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Visit the beautiful North Coast via Santiago, the 27 Waterfalls of Rio Damajagua, Columbus's first settlement and Puerto Plata

Over several years, Peace Corps Volunteers have helped the local guides association to develop the Twenty Seven Waterfalls of Rio Damajagua, now designated as a protected "Natural Monument." It is considered one of the best adventure tourism sites in the Dominican Republic and is visited by 40,000 people each year. Mother Nature has crafted twenty-seven pools, linked by waterfalls, out of the native limestone.  We will be climbing to level seven and then descending with the falling water. This tour takes you there, plus La Isabela, the first European settlement in the Americas and site of Christopher Columbus's first house overlooking a beautiful bay, then on to Puerto Plata and the beaches and other attractions of the North Coast.

 

North Coast Itinerary:

Saturday, February 11: On Saturday morning we will help you with sharing taxis or available rented cars to get you to the Caribe Tours or Metro bus stations for your independent trip to Santiago. This will provide you with some flexibility for your day in Santiago to explore at your leisure. Your will stay at the Aloha Sol Hotel on Calle del Sol in the center of Santiago. Stroll Calle El Sol, visit the lovely Centro Leon, or travel to your site. 

Sunday, February 12:  This tour actually begins in Santiago on Sunday.  We'll rise early, check out and go by chartered bus to 27 Waterfalls near Imbert for swimming or exploring the waterfalls. Go to the website, www.27charcos.com, for a full description. After lunch at the site's visitor center, we are on to the Archaelogical and Historical National Park of the Villa La Isabela on the north coast.  La Isabela was the first European settlement in the New World and features a recently rennovated museum displaying many rare items found by archeologists. From there we travel to Puerto Plata and stay at the Lomar Hotel on the Malecon..
 
Monday, February 13, is for visiting your communities where you once worked or just relaxing by the beach or pool, strolling the Malecon, visiting the historic San Filipe Fort overlooking the port area, seeing the many surviving Victorian gingerbread houses that distinguish Puerto Plata or riding the "teleferico" (cable car) to the top of Mount isabel de Torres for a spectaular view of the city and the ocean.

You can also visit nearby attractions such as Sosua, where there is a museum dedicated to the Jewish refugees who settled there to escape Nazi persecution, or Cabarete, which bills itself as "the windsurfing capital of the world." A longer ride will take you along the coast to Samana, where you'll be just in time for the annual whale watching tours.

You can stay on or return on your own by bus to Santo Domingo. Bus travel is convenient from Puerto Plata back to the capital and other locations throughout the country. 
There is also an international airport at Puerto Plata if you choose to leave for home from the North Coast.

 

Costs and Details 

Tour Cost:   $250 single occupancy; $180 double occupancy for two nights.  We require a minimum deposit of $50 with full payment made after all arrangements are in place and minimum partipation level is ensured.

Covered Costs include:

  • Bus transportation from Santiago to the 27 Waterfalls, La Isabela and Puerto Plata
  • 2 nights hotel (Santiago and Puerto Plata) with breakfast
  • Admission to the 27 Waterfalls and lunch there as well as to the La Isabela site 

Costs do not include:

  • Caribe Tour bus from Santo Domingo to Santiago (we will share taxis to the Caribe Tours bus station).  Taxi is approx $4.00 per person, Caribe Tour bus  about $9.00 to Santiago (leave hourly).
  • Meals other than breakfast and the 27 Waterfalls lunch
  • Incidentals
  • Return bus to Santo Domingo
  • Transportation to your site

Tour Guides:

  • Your tour will be led by RPCV Guy Baehr,DR25,(1968-71).  Guy maintains a home in Luperon near Puerto Plata and is chair of our Dominican based Friends committee.  Guy,along with current volunteer, Christine Russlell, can help you choose or prepare for the day's activities, find a nice restaurant for dinner,  and generally troubleshoot for you.

Hotels:  We will stay at the Aloha Sol Hotel on Calle Sol in Santiago and at the Lomar Hotel on the Malecon in Puerto Plata.  

Transportation: 

  • We will help you with you arrange for your bus service from Santo Domingo, Taxi and Caribe Tour bus to Santiago.  We have a reserved tour bus from Santiago to the 27 Waterfalls, La Isabela and Puerto Plata.   
  • Site visits:  Your guide will help you arrange transportation to and from your site.
  • Consider taking your flight back to US from Puerto Plata

Minimum Participation required:  8
Maximum:  25

 

 

 

 

Register and Pay:

This link will take you to our Registration Info page. This will provide information and/or links to sign up and pay, either through mail or Pay Pal.   

Your deposit will be refunded if the 8 person minimum is not reached.
Final payment is due by January 9.   If you change your mind, we can either

  • Refund your payment by original method
  • You can donate your deposit to the Community Challenge Fund

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