Santiago-Sosua directions

[egeth]

I believe I've done this trip both ways but would appreciate other people's opinions between going via Moca to Sabaneta to Sosua or going thru Gurabo to Villa Montellano to Sosua. I will be driving mid-day on Jan.1. If so advised directions for the Montellano route from STI would be appreciated. I am an experienced driver in the DR. Thanks in advance, Ed.

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by egeth

I believe I've done this trip both ways but would appreciate other people's opinions between going via Moca to Sabaneta to Sosua or going thru Gurabo to Villa Montellano to Sosua. I will be driving mid-day on Jan.1. If so advised directions for the Montellano route from STI would be appreciated. I am an experienced driver in the DR. Thanks in advance, Ed.

Hi Ed.
Assuming you know where the big Hache hardware store is, that is where you turn onto the Caretera Turistica which leads you straight to Montellano, then a right turn, 20 minute drive to Sosua.
If you were on Barthelemi Colon, heading North and arrived at the Hache, you would continue on straight.
If you were coming from Santo Domingo direction, it would be a right turn, and if you were coming from the West, it would be a left.

[Tallman1818]

Is the Carreterra Turistica open, I know it was is pretty bad shape after Tormenta Noel.

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by Tallman1818

Is the Carreterra Turistica open, I know it was is pretty bad shape after Tormenta Noel.

Yes it is open.
The longest I have ever seen it "closed", since they first paved it, was a half day or so from major landslides blocking the thoroughfare.

[Bob K]

Yes it is open. Drove it last week and it is in no worse but also no better shape then it has ever been. Still is 15min or more quicker then going through Moca. The government says all repairs will be done by the end of this month. So if you drive it watch out for flying pigs.

Bob K

[carl.r]

take the main road via puerto plata to santiago it only takes an hour !! i dont hang about !!

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by carl.r

take the main road via puerto plata to santiago it only takes an hour !! i dont hang about !!

I don't know about the "hanging out" part, but I do know that it takes an average of 40 minutes longer, going that route.
Yes, it's 1 hour from Santiago to Puerto Plata by that road, plus 10 minutes to cross Puerto Plata, plus ten minutes to La Gran Parada, where the Caretera Turistica comes out, making a total of 1 hour and 20 minutes. while it only takes 40 minutes from the Hache, right in the heart of Santiago, to La Gran Parada, saving you a total of 40 minutes.
Now, if you were at the Western end of Santiago and wanted to go to Cofreisi or Costambar, then the main highway would make sense.

[SKY]

Believe it or not, but the main road is very dangerous. There are large trucks going up and down steep hills. A resident of Las Canas was killed there on a motorcycle.

For me, driving hundreds of times the Turistica is best. You don't have to go very fast to save a lot of time.

[egeth]

Thank you all for the help. I have done the Turistica before and now remember how to get to it.

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by SKY

Believe it or not, but the main road is very dangerous. There are large trucks going up and down steep hills. A resident of Las Canas was killed there on a motorcycle.

For me, driving hundreds of times the Turistica is best. You don't have to go very fast to save a lot of time.

I hope everyone believes you, because no truer words could be spoken, and so many think the opposite.
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the main highway is way more dangerous, and likely to be fatal in a big crash.
In the days of my veggy biz, I did a couple of years on the main highway and 5 or 6 years on the Turistica, 4 to 6 return trips per week.
I've seen it all, and I can vouch 100% for your assessment.