Punctual as
never before from Milan Malpensa at 13.00 my plane n. 1,045 of the Delta Air
Lines Company (Operated by Alitalia) in the direction of John F. Kennedy
International Airport in New York (USA), (multi-route ticket price including
taxes from Malpensa to Santo Domingo and from Nassau to Malpensa with a
stopover in New York: Euro 628.00).
Punctual
arrival at 4.25 pm, at Terminal 1 of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York (USA).
There are 6 hours of time zone, compared to Italy.
In order to
set foot in the United
States of America, I had to complete the
quick online ESTA procedure by paying $ 14 by credit card. Entry into the
country valid for 2 years was approved by the system immediately after the end
of the online procedure which lasted about 1 hour.
The airport
consists of 8 terminals connected to each other by a free train.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Punctual as
never before, my Airplane no. 497 of the Delta Air Lines Company to the Las
Americas International Airport of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), (price of
the multi-route ticket including taxes from Malpensa to Santo Domingo and from
Nassau to Malpensa with a stopover in New York: Euro 628, 00).
I therefore
arrive at 12.25 A.M.,
at Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic),
located about 22 km
east of the city. There are 6 hours of time zone, compared to Italy.
A visa is
not required to enter the Dominican
Republic for tourism purposes and for a
period of less than 60 days. In theory, before crossing the border it is
necessary to buy a tourist card at a cost of USD 10 to be paid in American
currency, even if I did not purchase it and I had no repercussions.
I slept in
the aforementioned cold airport.
Then
outside the Departures Hall I found a mototaxi which, at a cost of 20 USD, took
me in 45 minutes to the Bus Station Capitalcoachline in Santo Domingo 455
Boulevard 27 de Febrero, in the El Million sector.
HAITI
The Bus
from Santo Domingo of the Capitalcoachline
company to Tabarre (Haiti)
leaves every day at 8.00 and 10.00. The 10.00 am stop one hour later also in
Petion Ville. The trip takes about 6 or 7 hours. Take into account that Haiti is an hour behind the Dominican Republic.
The cost of the ticket is 40 USD, one way, 75 USD, round trip. It can also be
purchased via the internet. Furthermore, once at the counter you have to pay 30
USD and 200 Dominican Pesos as a tax for crossing the border and hand in your
passport. On the bus they offer you a sandwich, a can of juice and a half-liter
bottle of water. The Terra Bus Company also offers the same service at more or
less similar prices and timetables.
A visa is
not required to enter Haiti
for tourism purposes and for a period of up to 90 days.
The
Dominican border of Jimaní presents no difficulties. The Hostes del bus helps
you to overcome the easy paperwork. The same thing happens to that of Haiti located in Malpass, about 2 km further west, partly at
the Azuei Lake. In both cases you have to get off
the bus and go to the border counter.
Money can
be exchanged for black both in Jimaní, in the square of the confusing Dominican
border (not recommended), and after that in Haiti, as they usually get on the
bus of guys, who offer you the change of currency.
The
Capitalcoachline Bus Station is located on Blvd 15 October in part at the
American Embassy in Tabarre, a town located about 10 km northeast of the
capital Port Au Prince. There, taxis are waiting to take you anywhere. In my
case, the owner of the hotel picked me up for free.
In Haiti I slept
at Le Tresor Hotel, located about 3
km from the aforementioned bus station, in Delmas in
Delmas 75 Puits - blain 30 Ave Albert Jode prol 8. As there are no single
rooms, the cost of a double per night is 26 USD. You can pay either in USD
Dollars or in Gourde. The Hotel is very nice. There is also the bar. The area
is dark at night and therefore it is not recommended to go out on foot after
dark.
The hotel
provided me with an off-road vehicle with driver, at a price of 90 USD per day,
with which I visited Port Au Prince, Petionville, Fermathe, Kenscoff and Furcy.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The Bus
from Tabarre (Haiti) to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) of the
Capitalcoachline company leaves every day at 8.00 and 10.00. The 10.00 am
starts an hour earlier also from Petion Ville. The trip takes about 6 or 7
hours. Take into account that Haiti
is an hour behind the Dominican
Republic. The cost of the ticket is 40 USD,
one way, 75 USD, round trip. It can also be purchased via the internet. In
addition, once at the counter you have to pay 10 USD as a tax for crossing the
Dominican border and then go to the adjacent Desk where the Haitian stamp on
exit is affixed to the passport. and finally deliver the Passport. On the bus
they offer you a sandwich, a can of juice and a half-liter bottle of water. The
Terra Bus Company also offers the same service at more or less similar prices
and timetables.
A visa is
not required to enter the Dominican
Republic for tourism purposes and for a
period of less than 60 days. In theory, before crossing the border it is
necessary to purchase a tourist card at a cost of USD 10 to be paid in American
currency.
The Haiti border at Malpasse, partly at Lake Azuei,
presents no difficulties. La Hostes del bus will take care of the easy
bureaucratic procedures. Same thing happens to the Dominican one located in
Jimaní, about 2 km
further east .. Only in the Dominican one you have to get off the bus and go to
the border counter.
