The 4 most beautiful regions for road trips in the Dominican Republic

The 4 most beautiful regions for road trips in the Dominican Republic

Road trips in the Dominican Republic as a vacation are not as commonly known as in other countries in the world – which is a shame, as there is actually a lot to explore and discover on and besides the roads in this beautiful country. Even you might need some patience with the sometimes unusual way of driving, you will definitely be rewarded with many smiling Dominicans in the little fishing villages, unparalleled viewpoints during your trip and omnipresent food shacks along the road with different local delicacies. All of those experiences will give you an overwhelming feeling of freedom on the Dominican roads – off-the-beaten track and away from all the all-inclusive resorts. With this article we’d like to take you on a journey through the country and show you the most beautiful areas of the Dominican Republic for your road trip. After reading this, we are sure you’d like to book your rental car and explore the country on one of our road trips immediately.

Road trips to Samaná

The Samaná peninsula is usually known as the most beautiful part of the Dominican Republic. When you drive through the idyllic fishing villages and atop the lush mountain ridge with incredible views on nearly endless groves of coconut palm trees, you really don’t want to disagree with this statement. Furthermore there are several beaches waiting for you to be explored with your rental car. Playa Lanza del Norte, Playa Rincón, Playa El Valle and Playa Cosón are just a few of the beaches you can reach when doing a self-drive tour, many of them absolutely virgin and especially during the week without a single soul – you’ll have these beaches all for you alone. Due to the very special charm of the peninsula, the never-ending tropical vegetation and the many different stopovers you can do during your tour, Samaná is basically a must-do when planning a road trip in the Dominican Republic.

Samana

Our recommendation: One of the most favourite hotels of our clients travelling with rental car is the Aligio Apart-Hotel. It is located directly in the center of Las Terrenas, but also right in front of the beach and offers an outstanding price-value ratio as well as a perfect location for exploring the surrounding area.

Road trips along the North Coast

There hardly can’t be any better area for a road trip in the Dominican Republic than the North Coast between Samaná and Puerto Plata. There is a constant change of little fishing villages with shady coconut palm groves and the views to the left and right are switching back and forth from stunning ocean views on the one side and panoramas of the marvellous mountains of the Cordillera Septentrional on the other side. If you take into account the many interesting sights and attractions in this area, it is more than recommended to break up the journey along the north coast in various days. Along the way you can enjoy the unique Laguna Dudu with its Zipline, the amazingly beautiful Playa Grande, the hidden beaches Playa Preciosa and Playa Arroyo Salado, the trendy beach town Cabarete with its welcoming bars right at the ocean or of course Puerto Plata, which has various sights to offer such as the cable car, the rum distillery or the fortress in the old town. All of those attractions are located right on the road from Las Terrenas to Puerto Plata, which is around 120 miles long and an essential part of nearly every road trip in the Dominican Republic.

The Malecon and beach of Puerto Plata

Looking along the Malecon, Puerto Plata.

Our recommendation: If you want to have sufficient time to explore the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, have a look at our round-trip “The Land and its People“. With 3 days in Puerto Plata and 2 days in Rio San Juan you have plenty of opportunities to explore the various sights of the North Coast of the Dominican Republic during this self-drive tour.

Road trips through the Cordillera Central

Can there be anything better than mountains for a road trip? Breath-taking panoramas, curvy roads and an ever-changing landscape are some of the characteristic mountains all over the world are famous for – and the same applies for the Dominican Republic, where the highest peaks reach more than 10.000 feet. In this area around the mountain towns Jarabacoa and Constanza outdoor activities are especially famous, such as river rafting, quad tours, horseback riding, canyoneering, hiking, mountain biking or even paragliding. All of those are reason enough to break up the journey through the central mountain range of the Dominican Republic for a few days.
If you want to reach even higher, you can rent a SUV and head towards the National Park Valle Nuevo, which can be accessed through the highest mountain road of the Caribbean (around 8000 feet) and offers an absolutely unique mountain experience in the Dominican Republic.

Dominican Republic Jeep adventure

Cordillera Central

Our recommendation: For all mountain lovers we have our 4-day self-drive tour “Jeep Adventure” which is perfectly suitable to combine into a one-week road trip through the Dominican Republic. Ask your travel expert from Dominican Expert, who will be more than pleased to send you an individual quotation.

