What You Will Do
Experience this wonderful nature safari where you discover the beautiful and amazing Dominican Countryside, you will enjoy a great scenic hillside tour with view on the ocean and surrounding hills, visit a Tropical Park where you learn about the nature and get informed about the Taino culture, and you will be explained how Dominican Coffee is made the traditional way. Followed by a lunch (included) in a authentic Dominican house of over 100 years old where they cook the classic way and with local ingredients. Afterwards it is time for a ride through some authentic villages and than (if time allows) to relax (and swimm if you want) at the "Dona Mariana Hacienda" at the Sonador creek From there it is about an hour drive back to your pick-up location.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Itinerary
1
Tubagua
A scenic hillside drive brings you to the small village of Tubagua at the beautiful “Calle Turistica” from Puerto Plata to Santiago with marvelous ocean and mountain views, just over half an hour drive from Puerto Plata or Sosua / Cabarete
2
Taino Valley Tropical Park
1 hour
Our first stop is at the “Taino Valley Tropical Park” you will find a lush tropical forest, our guide shows the flowers, trees, palms, plants, bamboo, fruits, vegetables and condiments that grow in the Dominican mountains. There are flowers that are very special in their way of growing and typical for the Caribbean. In several places there are small statues from the times of the Tainos. Each statue features a God of the Tainos. Detailed explanation of each statue and why the Tainos worshiped their gods is given. The water that runs through the forest passes through several natural ponds full of fish. On the route there is a viewpoint with benches that overlook a green valley with mountains in the background.
We will demonstrate how Coffee is made the classic Dominican way and taste, show you how Cigars are rolled. You also enjoy a fresh fruit tasting, grown in the hills around us.
3
Taino Valley Tropical Park
15 minutes
Surrounded a lush tropical setting, next to the entrance of a tropical park which invite you for a stroll, you attend different workshops demos about coffee, chocolate and cigar making, all in cooperation with small local farmers by which their family are supported.
You will receive general information about the production processes and taste the best products
which the Dominican Republic nature offers.
On top of this a fruit-tasting experience and a traditional lunch is not to be missed.
• Coffee: See how coffee is grown and processed, from the tree to the traditional brawn.
Learn about the different varieties and qualities of coffee, and how to brew the perfect cup on
the traditional Dominican way. Enjoy the tasting session, where you will savor the aroma and flavor of the finest coffee.
4
Taino Valley Tropical Park
15 minutes
• Chocolate: Discover how chocolate is made, from the cacao pods to the mouth melting bars. Indulge in a chocolate tasting, from dark to milk, from plain to flavored.
The Chocolate is made by the “Chojoba” non-profit association, made up only of women
from the local community. It was founded 10 years ago when a group of women decided not
only to be housewife’s dependent on their husbands, but also productive and useful entities
for their home and the community.
5
Taino Valley Tropical Park
15 minutes
• Organic Fruit Tasting: directly from mother nature! You will be shown various fruits that grow in
the surrounding area, such as mangoes, pineapples, bananas, papayas, melon, avocado and
more. Delight in a fruit tasting, enjoy the freshness and sweetness of the fruits, straight from
the land in your mouth.
6
Yasica Arriba
15 minutes
• Cigars: No trip to the Dominican Republic would be complete without having seen how cigars are crafted, from the leaf to the smoke and ash. You will learn about the different types of tobacco and cigars, how to cut, light, and smoke them. Optional you can also participate in a cigar tasting ($), where you will appreciate the aroma and taste of the finest Dominican cigars.
7
Casa Antigua, Tubagua
1 hour
• To top it all off, enjoy an authentic Woodfire prepared lunch: served in typical Dominican
house of over 100 years old and cooked the traditional Dominican way in a “fogon”, prepared
by a passionate team with organic ingredients from around the house and local farmers.
Taste the savor of the delicious dishes, such as rice, beans, chicken, salad, and more. In the garden behind the house there grow bananas, avocados, pineapples, tomatoes and much more.
You can walk around the house and notice that a supermarket is not needed, as almost
everything grows in the surrounding yard.
8
Rio Sonador
1 hour
Depending on the time available, (cruise ship guests) we will go to "Doña Mariana", for a paddle in a crystal-clear creek with small waterfalls, around half an hour drive further into the hills passing some typical Dominican hamlets. (Note: if time allows)
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