Santo Domingo - Oviedo - Enriquillo

[Hedinsei]

Hello everyone,

I've got several questions on visiting South-West major places of interest from Santo Domingo on a rented car.

1. Is the following route possible without driving after dark:
day 1 - leave Santo Domingo early morning, drive to Laguna Oviedo, visit laguna, drive to Polo Magnetico, drive to La Descubierta, overnight
day 2 - visit Lake Enriquillo national park and drive back to Santo Domingo

2. Do we need to pre-book any tours or we can arrange everything upon arrivals? (we are a group of four)

3. How much should tours for Laguna Oviedo and Lake Enriquillo cost for four people?

4. We don't need a 4x4 car for this route, right?

5. What are other interesting worth visiting or stopping places en route?

6. Lonely Planet lists one hotel in La Descubierta (Iguana hotel). Is it OK? We just need a place to overnight as close to Enriquillo as possible as we want to get on the morning tour there - any other suggestions for hotels?

[mountainannie]

Originally Posted by Hedinsei

Hello everyone,

I've got several questions on visiting South-West major places of interest from Santo Domingo on a rented car.

1. Is the following route possible without driving after dark:
day 1 - leave Santo Domingo early morning, drive to Laguna Oviedo, visit laguna, drive to Polo Magnetico, drive to La Descubierta, overnight
day 2 - visit Lake Enriquillo national park and drive back to Santo Domingo

2. Do we need to pre-book any tours or we can arrange everything upon arrivals? (we are a group of four)

3. How much should tours for Laguna Oviedo and Lake Enriquillo cost for four people?

4. We don't need a 4x4 car for this route, right?

5. What are other interesting worth visiting or stopping places en route?

6. Lonely Planet lists one hotel in La Descubierta (Iguana hotel). Is it OK? We just need a place to overnight as close to Enriquillo as possible as we want to get on the morning tour there - any other suggestions for hotels?

OK- First although I have often been down to Pedernales, I have not been to Enriquillo so I am only reporting hearsay - but the hearsay is that the motors on the boats in Lago Enriquillo are often not working. This from friend who used to work booking tours - she recommends using
ECO Tour Barahona, the ecologic tourism in Dominican Republic run by a young French couple who have their own boat and motor. So I would check for that before you come.

Second- I think that you would find the trip to Oveido along with Enriquillo a bit redundant since they are both inland salt seas. When I went to Oveido there was nothing available except a lookout station.. Unless, of course, you are some sort of nature specialists... looking for some elusive bird..

And, you will be missing two GREAT extraordinary natural wonders of the south - one Bahia de las Aguilles, and the other Holos de Pelempito - both accessible from Pedernales.... Lonely Planet - in its last edition (have not checked the new one) completely dissed Pedernales - which, in my opinion, is one of the nicest of all DR towns... But then, as a whole, I did not think that their DR guidebook was really up to LP standards.

Hope this helps.

And yes, you can do it all without 4x4

Sorry that you aren't giving it more time, though.....

[Hedinsei]

Thanks a lot for your comments! Eco Tour Barahona costs are high for us but I e-mailed them now asking whether they provide a discounts for people using their own transportation (I assume they should - we'll see how it goes.

My guide-book mentions Hoyo (not Holos) de Pelempito as a viewing spot and visitors center for Sierra de Bahoruco national park - do you mean this? It is possible to get their by a sedan car, right? From there do we just look around or there are tours deeper in the park available?

Best way to get to Bahia de las Aguilles is to hire a boat in Las Cuevas?

If we go to Pedernales, is it possbile to continue our way towards Lake Enriquillo without returning to south road (i.e. to drive via El Naranjo and El Limon) or the road is bad?

[BPL888]

I went to Hoyo de Pelempito in October. We went in a hired taxi (minivan) from Barahona. The taxi driver assured us that he would be able to take us all the way there. 90% of the trip was no problem but once we entered the gates to the National Park the road got so bad that it was impassable for any non-4 wheel drive car. We almost turned around to go to Bahia Aguilas instead but the taxi driver convinced the park ranger to take both of us up to the information/observation deck on his rather large dirt bike for 500 pesos($15 US). They said it was about 6 killometers but it was more like 10 or 15. My sister got the soft second seat but I had to sit on the metal luggage rack. OWW MY KIESTER!! My a$$ is still sore! The road was very rough and bumpy and it took us about a half an hour to reach the deck. It was very nice with a well done information display regarding the flora and fauna and the view was incredible. The park ranger was very nice and did his best to explain the area and answer our questions. He was also an expert with the bike only needing to stop once on some pretty rough stretches of road. I got the impression that this sort of a ride for tourists was very much out of the ordinary and the money I paid him was quickly given to his supervisor when we returned. There was also a 100 peso park entrance fee. All in all it was a very worthwile trip and the tens of thousands of butterflies along the road made it seam sureal. We also saw a lot of Haitians along the back roads apparantly trying to avoid the checkpoints. We finished the day at the beach at Los Patos and had a great late lunch and a swim in the fresh water pools. A very interesting trip. I'm sure you will enjoy it. It truly is an absolutely beautiful part of the country.

