DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REPORT TRAVEL.

 

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