Monkey Jungle in the DR
In Cabarete, our heroic wind and waves make for some pretty solid watersports conditions. But, on a rare day off the water, there are some great spots around Cabarete to explore. Monkey Jungle is a fantastic outing for the family. You can go and play with their gorgeous monkeys, thrill-seek on a zip line, or check out their shooting range. There’s something for everyone! Monkeys, Zips and Rounds The Monkey Jungle has a 5-acre park where adorable tame squirrel monkeys roam free! They are very friendly. They love to sit on heads and shoulders, and eat from special feeding plates. I smell a new profile picture. The monkey tour takes 40 minutes, perfect for little ones with short attention spans. You’ll learn all about the monkeys and pay a visit to the rescued capucin monkeys. These little guys have had a hard life and so aren’t up to playing with the others. They are super cute, and looking much healthier than when they were found! The Monkey Jungle mountain-to-mountain zip line tour is well worth a visit. It’s ACCT-certified, with every safety measure taken to let you relax and enjoy the ride. On your journey along the 4500ft zip line, you stop at 7 different stations and 2 suspended bridges. For the most fearless of adventurers, there’s an optional freefall belay that drops you 50ft into an ancient bat cave. Not a bad story to take home to your friends. Another great thing about this zip line is that you can control the braking system by hand. This means that you are in charge of your speed the whole time! I love it. If you’re looking to let off steam, you might head over to Monkey Jungle’s 7 station shooting range. You can choose between 9mm handguns and 12-gauge shotguns, and learn how to fire a weapon safety. Anyone up for target practice? The Monkey Jungle Story On the face of it, Monkey Jungle might sound like just an awesome adventure tourist attraction. It is that. But, it also has a pretty noble and heartwarming story behind it. Monkey Jungle was set up in 2009 to support a medical project in the DR that was rapidly expanding and in need of funds. Two entrepreneurs from Nashville, Tennessee were determined to use their lives to help those more vulnerable than themselves. Chuck and Candy Ritzen moved to the Dominican Republic and set up Haitian and Dominican Assistance Corp (HADAC) in 2008. They opened a clinic to serve the local community of Haitian and Dominican residents. The clinic was named after the couple’s two dear Haitian friends, Bernie Leon and Maurice Laroche. There was such great demand for the clinic that people were travelling long distances to see the doctors, who gave their care without charge. Every Saturday, around 60 patients were seen, and the numbers kept growing. The HADAC team knew they needed some income to pay for medicine and equipment. They got to work planning a commercial tourist attraction. And so, Monkey Jungle was born. Many of the patients had known little medical care in their life and had often never seen a dentist before. In 2013, HADAC opened a dental clinic dedicated to Dr. Gerry Pinsonneault, a Canadian dentist who served the community until his death in 2014. Chuck and Candy flew medical supplies and food to Haiti in 2016, after Hurricane Matthew. Sadly, their sea plane did not make the journey home to Puerto Plata. The HADAC mission continues and their dream lives on through the efforts of the clinic’s volunteers and physicians. How to get there Take the main road from Cabarete to Sosua (the next town), heading West along the coast. You’ll see the sign for Monkey Jungle after you pass the Sea Horse Ranch, a landmark equestrian centre. Don’t get too distracted by the Ranch’s horses that you miss the left turn! The turn should also be signposted, so keep your eyes pealed. Follow El Choco road for 9km and you’ll arrive at Monkey Jungle. From eXtreme, it’ll take you under half an hour. Our friendly concierge staff will be happy to arrange transport if you need. Lend a hand The clinic gratefully accepts donations of basic medical supplies from visitors to Monkey Jungle. So, have a look at their wishlist and consider popping something in your suitcase to gift to the team. You can also support them financially, the information is all on their website. Monkey Jungle could just be that extra outing that takes your adventure vacation in Cabarete to the next level. Come and experience the thrills for yourself!
