Hidden gems at affordable prices / self-drive tour

Your personal driver will be waiting for you at Punta Cana airport with a sign and will take you comfortably and safely to your hotel in the heart of Santo Domingo's colonial district. The evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure. We recommend a visit to Plaza de España, where you can choose from a variety of excellent restaurants. Enjoy your dinner overlooking the house of Christopher Columbus's son and let yourself be captivated by the cheerful and vibrant atmosphere.

• Meals included: None
• Accommodation: Hotel Villa Colonial

The capital of the Dominican Republic combines modernity with a thriving economy and its historic city center, the "Zona Colonial." During a two-hour guided tour through the Colonial Zone, you'll follow in the footsteps of Columbus and visit, among other things, the oldest cathedral in the New World, a fortress, ruins, and the residence of Christopher Columbus's son.
Afterwards, a tropical welcome drink awaits you in our offices in the Zona Colonial. During an approximately one-hour briefing, we will explain everything about your upcoming trip and give you important and exciting information about the country and its people. We will also share many insider tips on places and restaurants you can visit along the way.

• Meals included: breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel Villa Colonial

After picking up your rental car, your tour begins, taking you past cocoa, coffee, banana, rice, and tobacco plantations into the interior of the country. Enjoy the drive along a well-maintained panoramic road that leads you to an altitude of over 900 meters above sea level through the beautiful mountainous landscape. In the afternoon, you will reach Jarabacoa, a small town nestled at the foot of the surrounding mountains. Dominicans call it the "City of Eternal Spring" because of its year-round spring-like temperatures. It's worth making a stop along the way for a short hike to the impressive 75-meter-high waterfall, "Salto Jimenoa 1."

• Distance: Approximately 165 km
• Meals included: breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel Pinar Dorado

After breakfast, you can explore the area around Jarabacoa – the possibilities are virtually endless: there are various waterfalls to discover, a coffee factory to visit, and exciting excursions such as paragliding, river rafting, and mountain biking. For hiking enthusiasts, there is an exciting, though not entirely easy, hiking trail up Jarabacoa's local mountain.

• Meals included: breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel Pinar Dorado

Today the journey takes us to the north coast. Along the way, you can visit a cocoa plantation, explore the historic old town of Puerto Plata with its fortress, or enjoy a delicious lunch with stunning views. For the more adventurous, there's also the option of a gentle canyoning tour in a beautiful gorge, including lunch afterward.

• Distance: Approximately 165 km
• Meals included: breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel Villa Taina

These days are yours to explore and enjoy the water sports paradise of Cabarete: from the long village beach with its many shops and cafes, to surfing tours, canyoning adventures, leisurely kayaking trips, river tubing, and other excursions in the surrounding area – everything an adventurer's heart desires is on offer! We are happy to provide further tips and recommendations.

• Meals included: breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel Villa Taina

After breakfast, the journey continues along the rugged north coast. En route, you'll pass Playa Grande, considered one of the island's most beautiful beaches and ideal for a delicious, typical Dominican lunch. You can also plan a stop at the freshwater lagoon "Dudu" and take a zipline ride into the refreshing water. Your destination for today is Las Galeras, an idyllic fishing village at the very tip of the Samaná Peninsula. Enjoy the rest of the day on the pristine white Caribbean beach, located directly in front of your accommodation.

• Distance: Approximately 205 km
• Meals included: breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel Le BDM Playita

During these days, you'll explore the fascinating surroundings of Las Galeras on your own. This includes Playa Rincón, a beautiful Caribbean beach, and Playa Frontón, a hidden Robinson Crusoe-like beach accessible only by boat. Or you can visit the village beach, Playita, where you can order a delicious Dominican lunch. For sports enthusiasts, we recommend a hike across seven secluded coves and beaches. A hike to a hidden waterfall or a boat trip to other secluded beaches and coves is also an absolute highlight.

• Meals included: breakfast
• Accommodation: Hotel Le BDM Playita

The final destination of the trip is the lively fishing village of Las Terrenas. On the way there, we recommend a detour to El Valle – a true hidden gem, nestled in tropical nature. We would be happy to organize a hike through the jungle to a pristine waterfall, or you can visit the nearby zip-line park. Alternatively, you can also take a trip to the popular El Limón waterfall along the way.

• Distance: Approximately 65 km
• Meals included: breakfast
• Accommodation: Costarena Beach Hotel

You'll spend your last few days in the idyllic seaside resort of Las Terrenas. Relax on the beautiful beach or explore the stunning Samaná Peninsula with its lush landscape, bays, and waterfalls at your own pace by rental car. Las Terrenas is the perfect place to unwind. This small but vibrant fishing village, with its countless shops, restaurants, and bars, invites you to linger.

• Meals included: breakfast
• Accommodation: Costarena Beach Hotel

Return to Santo Domingo or Punta Cana airport via a well-maintained highway. En route, you can stop at the hidden Salto Socoa waterfall and mingle with the locals. Depending on your onward travel plans, you can return your rental car at the airport or extend your stay upon request.

• Distance: Approximately 140 km
• Meals included: breakfast