Money can
be exchanged for black both before the Haiti border, as they usually get on the
bus of the guys, who offer you the change of currency, and in the square of the
confused Dominican border of Jimaní (not recommended),
From the
Bus Station Capitalcoachline located in Santo Domingo 455 Boulevard 27 de
Febrero, in the El Million sector, to reach the colonial area, 5 km to the west, there are
taxi drivers who offer for 10 USD to take you near Plaza Espana. By negotiating
decisively it is possible to pay up to 200 Dominican Pesos. There are also
public cars, priced at 25 pesos, which pass along Boulevard 27 de Febrero
heading towards the colonial area but it is not an easy choice to implement
especially after sunset and you have a lot of luggage with you, also because
you have to take some. 2, because you have to change.
In Santo Domingo I slept at
Island Life Backpackers' Hostel, located in Calle Isabel La Catolica # 356, in the Colonial Zone, 200 meters away. about
from Piazza di Spagna - Email: info@islandlifebackpackershostel.com
The structure
is well managed by a group of Germans. The 12 bed dorms are extremely
comfortable and clean. There is a computer to use for free with internet
connection, bar, kitchen, TV room, kitchen, courtyard, breakfast included.
The cost
per night is 15 USD. You can pay in USD Dollars or in Dominican Pesos.
The
Colonial area is safe and well guarded by the tourist police and therefore you
can walk freely without danger both day and night.
To go to
Punta Cana from Santo Domingo,
it is possible to take first class buses that depart far from the colonial area
and therefore it is an uncomfortable choice as it is necessary to reach the
departure bus station by taxi.
It is more
convenient and economical to walk from the Colonial area, crossing China Town,
to the nearby Parque Enriquillo (be careful after sunset as the area is not
safe), where second-class buses leave from the south side of the area for Punta
Cana. The frequency of the same is low and therefore the best solution is to
opt for the numerous buses to Higuey, where then it is necessary to change and
take a minibus to Punta Cana. The trip from Santo Domingo to Higuey takes approximately 2
hours. The ticket can be taken on the bus and costs 250 Dominican Pesos.
The Gua -
Guas for Bàvaro and Punta Cana leave when full from two Terminals located side
by side in Av. De la Libertad, after Calle Luperòn (reachable from the center
by a motor taxi for 100 Dominican Pesos, or storing a passage to a bus coming
from Santo Domingo). If you want to go to El Cortecito (75 Dominican Pesos, pay
before getting off) you need to get off at Verón and take another Gua - Guas
for 40 Dominican Pesos.
From the
Bàvaro Bus Station (Punta Cana), located in Friusa, near the Texaco petrol
station (reachable from El Cortecito with frequent Gua - Guas at the price of
30 Dominican Pesos), 2 km
Kilometers from El Cortecito beach, several buses depart , of the Sitrabapu
Company, for La Romana. The trip takes about 1 hour. The ticket can be taken on
the bus and costs 215 Dominican Pesos.
Alla Romana
you can go down near the Obelisk or the Parque Centrale.
To go to
the Cueva de Las Maravillas, it is first necessary to reach the Sichoem Bus
Station, located on the western outskirts of La Romana, which can be reached by
asking for a ride on one of the many Sichoem buses, which pass by Parque
Centrale.
From the
Sichoem Bus Station de La Romana, many minibuses leave every day, when full,
for San Pedro de Macorìs, which on request stop on the motorway in front of the
entrance to the Cueva de Las Maravillas. The journey lasts a short half hour.
You pay 50 Pesos before going down. From there to reach the ticket office of
the caves it is necessary to walk less than half a kilometer.
The Cueva
de Las Maravillas is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.00 to 17.15. The cost
of the ticket is 300 Dominican Pesos, which also includes the obligatory guide.
We move in groups of about 10 people. Photographs cannot be taken inside. There
are many stairs to go down and an elevator to go up. The visit lasts about an
hour.
To go to
San Pedro de Macorìs, from the entrance to La Cueva de Las Maravillas, the
matter becomes complicated because buses and minibuses do not stop there, but
at a stop located on the highway 1
km more to the west. To reach it I asked a gentleman
with a motorcycle who worked in the caves for a ride. I paid 20 Pesos. From
there it is necessary to stop the buses coming from La Romana, which charge 30
Pesos to reach San Pedro de Macorìs. If you want, the Santo Domingo buses also pass by, which in
any case stop in San Pedro de Macorìs.
In San
Pedro de Macorìs, from a bus station located about 1 km west of the Estadio
Vargas, many minibuses leave for Santo
Domingo every day when they are full. The journey
takes an abundant hour. You pay 120 Pesos before going to the appropriate desk.
It makes several stops, the last of which is perhaps the most interesting for
tourists because it is that of the Parque Indipendencia near Calle El Conde and
therefore in the colonial area.
The taxi
from the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo to Las Americas International Airport
in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), located about 22 km east of the city, costs
1,000 Dominican Pesos.
My complete travel report
with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:
http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2017/07/viaggio-ad-haiti-repubblica-dominicana.html
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