.
Luperon is the safest anchorage in all of Dominican Republic in every senses of the word safe. It is a notorious hurricane hole with great holding where even Christopher Columbus used to shelter his fleet in bad weather back in 1492.
Today the visiting boats are also very well protected by the Dominican Republic Army against theft and any other criminal activities. There is an armed guard watching the anchorage 24/7 from up the hills, as well as a guarded road barrier preventing strangers form going freely in and out the docks.
For these reasons it is a good place to leave the boat at anchor for a few days, rent a car and explore the country inland.
Our new friends Jade and Gabriel who have been living and surfing in Cabarete for two years now give us a bunch of very useful tips: where to rent a car, where to go, and what to do. Thanks to them, the car we rent (Kayak rental cars, Puerto Plata) is only 1 000 pesos per day (23.00 US dollars) instead of the usual 1 500 and it is a big economic car, Toyota RAV4, everything working fine, even the ac, although we don’t use it to save on gas. Thus, the car costs us $163.00 to rent and we spend $135.00 for gas driving all over the Dominican Republic for 7 days. Total $ 198.00.
Driving in Dominican Republic is an adventure in itself. No driving school can prepare you for all the thrills of the Dominican roads.
Cow crossing the road
Sheep crossing the road
Scary donkeys refusing to cross the road
Santiago
The first day we visit Santiago in the interior of the island, the second largest city after Santo Domingo.
Read full article Santiago in Colors.
Monument in Santiago
Jarabacoa
From Santiago we drive to Jarabacoa, a beautiful little town in the mountains very popular with tourist for its picturesque surroundings, hiking paths, ranchos and waterfalls. Early the next day (day 2) we hike up and down El Mogote and in the afternoon we drive to La Cienaga, deeper in the hearth of the Dominican central mountain range.
Read full article Mountain After The Rain. El Mogote
Up on the mountain El Mogote
Pico Duarte
There is the national park Armando Bermudez in the Cordillera Central mountain range where we park the car for the next two days and go on an expedition to the highest peak in the Carribean, Pico Duarte, over 3000 meters. The hike to Pico Duarte takes us 2 days (day 3 & 4 of our road trip) and we are required to hire a guide and rent sleeping bags and mules. It is a journey we will never forget.
Read full article Pico Duarte. Journey Beyond The Clouds
Last base before Pico Duarte and an overnight stop
Santo Domingo
After Pico Duarte (day 5) we visit Santo Domingo, the capital and biggest city in Dominican Republic on the south shore of Hispaniola, the botanical garden and the colonial town, and we are absolutely thrilled by the beauty, history, and architecture condensed in this place.
Read full article Santo Domingo. History, Culture, Nature
Colonial Town, Santo Domingo
Isabella Historica and Montecristi
Next day (day 6) we drive back north and visit La Isabella Historica, the site of the first New World settlement, and Montecristi near the Haitian border on the north shore of Hispaniola with its dramatic rocky coast and salt flats.
Read full article In The Footsteps of Columbus. Isabela Historica and Montecristi
Montecristi, beach and rocks
Damajaqua’s 27 Waterfalls
On the last day of our road trip (day 7) we drive to a place not far from our anchorage in Luperon where Las Cascadas de Damajaqua offer an extreme waterfall adventure hiking for about an hour up a river with 27 big and small waterfalls, and then jumping, sliding and swimming down the river and the waterfalls. This is Viktor and Maya’s favorite part of the entire trip.
Damajaqua Cascadas
Lago Enriquillo
A few days after we return to the boat and rest a bit, we rent the same car again and visit Lago Enriquillo, the biggest lake in the Carribean lower than the sea level, with saltwater, home of diverse wildlife among which iguanas and crocodiles.
lago Enriquillo
Road Trip Map
Dominican Republic Road Trip Map
