cable car up to the mountain "Isabel de Torres". Then you will drive along the north coast via Nagua to the peninsula of Samaná. On the way, you will stop at the small fresh/salt water lagoon "Laguna Gri Gri" and at the Dudu Lagoon to cool off in the refreshing water. The Samaná Peninsula has a paradisiacal tropical landscape with beaches in hidden coves, clean mountain rivers, rugged rocky coastlines and abundant birdlife.
Included meals: Breakfast
Overnight stay at Hotel Playa Colibri ***(*) or similar
Day 9
Las Terrenas / El Limon Waterfall
Today you will hike to the highest waterfall on the Samaná Peninsula. On the way you can admire the lush landscape and the dense tropical vegetation. The waterfall is made up of three smaller falls. These plunge from a height of 55 metres over a green wall into a natural basin. Here you have the opportunity to refresh yourself in the cool water. After an extensive bathing break, you will return to Las Terrenas. The afternoon is at your leisure.
Included meals: Breakfast
Overnight stay at Hotel Playa Colibri ***(*) or similar
Day 10
Las Terrenas - Santo Domingo
Today we drive you back to Santo Domingo via the new highway. Enjoy the beautiful landscape of the National Park during the drive and review the experience and the new insights.
End of the tour or start of an after programme
Included meals: Breakfast