Santo Domingo to Boca Chica for day trip

[zak023]

Originally Posted by jrzyguy

Unfortunately...that stretch of beach (while nice and quiet) is unkept and rather dirty. Sooo...i personaly dont mind paying 150 pesos (approx 5 usd) for a chair rental on the main beach (again...with the vendors furtherst away from hamaca) and knowing the guyz will watch my stuff (even tho i dont bring obvious valuables with me).

It is a vacation after all.

As far as buying food from the establishments right on the beach. The prices are at least twice as what you will pay at any of the restaraunts around duarte...and not very good. For lunch i WILL pay for a fruit plate on the beach...and if i do get really hungry i will walk to duarte and grab a slice of pizza or a couple of pieces of fried chicken (only when it is fresh) from the chinese place (both 70 pesos) vs 500 pesos for bad chicherones on the beach. I usualy need a break from the sun around 3pm...so a 2 min walk to duarte for food works for me.

if you DO decide to sit at a chair/table on the main beach...and order food etc from them...be sure to clarify that there will be no fee for the chair!!!! i am sure if you pay 1000+ pesos for food and drink they will wave the chair fee

When was the last time you were there? Because it didn't look dirty and unkempt to me.They also have 10+ food vendore at half the price of the Hamaca/Isla Bonita Area...But then again you are a tourist and will shell out money every day to enjoy your time here...This is your choice..The advice I gave was as an alternative to paying..And a 5 minute walk along the beach to check it out never hurt anyone..Things change on a day to day basis in BC..And if you were there on a Sunday that whole beach is dirty and unkempt because it is Family Day..Everybody from SD piles in there..But you already know this right..?? And BTW you are right if you are eating at the overpriced resturants you will not pay for a chair ..The chair fee is built into the price...Read your bill carefully because they like to charge gringos for the chairs in the bill thinking you won't notice...

[helpmann]

If you do decide to take the gua-gua (bus) into Boca Chica Sunday morning, don't ignore the passengers. You should aim to "plant a few seeds" on the 40-minute bus ride there, so choose your seat wisely.

-Helpmann

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by zak023

Don't forget they also have night swimming with a powerful flood light illuminating the water till closing time..

That was part of what made the dining experience enjoyable. A couple of local youths were trying to catch fish by throwing rocks at them. It was quite entertaing to watch.

I am trying to visualize the stretch of beach with the free chairs. Is it the most westerly part of the beach with the street vendor stands on the street and the parking area adjacent?

[zak023]

Originally Posted by bigbird

That was part of what made the dining experience enjoyable. A couple of local youths were trying to catch fish by throwing rocks at them. It was quite entertaing to watch.

I am trying to visualize the stretch of beach with the free chairs. Is it the most westerly part of the beach with the street vendor stands on the street and the parking area adjacent?

Yes that is where I am talking about.EXACTLY...No fee for the chairs and a nice wade out to little matica Island right across from the area..The water gets to be a little deeper about halfway across due to the channel for boats entering and exiting the BC marina..To reach Matica one must be able to swim the 100 ft.wide channel which is about 10+ feet deep I had to pull sombody out 3 years ago because they thought it was 4 feet deep like it is to the East of the Marina..The surprise comes when you put your feet down after floating along or doin the doggy and realize that you are in deep water.

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by zak023

Yes that is where I am talking about.EXACTLY...No fee for the chairs and a nice wade out to little matica Island right across from the area..

I happened to be at that section of beach on a Sunday when they had a Presidente Beer Festival. WOW, is all I can say. That section was jam packed with locals. You should have seen the traffic around 5pm when everyone started to leave. I have never seen such a crowd at a DR beach this large before. You can imagine all the beautiful sights my eyes were watching.

[jrzguy2]

i have some photos of that area (on a sunday) that i will repost over the weekend)

Indeed...sunday is a blast!

and yes...the swim to matica is much longer than it is just on the other side of the parking lot.

Well..it think the OP (and furture readers) know that there are a few different options in B.C.

#1 pay way too much at hamaca
#2 pay way too much for (so-so)food/chair closest to Hamaca
#3 pay a nominal fee for chair/table and byob & food
#4 bring a beach blanket and byob & food
#5 walk a bit further and get free table and cheaper options for food.

I think it all depends what one is looking for.

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by jrzguy2

Well..it think the OP (and furture readers) know that there are a few different options in B.C.

Include me in the count as I know I learned a few things from this thread.

This section of the beach is a one minute walk to El Caucho.

[chiquittabanana]

When I was a teen,,, I had a good experience in BC,,, I had my own wine and I made a " Locrio de camarones", which really because of my Non-kitchen experience turned to be asopao (Italian for risotto) and that was great, I spent the day getting tan and talking BS with my baby sis,,, I know you can't make your own, but for that get yourself to BC for a sleep-over,, get in for the morning, spend the day getting to know the people and town, go for dinner at D'Nancy's and have that Shrimp asopao (jijijiii), and grab a room for the night without the "company" maybe at Zapata's or Candil,you will not be sorry,,,,,,,, I can guarantee that!!!!!like money in the bank.

PM if you want other details.


CB