All About Caribbean Carnivals – Part 1
What comes to mind when you hear the words Caribbean Carnival? Probably parties, costumes and a general great time. Beyond a colorful party, Caribbean Carnivals have a strong cultural history and influences that range from country to country. Here’s what you should know if you book your stay in the Caribbean during Carnival season: Diverse history Carnival celebrations had a complicated start. They might be known as joyful parties but their inception is a combination of colonialism, enslavement and religious conversion. Carnival translates to “farewell to meat”, originating from a Catholic tradition of giving up meat during Lent and brought over by European colonizers. Modern iterations are a blend of Christian traditions and the small creative freedoms that African slaves were able to find in an oppressive state. Carnivals represent a time to let loose, release stress and celebrate liberty. Fun Fact: As the Caribbean diaspora has spread throughout the world, so have Caribbean carnivals. The city of Toronto boasts a massive carnival celebration, called Caribana due to its Caribbean immigrant population. Trinidad & Tobago There seems to be a conflict between historians who claim that the oldest Carnival was started in Trinidad & Tobago and those who claim that it is actually from the Dominican Republic. We’ll talk more about the Dominican Carnaval in part 2 of this series but we can settle this debate here and now. Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago dates back to the 18th century, while the Dominican carnival in La Vega goes all the way back to the 16th century. It might not be the oldest carnival but it is certainly one of the largest and most iconic. The festivities start after Christmas celebrations and culminate on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The days are filled with events and competitions. Most notably, participants walk the streets in traditional and elaborate costumes—visitors can join in, if they book and purchase their costumes in advance! Jamaica Beginning in February all the way until May, the festivities including beach parties, marches and beautiful costumes, occur in the major resort areas of Kingston and Ocho Rios. Rum is a big part of the culture of this carnival and since Jamaica is the home of Reggae, expect amazing concerts. Puerto Rico Celebrated in the city of Ponce, the Puerto Rican carnival lasts a week culminating on Fat Tuesday (day before Ash Wednesday). The Grand Parade features costumes, dancers and lots of music. Vejigantes, or horned demons are similar to the Dominican, Diablo Cojuelos, even carrying cow bladder balloons to hit spectators. The Bahamas Known as Junkanoo, this celebration occurs right after December 26th until New Years Day. Although there is debate about it’s true origins, the modern carnival often has a theme and is known for the musical parades down the streets of downtown Nassau. Like many Caribbean carnivals, the costumes and dances take months to prepare and are a sense of pride to natives. While these are just a few highlights, most Caribbean countries have a carnival or carnival-like celebration. Each country and festivity offers a range of cultural value immensely important to the region. Have you ever attended carnival? The energy is like no other party you will ever attend.
Driving to Jarabacoa
Looking to take a break from the beach, or want to see what the rest of the Dominican Republic looks like outside Cabarete? Jarabacoa might be the place for you. While you can get a taxi to this gorgeous town in the mountains, or even brave a long public transport trek, we chose to rent a car and drive for maximum freedom. The journey to Jarabacoa in La Vega is absolutely stunning. The green, lush mountainous landscape is ridiculously beautiful, so have your camera ready at all times. There are innumerable cute little places to stop at on the way, and lots of local culture to take in. Driving in the Dominican is quite the experience. As long as you are cautious and stay safe, you are bound to have some good stories to tell from this road trip. Safety Tips You may have heard horror stories about driving in the Dominican Republic, but I’m happy to report our trip was a total success. As ever, you can’t account for other drivers on the road (or cows or goats), but as long as you go slow and stay switched on, you should make it in one piece! Of course, be sure to wear your very best sensible hat. It’s not advisable to drive at night, so be sure to set off with plenty of time before sunset. You do not want to have the stress of racing to get somewhere before it gets dark. Be aware of motorbikes. I’ll say that again, BE AWARE OF MOTORBIKES. They will come out of nowhere. They will drive the wrong way up a one-way street. They will weave like crazy through any space they see. Expect motos to be a big part of your hazard perception on a DR road, and stay super alert to them. Especially in cities, where there can easily be 20 motos elbowing their way through one traffic light. Accept that potholes are a fact of life. Go slow. Take your time, no matter how much you get honked by locals. It helps to remember than honks here don’t just indicate road rage. In my experience, a Dominican car honk can communicate any of the following: ‘Hi, friend, how are you?’ ‘I’m going to overtake you now, just a friendly warning!’ ‘I’m gonna go slow, so you go ahead and overtake me!’ ‘What a good looking lady.’ ‘Hey man, you’ve got a puncture!’ (This one did happen to us) These are just a few interpretations, since car honks are infinitely expressive. Trust Google, but not 100% Google’s estimate for our journey to Jarabacoa was a little over 2 hours. In reality, it took a little over 3 hours. Google Maps, it turns out, is not super familiar with bumpy Dominican mountain roads. The Cabarete to Moca leg of the journey is basically one long, winding, bumpy road. There are frequent inverted ‘speed bumps’, you know the kind where there’s a wide V-shaped break in the road. You make slow progress on roads like these, going at around 20mph. The road quality improves as the journey goes on, and you even have some stretches on the autopista (motorway), but even still our top speed was around 50mph. If Google offers you a shortcut when there is a clear main road that is around the same distance, take the big road. Save yourself the stress of driving several kilometers through a tight grid of residential blocks in Moca, for instance. Fun Stops What’s a road trip without some quirky stops? Go out and make some memories. Comedors Stopping at a comedor is highly advisable. They are dotted along the whole route, and you may well have a memorable encounter with a Dominican with your pica pollo. Fancy views For outrageous panoramic mountain views, schedule a stop at El Molino de la Cumbre restaurant. It’s on Route 21 between Jamao al Norte and San Victor, about an hour out of Cabarete. Even if you just pop in for a coffee, like we did, this place is well worth a little rest stop. And they sell local handmade artisanal products that are really cute and not overpriced. Boulevard de Arepas This is a rogue one. Towards Jarabacoa, there’s a long stretch of near-identical yellow stands selling two foodstuffs: arepas and yaniqueques. Arepas are giant, sweet, sticky cakes made from corn. I bought a pound for 50 pesos. They are really massive, I would love to see the oven these arepas are baked in! Yaniqueques are flat, fried dough crackers. The name is actually a Dominicanisation of Johnnycakes. Yup. Savoury and super tasty. Mine were 10 pesos each. Many of the stands carry the brand logo of Mazorca, a corn products company, as they donated a bunch of the casitas. The view of all the corporate-stamped stands is a little dystopian! Wing it! Take advantage of opportunities and surprises. If you see a whole pig being roasted on the side of the road – jump on out and get a piece of the action! Driving to Jarabacoa, or anywhere in the DR, is an adventure. It’s always best to approach such unpredictable adventures with an open mind and curious spirit. You don’t know exactly how it’s going to go, but that’s all part of the fun! Enjoy yourself and stay safe! Book your stay at the Extreme Hotel, and then go ahead and have a fun trip in Cabarete.
Beach Hair Care through the Sun & Surf
It doesn’t take long in Cabarete to realise you spend most of the time with your hair wet. Dipping in and out of the ocean and pool is something I always look forward to on vacation. But, it’s only when I get here that I remember how hard the sun, salt and chlorine is on my poor hair. There’s no denying that bleached salty surfer hair is a strong look. But it comes with its downsides. Dried out ends, colour damage and, of course, those salty tangles of doom. Here are some tips and hacks to keep your locks looking luscious, no matter what the adventure. Sun, Sun, Sun Just like your skin, your hair deserves some SPF attention. Sunscreen for your hair? I hear you cry. It might sound ridiculous, but, yes. The same UV rays you shield your skin from can wreak havoc on your hair. Especially if it’s coloured or already damaged. Pop an SPF spray in your suitcase for your hair and scalp (don’t forget, that’s skin too!). They’ll thank you for it. Warning: Short but important Chemistry lecture coming right up. Be careful to scan the ingredient list on your sunscreen. Some chemicals in sunscreen are killing or bleaching coral, and disrupting the ocean’s ecology. To preserve our beautiful ocean, we need to be alert to this potential danger and be responsible travellers. Make sure your sunscreen does not contain these common chemicals: Oxybenzone (sometimes written as Benzophenone-3, or BP-3) Butylparaben Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4MBC) These chemicals have been shown to harm coral, even in really tiny concentrations, like one drop in six and a half Olympic swimming pools! Oxybenzone in particular is super common, found in over 3500 sunscreen brands worldwide. An estimated 6,000 – 14,000 tonnes of sunscreen wash off swimmers into the coral reef environments every year. That’s not even counting the amount that washes into the ocean from our water waste systems. Eco-warriors, it’s your time to shine! Salt of the Earth. Or Ocean. As you may have noticed, overexposure to salty water dries out your hair, causing it to clump and break. The salt in the ocean draws water out of your hair by osmosis. (Yes, that water-moving process from high school science class is back to haunt you.) In the sun, you’re dealing with water evaporating from your wet hair, too, which makes the drying effect even worse. Woe is me. Coloured hair has it the worst. The salt can give it a weird, hard texture, and make it a nightmare to brush out. The solution: moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! There are a host of creams and conditioning masks out there that carry all sorts of claims to rehydrate your lamentable crusty beach hair. You can pick