Four Days of Organic Cacao and Free Coast
Your Dominican Republic Itinerary at a Glance
- Day 1 Day 1: Puerto Plata and the cooperative
- Day 2 Day 2: East to Samana
- Day 3 Day 3: The coastal trail
- Day 4 Day 4: Santo Domingo
What to Do in Dominican Republic
CHOCAL, Chocolate de la Cuenca de Altamira
A cocoa cooperative founded in 2008 and run by thirty local women, growing, fermenting and bar making organic cacao.
27 Charcos de Damajagua
The waterfall canyon circuit at Imbert, community run, with guides from the surrounding villages and a fixed sum from every ticket going to a community fund.
Playa Rincon
Five kilometres of undeveloped white sand backed by coconut palms, with no resort development along it.
Boca del Diablo to Playa Fronton coastal trail
About 5.5km of coastal footpath through tropical forest to a beach walled in by limestone cliff.
Parque Mirador Sur
Six kilometres of green corridor over the limestone aquifer, car free at peak hours, and the largest urban tree canopy in the capital.
Where to Eat in Dominican Republic
Jardin Verde
Organic vegetarian cooking in a garden on Salvador Sturla Street.
Your Day by Day Dominican Republic Itinerary
Day 1: Puerto Plata and the cooperative
The Dominican Republic is the agricultural giant of the Caribbean and the FAO names it the world's largest producer of organic bananas, at more than 55 per cent of global organic banana production. Its cocoa record sits alongside that. Start where the crop is actually handled, by the people handling it.
CHOCAL, Chocolate de la Cuenca de Altamira
A cocoa cooperative founded in 2008 and run by thirty local women, growing, fermenting and bar making organic cacao. Around RD$200 per person, two days notice. The FAO names the country the world's largest producer of organic bananas, and the organic cocoa record sits alongside it.
27 Charcos de Damajagua
The waterfall canyon circuit at Imbert, community run, with guides from the surrounding villages and a fixed sum from every ticket going to a community fund. Book direct, not through a resort desk.
Day 2: East to Samana
Samana is a peninsula of coconut palm and limestone cliff on the north east coast, and its beaches are undeveloped in a way that is now rare in this country. Article 15 of the constitution puts beaches in the public domain, so nobody may lawfully charge you to be on one.
Playa Rincon
Five kilometres of undeveloped white sand backed by coconut palms, with no resort development along it.
Day 3: The coastal trail
Almost everyone reaches Playa Fronton by boat. The coastal footpath through the forest is free, takes about two hours each way, and is the better version. It is steep in places with a ravine descent, so take water and consider a local guide.
Boca del Diablo to Playa Fronton coastal trail
About 5.5km of coastal footpath through tropical forest to a beach walled in by limestone cliff. Two hours each way, steep in places, and free where the boat costs money.
Day 4: Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas, and its ecological park runs six kilometres over the limestone aquifer that supplies the city. Do not drink the tap water anywhere in the country: only 45.3 per cent of the population has water classed as safely managed.
Parque Mirador Sur
Six kilometres of green corridor over the limestone aquifer, car free at peak hours, and the largest urban tree canopy in the capital.
Jardin Verde
Organic vegetarian cooking in a garden on Salvador Sturla Street. Closed Wednesdays.