Road trips to the Southwest

If you would like to explore the Dominican Republic completely unvarnished, you shouldn’t miss the Southwest of the Dominican Republic. The tourism here is with the exception of some small and familiar guesthouses and B&Bs absolutely undeveloped, which is why it is possible to explore the Dominican Republic in its fullest natural beauty here. Especially the typical Dominican life with its simplicity and happiness are influencing the fascination this rural part of the country surrounds. If this sounds interesting for you, you should definitely consider a self-drive tour to the Southwest of the Dominican Republic.
Another big plus of a road trip through this area are the stunning natural sights you have “on your way”: the absolutely virgin beach of the Bahía de las Águilas is worth a trip alone and can be combined with ecological highlights as Laguna Oviedo or Lago Enriquillo.

Stunning views on the road from Barahona to Pedernales

Stunning views on the road from Barahona to Pedernales

Our recommendation: Our self-drive tour “Unknown Southwest” is the perfect option to experience this unique charm this area has to offer. This road trip option is perfectly suitable to combine with other regions of the Dominican Republic, such as the mountain area or the North Coast.

Read more:

– If you would like to see the most spectacular roads in the country, please read our blogpost about “The 5 most beautiful panorama routes for road trips in the Dominican Republic”
– If you would like to have a look at all of our road trips we offer, please check-out the overview of our self-drive tours

Are you interested in a road trip through the Dominican Republic? Contact our travel experts which are living directly in the country and have travelled extensively in all the areas mentioned (and a lot more). The self-drive tours offered by Dominican Expert are put together with the experiences from all these numerous trips to make sure you can travel with a rested soul and without any inconveniences. Our travel experts can enrich your road trip in the Dominican Republic with nearly endless insider tips and will tell you what to take care of when driving with your own rental car through the Dominican Republic. Furthermore they can adapt all the itineraries completely to your wishes, so that the whole tour will be exactly according to your needs.

Would you like to on a road trip around the Dominican Republic?

You want to go birding in the Dominican Republic and see the immense variety of this country? Ask us for your personalized birdwatching itinerary and get in touch with our professional travel experts.

Roundtrips

This short trip is specially designed for nature lovers who want to experience the animal and natural diversity of the Dominican Republic up close and far away from any civilization. Travel back in time and spend two nights in the National Park "Los Haitises", where over 4000 years ago the indigenous people of the island used to live in the caves there. During mating season from mid-January to mid-March, you will be able to witness the impressive humpback whales and see many bird species (some of them endemic) during an early morning bird watching tour.

5 Days / 4 Nights
from from 1,295 USD per person in double occupancy

Our round trip for golfers and connoisseurs starts in a renowned golf hotel, located directly on one of the most beautiful beaches of the island. Here you can settle in, enjoy the hotel's amenities and excellent service, as well as indulge your passion for golf - 4x green fees are waiting for you! In the UNESCO protected "Zona Colonial", the old town of Santo Domingo, you will find historic buildings, picturesque little streets and an excellent selection of gastronomic specialties. The "Zona" is full of life and colorful surprises! You will visit the most important rum distilleries in the country, experience cigar production first hand and see how a chocolate bar is made from a cocoa bean. You will also be able to eat delicious fresh fish, dine in the most historic square of the entire country and, of course, be invited to noble rum tastings - a real epicurean journey! Finally, relaxing days and golf await you in Puerto Plata, in a high-class boutique hotel on the beach - a perfect conclusion to this exciting golf trip through the Dominican Republic!

13 Days / 12 Nights
from USD 5,965.- per person in double occupancy

This golf trip starts in La Romana, at the prestigious Casa de Campo hotel. Here you can settle in, enjoy the hotel's amenities and excellent service, as well as indulge your passion for golf - 5x green fees are waiting for you! In the UNESCO protected "Zona Colonial", the old town of Santo Domingo, you will find historic buildings, picturesque little streets and an excellent selection of gastronomic specialties. The "Zona" is full of life and colorful surprises! Another highlight of the round trip is the peninsula of Samaná, which is one of the absolutely most beautiful regions of the country thanks to its miles of dream beaches and lush tropical nature. In addition to relaxing at the first-class, quiet beach hotel Sublime Samaná, you will embark on a journey through the Los Haitises National Park, where breathtaking natural beauty, countless bird species and exciting Taino caves await you. The last days of your trip you will spend in Punta Cana, the Caribbean No. 1, which impresses with its almost endless beaches - perfect to end the holiday and play a few rounds of golf on the most renowned courses in Punta Cana.

