Santo Domingo to Boca Chica for day trip

ll2345 · #1 12-26-2006, 05:14 PM

I will be staying at the Intercontinental Weds-Monday, and am trying to find out the best way to get from our hotel to Boca Chica beach for the day. Speak limited spanish, and I hear the taxi there will be easy but getting back may not. How can you hire a driver to come back for you around 5pm? Or, is it easy enough to get a cab at the Hamaca that is reliable?

The Hamaca resort also has day passes for $55/person...is this recommended?

jruane44 · #2 12-26-2006, 05:28 PM

The day pass is recommended by me. I believe the day pass is about $10 cheaper though. You can get a cab at the Hamaca at any time.

rellosk · #3 12-26-2006, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ll2345

How can you hire a driver to come back for you around 5pm? Or, is it easy enough to get a cab at the Hamaca that is reliable?

You will have no problem getting a cab from the Hamaca at 5pm (or just about any other time).

Kyle · #4 12-27-2006, 10:18 AM

if you come to the beach, there are many taxis around....

bigbird · #5 12-27-2006, 10:22 AM

A taxi to Boca Chica will probably be $30 USD each way. You might want to consider renting a car for the day. The drive is fairly simple.

jrzyguy · #6 12-27-2006, 04:15 PM

I dont recommend renting a car for the day! sure..the highway from S.D to B.C. isnt all that crazy...but driving in the capitol sure is!!

I ususaly take the guagua too/from the capitol to B.C. Getting to the guagua station is easy while in SD...just ask the hotel for a taxi to take you there (200 pesos tops). The trick is knowing where to get off when you are going back into the city. Just ask for someone to let you know when you get to parque indepencia....then you can find a legit taxi on el conde to take you to your hotel.

A travel buddy of mine was paying 20 USD each way last february from the Cap to BC...if there are a few of you then that isnt too bad.

Not sure what you get for 55 at hamaca tho. I'd rather haggle and rent chairs and a table on the public beach. Head away from hamaca...and check out the few sets of chairs/tables before you get to the end near the parking lot.

Costalunga Beach Club is good for a newbie (they have green and white umbrellas)...just ask the day rate for chair rentals before you sit. (100-200 pesos a day...depending how good you are). Dont buy your lunch on the beach (cept maybe a fruit plate) as you will be over charged. But you can take a 2 min walk to duarte and either buy sandwiches, pizza or chicken...and either eat it there or take it back to the beach. You can also buy and bring your own drinks from the market.

If you are traveling in a small group..you can bypass the chair rentals and just bring a large blanket and bring all your own stuff. Just have one person at the blanket to watch over things while you are swimming etc. (or befriend other tourists to watch your stuff)

The only thing you get at hamaca is NO beach vendors...but they leave you alone after you show no interest after the first hour.

I just think the people watching on the main beach is much more interesting that what you will find at hamaca.

Now...if you WANT that AI feel...no problem then...pay the 55 and you are set.

bigbird · #7 12-27-2006, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrzyguy

Costalunga Beach Club is good for a newbie (they have green and white umbrellas)...just ask the day rate for chair rentals before you sit. (100-200 pesos a day...depending how good you are).

jrzyguy is this the going rate to rent one chair? Could you post the rates for lounge chair and/or plastic table and chairs.

jrzyguy · #8 12-27-2006, 04:41 PM

well..on my last trip...two of us payed 150 PP for two chairs and a table.

I have never asked here on DR1 what the rate should be...but that didnt seem all that much to pay. I am sure if one is going to buy food and drinks from the beach vendor..you can get the fee reduced...The total tab for two...including at least a couple of presidente grandes and one fruit plate...came to about 400-500. This is an all day rate from about 11 am till about 5pm.

I think costalunga will ask for 200 fee for the day...but talk to the guys next to them..and then they will come down in price.

****e..i dont haggle much over 50 pesos tho when on vacation lol!

but as a warning to newbies...i had a friend of mine sit at a table and ordered two presidentes and only stayed for the one round of drinks (2 presidente's)...and they tried to charge him 400 pesos....(chair fee's of course). I cussed the guy out and explained that he was just waiting for me etc.

To the OP...most of the beach chair vendors speak some english...so you dont have to worry too much about haggeling. Just walk up and down the beach one or two times...find out the prices...and someone will budge.

duhtree · #9 12-27-2006, 11:18 PM

For the most part the beach chairs are set out by the restaurants. Just give them some of your patronage, that will be enough. In 8-10 years I've never paid for a chair on the beach.

zak023 · #10 12-28-2006, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrzyguy

well..on my last trip...two of us payed 150 PP for two chairs and a table.

I have never asked here on DR1 what the rate should be...but that didnt seem all that much to pay. I am sure if one is going to buy food and drinks from the beach vendor..you can get the fee reduced...The total tab for two...including at least a couple of presidente grandes and one fruit plate...came to about 400-500. This is an all day rate from about 11 am till about 5pm.

I think costalunga will ask for 200 fee for the day...but talk to the guys next to them..and then they will come down in price.

****e..i dont haggle much over 50 pesos tho when on vacation lol!

but as a warning to newbies...i had a friend of mine sit at a table and ordered two presidentes and only stayed for the one round of drinks (2 presidente's)...and they tried to charge him 400 pesos....(chair fee's of course). I cussed the guy out and explained that he was just waiting for me etc.

To the OP...most of the beach chair vendors speak some english...so you dont have to worry too much about haggeling. Just walk up and down the beach one or two times...find out the prices...and someone will budge.

Avoid all of this fee paying and do as the locals..Walk down the beach towards the Andres/Boca Chica area..About 200 yards to your west ..Pick a table and chair and sit free...That is the area you can see with all the tents set up on the beach....Now I knew you already knew this..You just was waiting to see if someone else did...Well the secret is out ..Tell those clowns on BC beach to shove their tables and chairs and do as I suggested.....