How to Climb the Highest Mountain in the Caribbean – Pico Duarte – on the Cheap
It all started with my boyfriend, Honza’s upcoming 30th birthday. I always knew he would love to climb Pico Duarte – the highest mountain in the Caribbean, but I also knew I wanted to plan this trip myself and surprise him on his birthday. So I seemingly ignored his talks about it and secretly started plotting. Through The eXtreme Hotel, I got in touch with Jade and Gabriel of the fantastic travel blog: wetravelandblog.com. They climbed Pico themselves, so I was able to get a number for a guide and valuable advice on How to Climb the Highest Mountain in the Carribbean – Pico Duarte – on the Cheap Pico Duarte (elevation: 3,087 m) is situated in the Armando Bermudez National Park, roughly 80 miles (130 km) from Cabarete. There are basically two ways of doing this trip. Either you can go through an agency which will organize everything for you, transport, hotel, guide, etc. for approximately 500 dollars per person or, if you are more adventurous, you can do it on your own will!. We opted for the latter. We had a great experience, and on top of it, managed to lower the cost to slightly under 200 dollars for both of us. On Friday morning, we set off from Los Brazos on our motor bike towards Jamao, Moca, and Jarabacoa. It went quite smoothly all the way there. Although those steep hills were definitely challenging for our bike La Perla Negra. (Name she got when one man in Cabarete claimed it was his stolen bike called la Perla Negra. Turned out it wasn’t the guy‘s bike but we liked the name so it stuck.). For those of you who decide to go by a motor bike or a car, in Jarabacoa it can get a bit tricky. There is a sign ‘turn right to go to La Ciénaga’ but then no sign telling you to turn left at the next crossroads. So, naturally we kept going straight. Another big challenge for our bike: a steep dirt road, many holes, very little traffic…us thinking that La Ciénaga must be really off the beaten track. Turns out we were on the wrong track ourselves, of course. Luckily there were two men driving a van back to Jarabacoa who took me and our big backpack with them and Honza followed us on the bike. This time we took the right turn and got first to Manabao and then to La Ciénaga: the starting point for the hike to Pico Duarte. In La Ciénaga we asked for “parque nacional“ and pretty much anyone would send us in the right direction. We met our guide Francisco in the centre of the village. He then showed us to his house which is right next to the colmado where we bought food for our trip. We dined together at his cousin’s little shack and Francisco arranged for us to sleep in the building of the national park. Herman, the keeper of the park, let me and Honza stay for 200 pesos per night. We agreed to meet up early morning in our guide’s house, have a cup of coffee and set out on our adventure. Happy hikers on pico duarte Saturday morning, 8:00 a.m. Honza, myself, Francisco, one horse, and one mule – ready for the trip! The last two were the ones who carried it all – our stuff, our food, and our guide. The weather was great, sunny and a little bit chilly – perfect for a hike. It didn’t take long and we were higher than we could ever get in our country – Alto de la Cotorra. The path was steep as we got higher but the view was stunning and we were full of energy so we didn’t mind. We were amazed at how different the landscape was, how palm trees changed for pine trees, how hilly and cool it was. Hard to believe we were still in the Carribbean. As for animals, we heard many birds sing and almost all the way up we were accompanied by humming birds. It seemed they welcomed our company and enjoyed flying around us. We took regular refreshment breaks in order to regain our strenght. Funny how even ordinary things like bread and cheese taste so much better once the body gets tired and you are in fresh air. Landscape around Pico Duarte We weren’t the only ones who decided to climb Pico Duarte that weekend. There was a group of four people with two guides who we kept passing. Apart from them, all the other people were going down. It was nice to hear