Dominican Republic Highlights

Dominican Republic Highlights
Explore north of San Cristobal where 2,000-year-old drawings cover the walls of the Pomier Caves. Then return to modern Santo Domingo where merengue music lures you into one of the Caribbean’s most vibrant capitals. Walk the cobblestone streets in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus. And take in the late Gothic architecture with Romanesque characteristics. Then try to spy hundreds of species of tropical flora and fauna en route to one of Puerto Plata’s best-kept secrets. Cool off from your day of discovery at natural waterslides and experience the Damajagua Waterfalls etched out of limestone.
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Day 1 Hola Santo Domingo
Meet your tour director and check into hotel
Day 2 Santo Domingo landmarks
Santo Domingo tour director-led sightseeing tour
Colonial DistrictCatedral de Santa María la MenorAlcázar de ColónOzama FortressMalecon
Details: Santo Domingo tour director-led sightseeing tour
Walk the largest Dominican city, Santo Domingo, also the capital of this Caribbean country. Located by the sea, Santo Domingo boasts a well-preserved colonial district you can explore on foot. Feast your eyes on the 16th-century buildings, palatial houses and beautiful churches. See the oldest cathedral built in the Americas, Catedral Santa Maria la Menor, and Alcazar de Colon, America’s first castle.
Details: Los Tres Ojos National Park visit
Make your way through one of Santo Domingo's most dazzling attractions: Los Tres Ojos National Park is an open-air limestone cave where you can find three stunning lakes ("The Three Eyes").
Details: Chocolate tasting tour
Explore the origins, harvest and production of Dominican chocolate during a guided and tasting tour.
Day 3 Santo Domingo to Santiago
Travel to Santiago via San Cristobal
Santiago guided sightseeing tour
Centro LeonEl Monumento SantiagoCalle El SolParque Duarte
Details: Pomier Caves Anthropological Reserve visit
Discovered in 1851, the Pomier Caves house the largest collection of rock art in the Caribbean. The drawings date as far back as 2000 years and are believed to be a product of the Taino, Carib, and Igneri people of the Caribbean. Visit a portion of the 55 caves, where there are over 6,000 carvings and drawings made from charcoal depicting human and animal life. Caves 1 and 2 are the most physically accessible. You’ll be provided with flashlights, expect to meet lots of spiders, frogs and bats!
Details: El Monumento Santiago
Monumento de Santiago, the highest building in Santiago, was built to commemorate the Dominican War of Independence. The war was fought in 1844 to gain sovereignty from Haiti.
Details: Parque Duarte
The Parque Duarte, the largest park in Santiago, serves as a shady respite from the heat for both locals and visitors.
Day 4 Santiago--Puerto Plata
Travel to Puerto Plata
Isabel de Torres visit
Details: Leon Jimenez Cultural Center visit
The cultural center houses four exhibition rooms, a media library, an auditorium, multipurpose lounges, a Caribbean menu cafeteria sand a shop where you can buy selected products, related to and prepared by national art crafters and from the Great Caribbean. In the gardens, there's a collection of sculptures, native and endemic plants, with birds and reptiles that make an aviary their home. Besides meeting the standards set by the International Council of Museums and the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization, Centro León carries out a vary of programs and projects related to art, culture and environmental topics, that benefit community development throughout the strengthening of three central focuses: creativity, identity and habitability.
Details: Traditional Dominican dance lesson
In the Dominican Republic, dance and music are an integral part of everyday life. Merengue is the most popular form of Dominican dance, and dominates the musical life too. Developed in the mid-19th century, and adapted from European dances, with Afro-Caribbean flavors and lively rhythms. It is considered the music of the Dominican people- and truly reflects society. Merengue forms the base of most traditional Dominican songs and has a huge presence in bars, streets, businesses and homes. Bachata is also another form of Dominican music and dance that has grown in popularity. It originates from rural areas and has more of a melancholic beat to it. Its subjects are often focused on life in the country and romances.
Details: Damajagua (27 Charcos) waterfall adventure
Of all the phenomenal waterfalls on the island, Damajagua or the 27 Waterfalls as they are popularly dubbed, is the most visited water adventure location around. Trek up to the main waterfall, and prepare to dive, swim, climb, and slide through the natural corridors, pools, and surrounding lush tropical forest.
Day 5 Puerto Plata landmarks
Details: Puerto Plata tour director-led sightseeing
Catch a glimpse of the city's serene beauty and colonial past as your TD guides through its most historically significant spots. You'll even get to ride the country's only aerial tramway to the top of Isabel de Torres peak. From there take in the breathtaking views of Bahia de Puerto Plata and a smaller version of the Brazilian Christ the Redeemer statue.
Details: Canopy zipline tour
Harness yourself to cables that run between platforms high in the trees, then take flight and zip from tree to tree. Experience a true bird-eye view from your new aerial perspective. For safety reasons, weight restrictions apply to this activity.
Day 6 Puerto Plata
Free time at the beach
Day 7 Puerto Plata--Santo Domingo
Free time at the beach
Travel to Santo Domingo
Day 8 End tour
Map of Dominican Republic Highlights Educational Student Tour and Trip | Explorica
Tour Includes:
  • Round-trip airfare
  • 7 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms
  • Breakfast daily
  • Dinner daily
  • Full-time services of a professional tour director
  • Guided sightseeing tours and city walks as per itinerary
  • Visits to select attractions as per itinerary
  • Tour Diary™
  • Local Guide and Local Bus Driver tips; see note regarding other important tips
  • Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
  • Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, or fees for any required passport or visa. Optional excursions, optional pre-paid Tour Director and multi-day bus driver tipping, among other individual and group customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included.

We are better able to assist you with a quote for your selected departure date and city over the phone. Please call 1.888.378.8845 to price this tour with your requested options.

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3834.00 total fee
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