Driving directions from Santiago to Sosua

[laurapasinifan]

Originally Posted by Frank the Tank

bob, at most it has been 1.5 hours. How could it have taken you 2.5?? Get lost on a goat path???

traffic and construction.... and construction and traffic together.

all you need is the right series of busses and trucks using that road.... and you add 45 minutes

but after I posted i realize...I always leave from the Moca side of LiCey...so i should subtract the 20 minutes to get to the center of Santiago.

heck you should know Estrella Saldhala( I killed the spelling) can be clogged with trucks and traffic during the day before you get past the last Traffic circle.

bad bob

[Hillbilly]

Yeah, traffic can be nasty....
When the Luperon (Mountain way) is in fair shape, that is the one I take to Sosua...seem saner and quicker.
the Jamao route is truly lovely but kinda longish...
And the Duarte route, while good, really is like going around the "long way" ...

Time? Who tells time here?? THis is the tropics...no time here dude, just sun and fun...

HB

[DavidZ]

Originally Posted by newyorksfinest

1. Duarte Highway: "safest" route, but most indirect
2. Turistica Highway: most direct, but the road is often in terrible condition (even by DR standards) and can be very dangerous...VERY scenic though
3. Moca/Jamao el Norte Road: my preferred route, the road is VERY curvy but doesn't feel "dangerous"...also very scenic.

How long would each route take me to get to Sosua?

Oddly, they all tend to wind up taking about the same time, about 1 1/2 hours (depending on traffic and road conditions). Depending on where you're starting from in Santiago, the Turistica is probably the shortest route, and if during the day and if the road's in good shape, the quickest.

[CyaBye3015]

Originally Posted by DavidZ

Oddly, they all tend to wind up taking about the same time, about 1 1/2 hours (depending on traffic and road conditions). Depending on where you're starting from in Santiago, the Turistica is probably the shortest route, and if during the day and if the road's in good shape, the quickest.

It also depends on how many times you get lost!

If you do get lost, my advice is to hire a motoconcho driver to lead you to a main road.

[whirleybird]

My choice would have to be the Moca/ Jamao route every time and I have done it a fair few times recently though not really out of choice but it is beautiful, straighforward, mostly stress free and, as HB says, who is counting time here?!

[meregirl]

Okay I read through this thread and I hate to rehash the same question but I was hoping to get specific information for my circumstances. I am coming from Santiago airport and we are staying in a villa in Sosua that is almost to Cabarete. The last time I was here I stayed in Cabarete and drove back and forth to Puerto Plata so I know how the driving is.

What I want to know is which of the driving directions you have listed would be best for me. I have someone in the car that does tend to get a little car sick so it seems the mountain roads might not be a good idea. We will be driving a minivan so I am not sure if that really bumpy road would work. Our flight will arrive at 2:00 pm so we will be driving in the light. Please advise what your thoughts are to which route and how long do you expect it to take. I am open to any suggestions. Thank you!

[laurapasinifan]

Originally Posted by meregirl

Okay I read through this thread and I hate to rehash the same question but I was hoping to get specific information for my circumstances. I am coming from Santiago airport and we are staying in a villa in Sosua that is almost to Cabarete. The last time I was here I stayed in Cabarete and drove back and forth to Puerto Plata so I know how the driving is.

What I want to know is which of the driving directions you have listed would be best for me. I have someone in the car that does tend to get a little car sick so it seems the mountain roads might not be a good idea. We will be driving a minivan so I am not sure if that really bumpy road would work. Our flight will arrive at 2:00 pm so we will be driving in the light. Please advise what your thoughts are to which route and how long do you expect it to take. I am open to any suggestions. Thank you!

well if you dont drive fast on the mountain roads the car sicness isnt as bad....at least for my gf.

but if they do get car sick easily, then you only have one option. and that is through Santiago to navarette on route 1 and then take route 5 from navarette to puerto plata and onto sosua.

If it were not for the car sickness either of the mountain roads would be more direct to your destination..

And of the two roads..I think the route through moca and through Sabanete on route 21 is the lesser of the evils( in terms of swervy , up and down roads)

bob

[meregirl]

Sorry it took me so long to answer, work has been crazy. I have read a lot and it seems that the Turista road is not too terrible unless it has rained before. You recommend the Moca/Jamao road, do you have specific and detailed instructions with landmarks coming directly from the airport that you might be able to help me with. That would be wonderful, also how long in your opinion do you think it will take to reach Sosua?

[DavidZ]

If you're coming from the airport, definitely take the Moca/Jamao road.

Here are the directions, the only part I'm not 100% sure of is the direction to turn coming out of the airport, and what the sign says where you turn to head towards Moca/Licey:

When leaving the airport, don't go towards the highway, follow the road around the airport, exiting through the back

Follow this road until you see a sign towards Moca or Licey al Medio (if there is no sign, you can see the airport on your left, and I believe it's the first real intersection - make a left

This road leads to the road from Moca through Licey to Santiago. at the end (there will be a "Pollo Licey" restaurant in front of you) - make a right

Just before the end (after about 10 minutes), you will pass several car dealers and repair shops on both sides of the road... at the end make a left

After about 5 miles, there will be a large "new-ish" gas station on the left, I think it's called Sunflower or something like that (the only one on the left you will have passed) - at that intersection, make a right...this is the Moca/Jamao Rd.

This road goes over the mountain and is VERY curvy and very scenic, enjoy the views...but pay attention to the road! After about 20 minutes, you'll pass a restaurant on your left (Il Mulino) then 2 on your right (Cafeta, and Rancho La Cumbre). These are all great places to stop and have a bite or drink and enjoy the view.

From here it's about another 30-45 minutes to the end of the road.

At the end, make a left. this is the highway to Sosua.

You will hit Sosua in about 20 minutes.

If you're not familiar with the roads, it will probably take about 2 hours...or as little as 90 minutes.

[bachata]

Originally Posted by DavidZ

If you're coming from the airport, definitely take the Moca/Jamao road.

Here are the directions, the only part I'm not 100% sure of is the direction to turn coming out of the airport, and what the sign says where you turn to head towards Moca/Licey:

When leaving the airport, don't go towards the highway, follow the road around the airport, exiting through the back

Follow this road until you see a sign towards Moca or Licey al Medio (if there is no sign, you can see the airport on your left, and I believe it's the first real intersection - make a left

This road leads to the road from Moca through Licey to Santiago. at the end (there will be a "Pollo Licey" restaurant in front of you) - make a right

Just before the end (after about 10 minutes), you will pass several car dealers and repair shops on both sides of the road... at the end make a left

After about 5 miles, there will be a large "new-ish" gas station on the left, I think it's called Sunflower or something like that (the only one on the left you will have passed) - at that intersection, make a right...this is the Moca/Jamao Rd.

This road goes over the mountain and is VERY curvy and very scenic, enjoy the views...but pay attention to the road! After about 20 minutes, you'll pass a restaurant on your left (Il Mulino) then 2 on your right (Cafeta, and Rancho La Cumbre). These are all great places to stop and have a bite or drink and enjoy the view.

From here it's about another 30-45 minutes to the end of the road.

At the end, make a left. this is the highway to Sosua.

You will hit Sosua in about 20 minutes.

If you're not familiar with the roads, it will probably take about 2 hours...or as little as 90 minutes.

I agreed with yuo, this is the best way.
All your information are correct, I know this way very well as I had traveled throught there many time. as much three time a day during peak season doing transportation for tourist.

JJ.