one up at the store, or whip up a home remedy. Lots of surfer chicks (and dudes) swear by coconut oil. You can apply it before you go out as a defensive shield, or after for damage control. Natural ingredients like honey and buttermilk can do wonders to quench dry strands. In Cabarete, a local remedy for dry ocean hair is to wait for an avocado to get ripe. I mean really, really ripe. And then crush it straight on top of your head. Smoosh it around and work it down the length of your hair. Leave it on as long as you can stand it, and then rinse it off in the shower. Maybe use one of those hair-trappers in the plughole to catch the chunks. Talk about an avocado smash! If that sounds like a bit much, try mashing half an avocado up with a few tablespoons of olive oil, two eggs and some water. A hydrating guacamole to satisfy the locks! Aside from adding some much-needed moisture back in, be sure to rinse your hair thoroughly with water after going in the sea. It helps. Just Keep Swimming… As a blonde who loves to swim, I’ve always had to deal with the dreaded green swimmer’s tinge. I learnt, however, that it’s not actually the chlorine that turns your hair green. Well, not directly. The real culprit is metals in the water, like copper, that are oxidised by the chlorine. They stick to your hair, which apparently is very porous, and edge you towards Grinch territory. Think more Lady of Liberty than Ariel. The best way to prevent green hair is to soak your locks in the shower before you head to the pool. Imagine your hair is like a sponge. If you pre-soak it with fresh water, it has less room to take in pool water. The water works like a protective coat against the metallic pool water. So, make good use of those poolside showers! For green hair, check your kitchen for a remedy. Try a rinse with baking soda, lemon juice, coke, or ketchup to get your colour back to normal. If all else fails, you can always fall back on the good old-fashioned swim cap to put some proper distance between you and the water. Don’t laugh, there are some cute ones out there! Sharing is Caring! Let us know in the comments if you have any beach hair care secrets up your sleeve. Share the love. Oh, and don’t forget to use a brush that’s gentle on the tangles. Wide-toothed combs are great, as are Tangle Teezers. Some beach babes also opt for the elegant plait to keep those bird’s nests under control. The best thing is to try out different things and see what works for you and your hair. With your beach hair care routine down, you can focus on having a wild time on your adventure vacation!
Cabarete Day Trips: Canyoning and Waterfalls
Call me crazy, but sometimes it’s fun to take a day off the beach to explore the world outside Cabarete. If you’re itching for adventure, you could try a canyoning trip to check out some beautiful local caves and waterfalls. Don’t get me wrong, I love the ocean. Water sports are what brings many visitors to Cabarete, and that’s totally awesome. But if you stick to beach activities, you might miss out on the amazing playground of rivers, waterfalls and canyons. The Dominican Republic has so much to offer, it just takes a little boldness to explore. Adventure travel companies like Kayak River Adventures or Iguana Mama offer all-inclusive tours to the locations. These usually include transport and a meal, sometimes even a couple of drinks to settle your nerves after a thrill. They have all the equipment and invaluable local knowledge to keep you super safe while you jump into natural pools of water. If you’re looking for a simpler deal, there are some spots like Laguna El Dudú where you don’t need a guide. Our hotel staff can help you organise transport to and from the location. Let’s take a look at some of Cabarete’s day trip canyon options. Magic Mushroom Cabarete residents rave about Magic Mushroom. Not the hallucinogenic drug, the stunning mushroom-shaped rocky waterfall. The adventure on offer at Magic Mushroom is to hike through the Dominican jungle to abseil/rappel 160ft (55m) down an amazing waterfall into a clear pool of water. There are a few insane cliff jumps that you can enjoy, too, if you’re up for it. The second rappel point can be jumped, which is a good 45ft (15m) high! The base camp is a 45-minute drive from Cabarete. Tours usually take a good few hours, so clear a whole chunk of the day for this epic adventure. Big Bastard Nearby to Magic Mushroom, along the river, you’ll find a beastly 60ft (20m) canyon jump known as Big Bastard. No need to explain why. This is not for people new to jumping off things into water. If that’s too daunting, there is a 49ft (15m) jump, as well as other platforms at lower heights where you can leap into the clear deep-green water. Ciguapa Falls A cascading tour of Ciguapa Falls will take you around its 6 awesome waterfalls, with a range of jumps up to 30ft (10m) high. If you don’t fancy the hike back to base camp after all that jumping, you can take a donkey. Pretty chill. 