Higuey--Samana through the woods

Don't even consider this without a 4x4, full 6 hours of daylight and full tanks of gas..

A few weeks I posted a request for information regarding travel from Higuey to Samana without going back to Santo Domingo. Dolores advised it could only be made, if at all, by 4x4 and this is more than true.

I left Higuey for El Seibo on reasonably conditioned roads (Any decent sedan could travel this portion) and arrived in El Seibo without incident. In El Seibo you will definitely need to ask a few times for directions to Hato Mayor, as there is no clearly defined road. The road to Hator Mayor is “reasonably” passable if you are a bit daring, but doesn’t require 4x4. Once you arrive in Hator Mayor, things change. I doubt you will find the road to Monte Plata without a guide for several miles out of town. The main bridge at Hator Mayor is gone and it takes a rather strange detour around town to get headed East again. Don’t even consider going any further unless you have a good 4x4, preferably traveling with another. The road to Monte Plata quickly deteriorates into a muddy, rutted cow path, suitable for only 4x4. There are multiple “washouts” where you will have to add rocks to what was left of the bridges to cross. About half way to Monte Plata, you will encounter a river crossing, and depending on rainfall, you can cross at water levels from 8-10” to impassable, the bridge is gone. I slipped off the “path” through the river and was pulled out by a farmer with two Mules! IF you reach Cotui, you will again need directions to Nagua, making sure you always bear to the right, avoiding another side trip to San Francisco De Macoris. From Cotui to Nagua, the road is rough but passable.

Unless you plan on bringing supplies to a few desolate people, or really wish to see some interesting backwoods sights, the trip is very tiresome and long, but it was there so……

Tom