that although we had a long way ahead of us, we were doing really well when it came to time. It took us less than 8 hours to get to Compartición (2,450 m), a place where we found shelter, spacious kitchen, bonfire and a good company of fellow travellers. That night there was a big group from Propa Gas having a team building weekend. They were really welcoming and we spent a good part of the night laughing and joking with them. Around 10 p.m. both me and Honza as well as our guide Francisco went to sleep because we wanted to leave at 4 a.m the next morning. We woke up before the alarm clock and started packing. Francisco decided to leave the mules there and we only took a small backpack with us. The sky was amazing, so many stars among silhuettes of pine trees. We greeted the other group of guys that was getting ready to go up that morning and set off. Pitch black, a bit rainy, Francisco with a torch leading and us behind him with a headlight. We kept walking up, following only a narrow stony path, putting one foot in front of the other. I had to stop more often to catch my breath and soon enough we saw a line of headlights in the dark approaching us. The way they swayed I
Paragliding in the Dominican Republic
Paragliding in the Dominican Republic This past weekend I took off on a mini road trip to go paragliding in the Dominican Republic with five other adventurous travelers! Our destination was Jarabacoa in a province called La Vega about 100km from Cabarete. We opted to rent a car rather than take a gua gua as it saves time and gives you a little more freedom to explore. For $45 USD we rented a car from Easy Rider that at first glance appeared to have only five seats, but in reality fit six people and a dog quite comfortably. If you’re cautious to lend out your credit card, Easy Rider does accept cash. While the car did have some electronic issues that caused the headlights to sputter out a few times (not exactly ideal on a dark highway), we booked last minute and it fulfilled our needs otherwise. After a beautiful two hour drive inland through the mountains, we arrived in Jarabacoa! I looked into two flight schools that offer tandem paragliding in the Dominican Republic, both based in Jarabacoa. Hawk Paragliding had the best reviews on Trip Advisor so I decided to book with them. Because we came in a group of five, they gave us each a $10 discount. One of their guys came and met us at a gas station right as we got into the city and we followed them up into the mountains to the landing site. Once we got there, paragliding in the Dominican Republic became parawaiting. In order to keep the paraglides in the air, there needs to be a combination of wind and thermals. Unfortunately, the weather was not ideal for paragliding in the Dominican Republic that day so flights were relatively short and a long wait. Luckily, we were in a beautiful place in good company. After an hour or so, conditions were good enough for our pilots to fly down with their previous group. After loading everything back in their truck, our group and the pilots headed up the mountain to our flight site. Excitement was running high as we all geared up for our first time paragliding in the Dominican Republic. We all felt safe and secure with the equipment Hawk Paragliding provided, they are required to abide by safety standards and were happy to answer any of our questions. Everyone wore a helmet and a harness that doubled as a seat that goes in front of your pilot. Once I was all clipped in, I stood at the top of the hill and ran as fast as possible from the top, then woosh! Before I knew it I was flying with the birds over the island. It was a spectacular site and while most of us were expecting an adrenaline packed flight, paragliding in the Dominican Republic turned out to be a very peaceful, tranquilo activity. Though we were only in the air for ten minutes, flights can last up to a few hours depending on the conditions. If you are interested in seeing this beautiful island from a new perspective or want to conquer your fear of heights, I highly recommend Hawk paragliding in the Dominican Republic. Post and photos by Lynsey Wyatt.