[destinationbarahona]

@Hedinsei
I think you have planed a heavy trip.
Yes, like others said before: this area is the most beautyful place on island.
And it would be very sad, when you just run around, looking to everything and finally you have seen nothing.
First some ideas about time: From Sto. Domingo to Barahona you need around 2,5 - 3 hours. Specially when you are not used to this area and you search for signs. From Barahona to Oviedo is another hour. Back from Oviedo to Polo magnetico will take 1,5 hours. Continuing to Lago Enriquillo (La Discubierta) takes another hour aprox.
By the way: You can do all without 4x4! Beside the visit in Bahia de Las Aguillas. You can go to Cabo rojo and Las Cuevas, but if you like to enter the nature park (50 RDS entrance fee each perseon), a 4x4 is needed!! Or you take a lancha (fisherman's boat). Last time it cost 1800 RDS (up to 5 persons). But I have heard they lower the price to 1600 RDS (gasoline is now very cheap).
The Laguna Oviedo cost also 50 RDS entrance fee.
Like they said here, when you visit the Lago Enriquillo, why Oviedo? What is about Laguna Cabral? 47km² sweet water lagoon? The biggest one on the island! Birds, tortugas...
However, if you like to plan a trip, we are here in Barahona to help you.
Destination Barahona, we give tourist info and maps for free. We do all reservations (Hotels, Excursions) for you (no charge). We like to accelarate a little bit the tourism here.
If you are planing your trip like you write, when you arrive in La Discubierta, ask for the guide to Isla Cabritos. So he is prepared for the next day. If you are there next day in the morning, maybe nobody show up, the boat has no gasoline. The trip with Ecotours is recommended, but when you are with your own car, it makes no sence to drive around with the bus. Double paid.
Other sightseeing-points:
Balneario San Rafael
Balneario Los Patos (+ cuevas de tainos)
For your information: Along the coast we have nice hotels available. In Los Patos: Hotelito Oasi Italiano; in Ojeda: Villa Morinda; in Quemaito: Hotel El Quemaito y Casablanca; in Bahoruco: Casa Bonita (Finest caribbean lodging), just before Barahona: Playazul. In Barahona we have plenty hotels also. Recommended: Loro tuerto (new), cheap stay: Cazique or Caribe.
If you like to change the trip: Nice place in Pedernales: Villas del mar (pool, restaurant, Aire, warm water, TV) The only hotel in Pedernales what I can recommend.
you can contact me via PM or db@destinationbarahona.com

Enjoy your trip! And please, use 1 more day!

[destinationbarahona]

uups, I forget a very nice place:
Cachote!
Here you need 4x4, but they have pick up service from Barahona!
You can spend the day there, picked up in the afternoon, get dinner, breakfast (guide to the park-bird watching-), lunch. All is typical dominican food and you sleep over there in a Cabana. Complete package price depend on the size of your group. Bu tbe sure, if you go there you will see a lot! Things, many tourists have never seen. Endemic birds and plants (very nice orquideas over there!). Camping is also possible.
To bad, these nice locations like Laguna Cabral (Rincón) and Cachote have no website. In the world from today a need. But this area is virgin concerning tourism. You have to find things yourself...

[mountainannie]

Using Dominicans

I suggest that you (obviously) contact "destinations Barahona" from this board since he obviously knows his way about-- and is, well, Dominican. While the Ecotour Barahona people are evidently very efficient and hard working, they are a young French couple and -- to my mind- it is always better to "go local" if you can.

I agree that the trip is worth extra time.

Any yes, sorry, it was "hoyo' de palempito-- I have done it both by van and by moto concho-- CAN"t imagine doing it sitting on the luggage rack! But it is also true that the condition of the road, and whether or not it is passable, will all depend on what the weather has been.

[destinationbarahona]

@mountainannie
we are not Dominicans. Europeans. But when someone comes with his car, pay for the rental, makes no sence to go by a guided tour.
If we have tourists here, we allways recommend ECOTOURS. Specially for the Lago Enriqillo trip, than you can be sure all is organized and you can go to the small Island Cabritos.
There is also a new organisation:
Título de la página
They do a lot in the area around Pedernales.
Things are moving...
We hope to see many tourists in the next years.
Happy NEW YEAR and see you soon!

[Marilyn]

Originally Posted by destinationbarahona

@mountainannie
we are not Dominicans. Europeans. But when someone comes with his car, pay for the rental, makes no sence to go by a guided tour.
If we have tourists here, we allways recommend ECOTOURS. Specially for the Lago Enriqillo trip, than you can be sure all is organized and you can go to the small Island Cabritos.
There is also a new organisation:
Título de la página
They do a lot in the area around Pedernales.
Things are moving...
We hope to see many tourists in the next years.
Happy NEW YEAR and see you soon!

Hi, I'll be in Bahoruco this weekend and I would like to visit to say hi, where are you located in Barahona? my family is originally from Barahona (my mother) and Bahoruco is my home away from home, I like what you're doing, promoting tourism to the southwest is a daring project since tourism in this area receives so little support from the government and the tourism ministry.

[cobraboy]

Another option: http://www.dr1.com/forums/713301-post1.html