samana - jarabacoa: how to do it?

[drmaniac]

Hi guys!
I am going from Samana to Jarabacoa next August for a couple of days of excursions to the waterfalls and after that I will reach SD. I need the following infos:
1. is there any public transport (no taxi, I guess too expensive) way to reach Jarabacoa leaving from samana? how long does it take to go there?
2. I read about the new highway from samana to SD. May it be an option going first to SD (1h and half -but is there a bus company driving that new road???) and from then take the Caribetours to Jarabacoa? Of course, not in the same day, but after two or three days of relax in the capital...

[kapitan75]

It all depends on where you want it to end (airport, hotel,home). You could take the bus to santiago,cab it or publico to la vega and cab it up to jarabacoa, or try the new way samana to capital highway(I don't know if bus route exist yet), return capital to santiago via bus, publico to la vega then up to jarabacoa. should be a very good trip IMHO. good luck.

[Noche]

My husband and I took the new highway (freeway) back from Samana to SD. We got mixed info right up until the end, and we decided we would just go for it. First, we did make it safely to SD, but barely. It wasn't a 1 1/2 hour trip, as was told to us, but more like 3 hours. Most of it was muddy or in the process of being leveled - it was not paved. That is one of the reasons it took so long. There were spots I thought we were going to get stuck. It is VERY isolated, so you are likely to be the only vehicle on the road. Now this was in Feb. 2008, so maybe it has changed. I took pictures of some of it. We were in a good vehicle... a Navigator, and I didn't feel safe. I wouldn't do it again, nor would anyone we were traveling with.

[lollipop]

The road is finished now Noche.

Drmaniac: I think your idea of going 1st to SD is a good one and it'll be way easier to get to Jarabacoa from there than from Samana.

[thurston]

Hi drmaniac,

As lollipop said you can now use the new road from Samana to SD and then to Jarabacoa, from SD you have more options.

Have Fun

[alloallo3]

Just take the Caribe bus from Samana. You may have a short wait in San Francisco de Macoris, but that'll give you a chance to look around.
It's dirt cheap, and clean and comfortable.

[jalencastro]

if i were around i'd let you hop in my car and come along for the ride, i always rent a car when i go and am travelling the island non stop. Samana is my next destination upon arrival!