Day Trip to Jarabacoa
When people think of things to do in the Dominican Republic, they often think of beach side activities like kite boarding in Cabarete or snorkeling in Sosua. However, one of the beautiful things about the Dominican is the variety the island has to offer! From most places on the island, you can reach a new strikingly beautiful destination that looks completely different from the last you visited within just a couple of hours. This past weekend I headed inland to a city in the La Vega province for a day trip to Jarabacoa. Due to Jarabacoa’s year round mild temperatures, it is often known as the “The City of Everlasting Spring”. A beautiful drive into the mountains, a day trip to Jarabacoa offers everything from River Rafting in the Yaque del Norte to swimming in the Salto Jimenoa waterfalls. A view from the beautiful drive through the mountains. A day trip to Jarabacoa is just a few hours away from Cabarete. My first stop on my day trip to Jarabacoa was Rancho Jarabacoa. The ranch is a great place to land before spending the day adventuring. They offer tours and food as well as a pool table and hammocks for some fun during your downtime. The view out front of Rancho Jarabacoa on a beautiful sunny day. After a quick game of pool and a caffeine boost I headed out with a group to the Salto Jimenoa waterfalls. Just a quick few minutes down the road from the ranch, the falls are absolutely serene. The trip is also perfect for families as they are easily accessible and there is a safe viewing space. It takes less than fifteen minutes to reach the falls, though if you have a fear of heights, be warned you must cross bridges to access the viewing spot. For the more adventurous individual, you can ditch the well-beaten path and climb the rocks in the river up to the falls. If you’re up for a challenge, the rocks are a slippery and super fun climb to reach the waterfall. Surrounded by lush green foliage, the Salto Jimenoa falls are a beautiful site. Beneath is a pool of pristine fresh water perfect to take a dip and enjoy the natural beauty or take a seat in the sand and relax. The beautiful view of the Salto Jimenoa Waterfalls was the highlight of my day trip to Jarabacoa. Whether you are interested in adventurous activities like white water rafting or more relaxed activities like exploring the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve, a day trip to Jarabacoa is a lovely excursion for anyone visiting the island. The light breeze and crisp air will ensure a nice break from the sand and sun of the coast. On the way back, be sure to grab some Jarabacoa strawberries sold at the fruit stands along the road or surprise your sweetie with the beautiful flowers grown locally. Post and photos by Lynsey Wyatt.
Gua Gua to Gri Gri Lagoon
Our adventure catching a gua gua to Gris Gris Lagoon: This past weekend myself and the rest of the Taino Organic farm volunteer crew took off on another gua gua adventure on the north coast of the beautiful island of Hispaniola. As volunteers at eXtreme hotel’s farm, we often spend our weekends off cruising the coast and exploring different areas of the island. This time our destination was Playa Diamante in Cabrera, about 60km from Sabaneta or 70km from Cabarete. From Sabaneta we piled into a gua gua and headed east to Rio San Juan. Gua guas are a low cost option for exploring the Dominican Republic, from Sabaneta to Rio San Juan it costs 75 pesos and another 75 pesos from Rio San Juan to Playa Diamante in Cabrera. After a beautiful drive along the north coast and through the mountains we reached Playa Diamante. It is a charming little spot perfect for the whole family with a calm tide and crystal clear water. There is a restaurant on site and not too many people, rather uncommon for a Sunday on the beach in the Dominican. We found ourselves amidst friendly local families relaxing and listening to some bachata music. Bring along a picnic and enjoy, kids can run and play in the seemingly endless shallows and parents are free to sit back and relax in the sun free of worry. We caught a gua gua back to Rio San Juan and before heading back to Sabaneta stopped at the Gris Gris Lagoon. The mangrove trees are stunning and you can take a boat out for less than 400 pesos per person. Or, if you are short for time like we were, you can walk down a winding path around the lagoon and through the trees that leads all the way down to the beach. The trees are great to climb and if you’re daring like some of the local kids you can jump off into the water. The beach is lively and there are plenty of opportunities to join in on a game of volleyball or baseball. For lunch we went to the restaurant at the Gris Gris Lagoon. When we asked for a menu, they instead showed us the catch of the day and offered to split the massive fish for us. I opted for some delicious platinos fritos and stir fried veggies. All of the food was seasoned to perfection and very reasonably priced (we all paid under 300 pesos including some fresh donuts for desert). There is a beautiful view of the lagoon and we were even lucky enough to watch some turtles while we waited for our meal. If you are looking for a family friendly spot, Playa Diamante is a wonderful place to spend a relaxing afternoon. Stop by Rio San Juan on the way back and explore the mangrove forest and a fresh meal or a game of volleyball on the beach before enjoying a sunset ride back across the north coast.
