Mountain Biking in Cabarete

Mountain Biking

Just out of Cabarete there are miles of dirt roads and endless mule trails making it mountain bike paradise. The scenery is breathtaking, perfect for videotaping and your digital camera. Stop and talk to the friendly locals, who always have a smile on their faces.

World Famous “Iguana Mama,” the Pioneers of adventure in the Dominican Republic.

Outside Magazine voted the trails made by the World Famous Iguana Mama as “Best All New Sporting Adventure”, “Your of the Month” by Bicycling Magazine, and nominated as “Top 25 Adventure Tours in the World” by National Geographic Adventure.
Safety

Local drivers are safe and are used to sharing the road with dogs, chickens, mules, goats, trucks, motorbikes, cars and guaguas. Please wear your safety equipment, taken into consideration, one should not miss the opportunity to cycle in the Dominican Republic. There is no better way to see the countryside, and nothing feels better than the nice Caribbean breezes when you are coasting down those hills!

Equipment

If you don’t have your own equipment, rentals are available. Be aware that this equipment is low-end and often not well maintained. Please be sure to check your mountain bike and safety equipment before you start your adventure

Best time to Ride

The best time of year to mountain bike in the Dominican Republic is June through October. It tends to be dry and more single track is open, thought you can mountain bike all year round.

Places to See

Islabon Jungle River Tour (Cabarete)

You can explore the Islabon and Yasica rivers by boat to its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean. You can also walk through jungle trails to a mini zoo that includes iguanas, snakes, turtles, ravens and a monkey (which are a little unorganized or can be wrongly labeled). Guides explain the origin and uses of different flora and talk about some of the popular types of fishing that is done in this area.

Scenic Drive: Cordillera Septentrional Route (Cabarete)

About 15 minutes east of Cabarete you can turn south onto the Moca Mountain Route that runs into the Cordillera Septentrional Mountain area. The drive passes through small Dominican villages and farm areas and you’ll have panoramic views of the countryside along the way. If you keep driving you’ll eventually end up in the city of Moca, the cigar-making capital of the Dominican Republic. This mountain road allows you views of the beautiful Cibao Valley and is an absolute favorite of motor bikers looking for a winding scenic bike tour.

El Choco National Park (Cabarete)

This lush and diverse 77 square kilometers of protected area was named a national monument. The park has unique geological formations to the DR, called the ‘Caribbean Karst’, as well as 862 species of flora, 12 species of bats, and 36 species of birds . The park is comprised of pasture land, a lagoon, and a jungle area that contains the many lush tropical plants, exotic birds, caves and fresh water springs.

he Dominican Republic is a paradise in the Caribbean, an excellent place to enjoy the nature, sun, beautiful landscapes and of course mountain Bike. Santo Domingo is its capital, located in the middle of the South part of the island, also offers attractive natural places waiting to be discovered.

In that great spot of the island we, Planet Bike, are the option for the cyclist who likes good bicycles rides, fine parts and accesories, first hand attentions, exceptional mountain bike adventures in the caribbean and great recreation in Dominican Republic.

Planet Bike means sports in Dominican Republic and the whole caribbean area. We represent the bike brands: Trek, Gary Fisher, Klein and Lemond, as well as their accessories and parts. We promote the practice of road and mountain Bike cycling in Dominican Republic. We also organize recreational and competitive events. Planet Bike is the point of contact and reunion in Santo Domingo of those who like mountain biking.

Among the most popular activities organize and supported by Planet Bike Dominican Republic we can find:

*
El Tour del sufrimiento (tour of sufferment): A 3 day mountain bike ride event crossing the central part mountain range of Dominican Republic. 165 miles aprox.
*
Prueba de Mountain Bike en Pareja (two persons team race): A family oriented event that takes place in may and november. The finish line is located in a picknic area where families and friends wait for the competitors and all share a good time.
*
Campeonato Distrital de Mountain Bike (state mountain bike tournament)
*
Weekend Tours: We just take off for the whole day, half day or the weekend.

These are just some of the activities that we offer to our friends and costumers.