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua ‘27 Waterfalls’, or ‘27 Charcos’ in Spanish, is on the bucket list of many Dominicans and visitors to the North Coast of the DR. The tour starts with a 70-minute hike into the jungle, so you’re going to have to be fairly fit to get on board with this. There are, you guessed it, 27 waterfalls of varying heights that you can jump off. The pools of water are stunning and cool, perfect for splashing around in. The rush of the flowing river water over time has carved grooves in the rock. For us, that means natural water slides! Thankfully, there are always lots of options for jump heights, and of course there shouldn’t be any pressure to take a jump you’re not comfortable with. It’s your day out on in a natural playground and you are free to enjoy it exactly as you like! Laguna El Dudú As I mentioned above, Laguna El Dudú is a spot that’s accessible without an adventure tour guide company. The clear water, caves and lush forest make it a beautiful place to spend the afternoon, and it’s reasonably close to Cabarete, less than an hour and a half’s drive. It makes for a great stopover to break up a longer trip down the coast. If you’re heading to Las Terrenas, Samana, Las Galeras, or basically anywhere to the East, you can stop for a refreshing dip in the Dudú pools before heading on. The laguna is a gorgeously cool bright-turquoise pool. There’s a zip line you can ride that runs over the canyon, with a compulsory drop into the water. You can pay 25 pesos to have a go, step up if you dare. Not for the fainthearted, the 8- to 9-metre-drop promises quite the adrenaline rush. As someone very new to jumping into water from a height, the jump was a bit of a shock, but I’m glad I did it! When you let go of the handle, just be sure to fall like a pencil and look straight ahead. Oh, and lifejackets are provided. There is a smaller pool, half in the shade of a cave, which is a lush place to chill and swim in the crystal-clear water. Very family appropriate. There’s even a little baby jump off the side of a rock that you can enjoy if you’re not into heights. There are some caves to explore, too, so you can look at some impressive rock formations. With an onsite bar and restaurant, you can easily spend a whole day relaxing by the pools at Laguna El Dudú. Clamber on! Adventure really is around every corner in Cabarete, and it’s worth taking some time to do something a little different on your active vacation. If clambering in caves and abseiling off waterfalls sounds like your cup of tea, the Dominican Republic has got you covered. Chat to eXtreme Hotel’s friendly reception staff for more information about conditions and touring groups.
SUP in Cabarete
Stand-up paddle boarding, abbreviated to SUP, is a fast-growing sport in Cabarete, and around the world. Paddlers are exploring coastlines, rivers, lakes, and even city views on their boards. More and more people are discovering the joy of SUP and the opportunities it opens up. Big paddle events are taking place left, right and centre, where a huge group goes for an epic paddle journey. This sort of thing isn’t really possible with many other sports, like surfing or . Part of the beauty of SUP is that it’s so accessible. In Cabarete, SUP is a great activity to try as a family, as kids and adults of all ages can enjoy the mellow paddle vibes on flat water. Young children can even share a big board with a parent, so you can paddle around and have fun as a team. I’ve even seen people paddling with their dogs sitting on the board! The key skill in SUP is balance. Beginners, or wobblier individuals, start on a wide, long board that should provide a stable base for your paddling. More advanced paddlers might take out a narrower board that will zip through the water a bit quicker and be more maneuverable. In Cabarete, the time for SUP is usually first thing in the morning, before the wind has picked up. When the water looks flat, calm and glassy, that’s when you’re going to want to have a paddle. Once you’ve had a little practice, paddling can be very meditative and peaceful. You might discover a deeper connection to the ocean and to your breath in the quiet. Even if you don’t feel anything too mystical, SUP is a lovely, gentle way to take in the beautiful scenery along the coast. Yogis, you might want to give SUP yoga a try! Imagine the core workout from stabilising your vasisthasana side plank on a wobbly floating board. Surfers, you could mix it up by catching some waves on an SUP. Instead of paddling lying down and popping up to get on a wave, SUP-ers guide their board through the water and onto a wave with their paddle. No pop-up needed, you’re already poised to ride that wave! There are several SUP schools in Cabarete: Vela and Cabarete Wind Sports Club are on Cabarete Beach; Method Lodge, Kite Club, and Big Willy’s Kite School are on Kite Beach. You can rent boards and talk to the experienced instructors about SUP technique, boards, where to paddle, and how to stay safe on the water. Lifejackets are provided, too. It’s important to be aware of other athletes out on the water, as you may be sharing the water with windsurfers and kitesurfers. Ideally, paddlers will be out when there is no wind, so you won’t overlap with the windsports crew. If you talk to our friendly team at reception, they will point you in the right direction for an SUP adventure. Competitive SUP Even though it seems like the most chilled out sport, SUP is growing quickly as a competitive sport. Some events require competitors to race around a buoy on flat water. Other events are more like surfing contests, where athletes are judged on the sweet waves they can catch in an alloted time. The Pacific Paddle Games takes place every year in California, and just had its fourth Games in October 2018. It feature Pro, Junior, Youth, and Open categories, so non-professional SUP-ers can compete, too. The events are split into Technical and Distance, and it gets pretty intense. Why not give SUP a go on your adventure holiday in Cabarete?