Transport to Bayaguana

[Millesa]

I am planning on visiting my sponsor child in Bayaguana at the beginning of next year and was hoping someone could help me out with the travel directions!

I will combine the visit with a holiday, so will be staying in Puerto Plata or Punta Cana. Which is the closest - or quickest to get to by public transport? Would it make sense to include an overnight stay in Santo Domingo (as I believe this is relatively close to Bayaguana)?

I do not intend to rent a car, so could anyone please recommend the quickest way to get to Santo Domingo / Bayaguana from either Puerto Plata or Punta Cana?

Thanks

[Chirimoya]

Punta Cana and Puerto Plata are 3 hours drive from the capital so that more or less excludes a day trip to Bayaguana. There is a back route from Punta Cana that would avoid the capital but it would still take too long IMO, especially on public transport.

So yes, you would have to go to the capital and get a guagua (local minibus). Bayaguana is not that far from the capital but it is at the same time 'remote' - the road connection is poor and it is not served by either of the major bus companies (Caribe or MetroBus). The guaguas leave from Parque Enriquillo and the trip takes an hour or two - depending on how many stops the bus decides to make.

If you don't want to drive (wise choice ) another option depending on budget would be to hire a car + driver for the day for a pre-arranged fee.

[Millesa]

Thanks

Very helpful!

[rubio_higuey]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

There is a back route from Punta Cana that would avoid the capital but it would still take too long IMO, especially on public transport.

I will buy a Jumbo Fria to that one who shows me that "back route", especially the one connecting Hato Mayor with Bayaguana. In my almost-5-years on the island I wasn't yet able to "physically" find it, though virtually every map shows it (even the DR1guide).

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

The guaguas leave from Parque Enriquillo and the trip takes an hour or two - depending on how many stops the bus decides to make.

Are you sure? Guaguas to Monte Plata province - Monte Plata, Savana Grande de Boya, Yamasa, etc. all leave from Ovando & Gomez. Bayaguana is in MP province, so I would suppose the guagua headed there would also leave from Ovando. But again, I may be wrong ...

[Chirimoya]

Originally Posted by rubio_higuey

I will buy a Jumbo Fria to that one who shows me that "back route", especially the one connecting Hato Mayor with Bayaguana. In my almost-5-years on the island I wasn't yet able to "physically" find it, though virtually every map shows it (even the DR1guide).

Now there's a challenge worth taking up. Mr C claims he has done it that way.

Would another possibility be to go up the Samaná highway and turn off?

Are you sure? Guaguas to Monte Plata province - Monte Plata, Savana Grande de Boya, Yamasa, etc. all leave from Ovando & Gomez. Bayaguana is in MP province, so I would suppose the guagua headed there would also leave from Ovando. But again, I may be wrong ...

No, I wasn't absolutely sure so that is worth double-checking.

[rubio_higuey]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Now there's a challenge worth taking up. Mr C claims he has done it that way.

So where in Hato Mayor is the "turn" ...?

5 Years ago I would have sworn that I came from Monte Plata to Bavaro via Bayaguana (and Hato Mayor). Turned out that I indeed did come to Bayaguana and indeed did come to Hato Mayor, but ... via a detour (Bayaguana - Guerra - Route 4 - Hato Mayor - Seybo - Higuey - Bavaro) ... indeed it took me MANY hours

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Would another possibility be to go up the Samaná highway and turn off?

Yes, the Samana highway crosses (quite a well paved) road Monte Plata - Bayaguana. I did go once (1 year ago) from Monte Plata to Las Americas (Boca Chica) via Bayaguana - Guerra and sworn myself not to go that way again - the wear damage done to my front drive train was more than 150 pesos I saved on the toll on Samana highway.