Visit us in Santo Domingo Dominican Republic and you will be convinced that we are the best option.
Planet Bike in Dominican Republic, good mountain bike rides, good friends

Puerto Plata Mountain Biking Travel Tips
By Lynne Sullivan

* Thank the island’s first adventure-tour operator, Iguana Mama, for developing all biking routes in Puerto Plata province. Pick up a free map at their shop in Cabarete.
* Hate the uphills? Cruise downhill from high in the mountains through the Ciabo Valley on one of the DR’s most popular routes. At the end, cool off with a dip in the Jamao River.
* Intermediate and advanced riders can switch between road and trail along the 27-mile route through El Choco National Park, climbing gently sloping hills and taking in striking views of the park and surrounding area.
* Take the kids on the six-mile ride along the Islabon Coast. Guided tours start with a boat trip on the Yasica River followed by an easy ride. A hillier ride into a bird-filled forest can be found on the river path.

The Dominican Republic shares its land space with Haiti, and is one of the most prominent vacation spots to go mountain biking. Dominican Republic is famous for its beautiful and wonderful white sandy beaches, which boasts lots of tall palm trees and pretty blue waters. This Caribbean island paradise has so much more to offer vacationers who visit here. If you love adventure, nature, biking, hiking or intense sporting activity this is a great place for you to visit. Although many vacationers visit the Dominican Republic for a relaxing tropical beach vacation, you will find mountain biking is one of the best activities that can be enjoyed there.

Dominican Republic is a heaven for bikers of all levels, as its wide-ranging territory offer cyclist magnificent downhill thrills, with demanding single track and easy coast cruises. Mountain biking is definitely the best way to see Dominican Republic landscape. For the ultimate biking experience, along the northern coast of Dominican Republic is where you can find some of the best biking trails to explore. As this beautiful island features the highest mountain in the Caribbean, which is about 10, 400 feet high, in the area known as Caribbean Pico Duarte.

If you are interested in participating in this adventure, you may contact Dominican Republic local tourism offices or your hotel to provide you with the recommended guide. So, if you ever get tired of all the water sports activities, you can take pleasure in mountain biking, by heading to Cabarete, where you can find many trails to explore.

The landscape in Dominican Republic is amazing and in some areas the route conditions are very idyllic for mountain biking. There is something for all riders in Dominican Republic, and on routes like Gasper Hermandez to Moca, the area is very dry and can take you up to two weeks to explore fully. There are waterfalls and small towns along this route, where you can take a swim and lodge in the nights.

The Constanza to San Jose de Ocoa, which takes two days to discover, has the most amazing views in the countryside, but it tends to be difficult to maneuver (please to park warm clothing as it tends to get very cold). The El Choco Loco route will take you through some gorgeous and gently sloping hills on a three hour ride; while the Rocky route offers you lots of single track adventure in the island’s protected areas.

Other areas of interest to go mountain biking are the invigorating Ciabo Valley, the thrilling Jarabacoa Waterfall Loop, or the exciting Rio San Juan to Playa Grande routes. Plan a vacation for Dominican Republic and take a mountain biking tour of the island’s countryside and be refreshed by the cool breezes.

Just minutes away and ideal for intense adventure tours are the wild jutting mountain peaks, the enormous limestone rock formations and the lush green valleys of the Cordillera Septentrional. This hilly country terrain with it’s spectacular views and endless singletrack trails is perfect for mountain bike enthusiasts who want to get off road and do some serious cross country cycling in one of the most picturesque areas in this part of the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Experience.

To stay in the all-inclusive hotels in Playa Dorada would be to miss the real Dominican Republic.

You will love the people and the country when you get to see the real lifestyle but most of the hotel tours don’t show you the real Dominican Republic.

The hotels tell the tourists that it is not safe to go outside the hotel complex at night and only with tours in the day time.

THIS IS NOT SO!!!

As for safety, it has been my experience, it is entirely safe. Although there are occasions where single men and women have had a member of the opposite sex try to pick them up, love that “Latin” culture. Or a taxi driver has taken a customer for a few extra pesos.

These incidents have been very few in number, and violent crime is much less than back in downtown Toronto.

Most people come unprepared to discover the real Dominican Republic because most have booked an all-inclusive resort vacation and their mindset is that everything is already paid for.

And while the resorts include the meals, beverages with beach and poolside games, it seems a shame to travel this far and then stay stuck in the resort just because meals and beach volleyball are free.

The unseen opportunity here is that for a few hundred extra dollars you can turn a bargain resort vacation into a world class travel experience.

Another way to look at it is that for the price of a short hop to the Caribbean, you can have the kind of adventures that some people spend big bucks and travel halfway around the world to experience.