Snorkeling on the Main Beach of Sosúa
This past weekend myself and the rest of the Taino Organic farm volunteer crew decided to go exploring and Snorkeling on the Main Beach of Sosúa. As volunteers at the farm, we often head to the north coast of the island to eXtreme hotel in Cabarete to meet up with friends and explore. We dropped by the eXtreme hotel to borrow some snorkeling masks and then hopped into a gua gua heading west towards the playa principal (main beach) of Sosúa. If you don’t mind being a little squished, gua gua’s will allow you to explore the north coast of the island at a very low cost. From Cabarete it is only 30 pesos and takes about 20 minutes to get to one of the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic. When we arrived, we found some shade and took turns heading out into the water. If you would like, you can rent a beach chair for a hundred pesos (they also offer drinks and massages for an additional cost), or you can bring a towel and lay out on the sand for free. Being a first time snorkeler, I headed out and was in awe when I dove beneath the surface and was able to see everything so clearly. The water on the main beach is calm and the foliage and fish are as vibrant as the rest of this beautiful country. The current isn’t very strong so we swam out quite far, gazing at the different areas of reef and attempting to capture the glory with the GoPro. When we switched out with our fellow volunteers Karin and Honza, Peyton and I went and laid on the beach where a group of Dominican musicians were playing some Spanish tunes. Two classical guitars, bongo drums and an instrument that looked to me like a cheese grater (a Dominican instrument I later found out is called a güira) make up the enthralling Bachata music native to the Dominican Republic. When they took a break between songs I mustered up the courage to go over and chat with them. Though my Spanish is limited, I introduced myself and they invited me to play a bit of guitar and then sing along with them. The guys were very friendly and soon Peyton as well as Karin and Honza came and joined us when they returned from snorkeling. Afterwards we grabbed a quick bite to eat and an ice cream, spending less than five hundred pesos before catching a gua gua back to the farm in Los Brazos. Whether you are a budget traveler or a professional diver, the main beach of Sosúa is worth the trip. The locals are friendly and the beach is serene. Grab a mask and swim out into the calm crystal clear water or chill on the beach all day, either way you are bound to enjoy a lovely day in paradise.
Mountain Biking in El Choco National Park
The other day I decided to join our hotel guest, Rayno on an amazing 44km mountain biking tour through the El Choco National park. This tour was offered by Iguana Mama – a tour operator that I use to book all adventure tours for guests at Extreme Hotel. At 8am, we made our way to Iguana Mama where we met our tour guide Alejandro. As I sat drinking my coffee I watched him set up our primo mountain bikes. Checking our breaks, tires, gears, I felt reassured that both my guide and my bike were going to get me around the mountain in one piece. El Choco National Park: We started by riding a few kilometers towards Sosua to the entrance of the Park. The first part of the ride was fairly easy and nice. We passed some pastures and local Dominican farmers. As we got higher into the hills, we rode through an amazing area that was full of mansions and ranches. Perfectly manicured lawns and gardens with spectacular views, this is where the upper class lives. Finally Alejandro prepped us for the trek – he gave us a brief rundown of what to expect for hills: Big, short, steep, long, hard, challenging. Slow and steady is what I’m thinking. They weren’t lying when they said that this was a challenging tour – I definitely had to dig deep sometimes and go to my happy place, but Alejandro always made a point to let us have breaks when we needed to catch our breath and also appreciate the amazing views. Standing on top of the El Choco mountain range, we could see from Cabarete to Nagua. Peppered with smaller bays, you can get a good lay of the coast and an appreciation for the diversity of the terrain. We could view all the peaks and valleys, grassy plains and thick jungles around us. When we finally started descending the hills, we rode through some smaller villages. Surrounded by wonderful communities. We said “hola” to kids playing and women hanging laundry. It was a special glimpse into these peaceful community lives. When the three of us eventually made it out of the El Choco National Park, we were near the Yassica river 15km east of Caberete. By that time my arms felt numb from all the bouncing down the mountain and cruising on the road was a nice change. About half way back we stopped for some fresh coconut water before the final leg back to Cabarete. This was truly an awesome trip! It took us three and half hours and that was said to be a good time. We were all fairly fit people so I only recommend this trip to those that are used to feeling the burn in your thighs and enjoying it. If you want a similar experience, but would prefer a more relaxed tour, Iguana Mama offers other tours that are more leg friendly. My recommendation: if you want to take some time away from the beach and check out what else Cabarete has to offer, do a bike ride! It’s a fantastic way to get in some culture and adventure, and see what gems are hiding inland. Until next time! Genevieve