17 Days / 16 Nights
from From USD 7,490.- per person in double occupancy
Dreams Dominicus La Romana (All-Inclusive), Bayahibe

You want to spend a relaxing vacation with a lot of comfort in the most beautiful all-inclusive resorts, but still get to know a bit of the Dominican Republic, the country and its people? Then this trip is perfect for you! It combines the best resorts on the most beautiful Caribbean dream beaches with unforgettable experiences and impressions in beautiful places "off the beaten track", which remain hidden to most tourists. You will also make a short trip to the tropical peninsula of Samaná and visit the national park "Los Haitises". Our private transfers with professional drivers will take you to the most beautiful areas and unique accommodations of the Dominican Republic according to your wishes and with a lot of comfort.

15 Days / 14 Nights
from USD 2,640.- per person in double occupancy
Las Dunas de Baní, the sole desert in the Caribbean

The southwest of the Dominican Republic, also called "Sur Occidental", is one of the "Top Secrets" of this island, because this area is still almost completely undiscovered by tourists. With your private driver or driver-guide you can discover this region intensively and accompanied. Sit back during the rides and enjoy the unique views. In this region you will mainly find pure nature and the real Dominican life, far away from tourism and hustle and bustle. The southwest of the Dominican Republic with its seven national parks combines snow-white and pristine beaches with barren mountain landscapes, lagoons, rivers and waterfalls. This trip will take you through a unique Caribbean natural landscape. Unforgettable moments are guaranteed! If you travel with a driver-guide, you will also learn a lot about the country, culture, history, flora and fauna on the spot.

6 Days / 5 Nights
from USD 1,140.- per person in double occupancy
Dominican People

On this unique round trip, within only one week, you will discover the most beautiful parts of the Dominican Republic which most tourists never get to see. With your private driver or driver-guide you can discover the Dominican Republic intensively and supervised. Sit back during the rides and enjoy the unique views. Travel through the heart of the island with waterfalls, lakes and mountains; and don't worry, you won't miss the beautiful beaches on this trip either. Moreover, if you travel with a driver-guide, you will learn a lot about the country, culture, history, flora and fauna on the spot. As one of the highlights you will visit the remote and untouched national park "Los Haitises" during the trip.

8 Days / 7 Nights
from USD 3,540.- per person in double occupancy
La Reyoa Waterfall Hike, Puerto Plata

The Dominican Republic offers a variety of natural beauty unique in the Caribbean. This versatility provides the ideal conditions for any kind of adventure experiences and sporting activities, which you will experience in two weeks on our round trip "Active Island Experience". The always pleasant air and water temperatures throughout the country make the activities even more special experiences. From activities like canyoning, river rafting, paragliding, hiking to remote beaches and waterfalls, mountain biking, surfing and kiting: this trip combines everything an adventurer's heart desires! Of course, you can choose the type and number of activities that best suit you - we will be happy to customize the trip according to your wishes. Besides, on this trip you will get to know beautiful landscapes, dream beaches and exciting places that remain hidden to most tourists and learn a lot about the Dominican culture and local life.

15 Days / 14 Nights
from USD 2,875.- per person in double occupancy

Discover the Caribbean far away from civilization on this rental car tour and explore some of the most beautiful places in the Dominican Republic, which remain hidden to most tourists. Perfectly suited for mountain and outdoor lovers! One of the highlights of this is the ascent of Pico Duarte: at over 10,000 feet, it is the highest peak in the Cordillera Central and thus in the entire Caribbean region. On this mountain tour in the Dominican Republic you will experience a unique natural landscape, which presents itself in a breathtaking way in the different climates you will hike through: from tropical landscapes to pine and deciduous forests, past crystal clear mountain streams to rocky summit landscapes. Definitely a unique experience! Other highlights of this adventure trip in the mountains are the crossing of the highest pass road of the Caribbean in the Cordillera Central, overnight stay in the highest hotel of the Caribbean as well as an unforgettable canyoning adventure. The level of difficulty of all sporting activities can be adapted to you depending on your fitness and abilities.

8 Days / 7 Nights
from USD 1,795.- per person in double occupancy

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