Dominican Republic tours (1)
Through Santiago to the North Coast
Whilst visiting the Dominican Republic tours inland from your resort to see the real rural nature of the country are a fabulous idea. Hiring a car capable of tackling the variable road conditions is a good idea...but then where to go?
Here we include some brief details to assist you if you decide upon a visit to Santiago, the Dominican Republic's second largest city or maybe other smaller towns and places that will allow you to discover the vibrant 'heart' of our wonderful country.
As you travel East South-East along the main road, the 'Carretera Duarte', from Monte Cristi it is joined by various 'minor tributaries' and it innevitably leads you to the second most important city in the Dominican Republic: –
Santiago - (or Santiago de los Caballeros...to give it its full name). We like this City, perhaps because of our familiarity with it since our childhood. If this City features on one of your proposed Dominican Republic tours be sure to take a look at our additional information about Santiago - Dominican Republic to find out more about what it offers the visitor.
Taking the road that bears left out of Santiago and which runs more or less parallel to the North coast (instead of heading straight on along the other main route straight across the Island towards the capital City, Santo Domingo) you will arrive (in turn) at:
Moca – The towns name is most well known for being the 'birthplace' of the Dominican Republic's early 'constitution' that came and went and then came back again as the first Presidents of the Dominican Republic vied for power in the turbulent decades after Dominican Independence was gained!
Salcedo - This is a small town that might have gone unnoticed by the history books save for the fact that it was the home town of the admirable 'hermanas Mirabal' - the Mirabal sisters - whose now legendary refusal to concede to the sleazy advances of dictator Rafael Trujillo led to their merciless destruction.
The town hosts a Dominican craft fair (Feria Artesanal) during the summerwell worth a visit for those interested in acquiring genuine locally made pottery and other artefacts. There is also a museum dedicated to the sisters Mirabal which you will find on the way towards Salcedo from Moca.
San Francisco de Macoris - A few more kilometers East along the main road you come to the place we 'left our hearts'! Our home town - or rather City - San Francisco! A true Dominican City rather than tourist centre it still has a homely feel about its heart, even though it is now home to around 200,000 citizens.
The prosperity of San Francisco has been based on its importance as an agricultural centre, particularly for the trading of Dominican cocoa, amongst other commodities. It is at the heart of the fertile area known as the Vega Real one of the most productive agricultural zones in the Dominican Republic.
Our birthplace, San Francisco de Macoris is also home to Los Gigantes del Nordeste, the local Baseball team! (Find out more about Dominican Republic baseball here.)
If you have made this route one of your Dominican Republic tours you will find that the road passes through a few more very small towns before finally reaching the coast at:
Nagua - Here you can pick up a gua gua to Sanchez, where you need to disembark if you are heading to laid-back, lovely Las Terrenas.
Now see also our other Dominican Republic tours and Dominican resort pages, especially:
Ruth
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