Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SAN JOSÉ DE LAS MATAS
POP 38,600 / ELEV 518M
This small mountain town 45km southwest of Santiago is a jumping-off point for two ma-
jor hiking trails in the Parque Nacional Armando Bermúdez. It's a pleasant enough town,
with nice mountain views, several rivers and
balenarios
(swimming holes) to swim in - a
place to linger the day before or after a long hike. If you do happen to be out here, follow
the trail that starts behind the post office on Calle 30 de Marzo. It leads to a cliff-top park
with great views of the surrounding mountains. It's about an hour return.
By far the best accommodation in town is a former Trujillo retreat called
Hotel La
Mansión
( 809-571-6868;
www.hotellamansionsajoma.com
;
s/d RD$1700/2300; )
, an enormous
complex with spacious, contemporary rooms with panoramic views, a pool area, bar and
restaurant
(mains RD$300; 9am-11pm)
; when it hosts live music events it comes alive. The
rustic
Ventana Rio Lindo
( 809-214-4430;
www.ventanariolindohotel.com
; s/d RD$500/1000; )
with very basic, concrete rooms is at the end of a rough road perched over the Inoa river
around 9km west of town; simple food (RD$150) is available.
Guaguas
for Santiago (RD$100, one hour, from 6am to 7pm) leave from opposite the
Texaco station at the town entrance. Buses leave roughly every 15 minutes in the mornings,
but you may have to wait an hour or more in the middle of the day. By car it's only 45
minutes from Santiago.
