Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tours
Jarabacoa's biggest and best tour operator dominates the stage. A few smaller outfits
come and go, but for safety and reliability we recommend Rancho Baiguate (
Click here
)
.
While its main clientele are Dominican groups from the capital and foreign guests from
the all-inclusive resorts near Puerto Plata, independent travelers are more than welcome to
join any of the trips, usually by calling a day or two in advance (except for Pico Duarte,
which should be arranged with more notice). Overnight guests can pop in to the office in
the afternoon and see what adventures are on for the following day.
Activities have the following prices (all include breakfast and lunch):
rafting
(US $50),
canyoning
at Salto Baiguate (US$50),
mountain biking
(US$25 to US$50 depending on
trail). Rancho Baiguate also offers
horseback/jeep
tours to the waterfalls (US$16 to US$21
with lunch, US$9 to US$11 without lunch). Its Pico Duarte trips range in price depending
on the number of people and the side trips you take; a group of four people for three days
with no side trips costs US$380 per person.
A popular excursion, often done by groups on a whistle-stop tour of the area, but also
easily arranged by independent travelers with a little notice, is a visit to nearby organic
coffee farms where you can learn about the labor-intensive art of turning beans into your
daily caffeine fix.
Ramirez Coffee Factory
( 809-574-2618;
www.ramirezcoffee.com
;
Altos del Yaque; 8am-1:30pm & 2-4pm)
The
8000-sq-km family-run farm is near Manabao, but the processing factory itself, which you
can tour, is just outside the center of Jarabacoa (cross the bridge over the river). You can
sample a cup of its Monte Alto brand in a little cafe-cum-shop in the parking lot.
COFFEE PLANT
Sleeping
In Town
Hotel Brisas del Yaque II
MAP
HOTEL
$
GOOGLE MAP
(
809-574-2100;
hotelbrisasdelyaque@hotmail.com
; Av Independencia 13; r from RD$1500;
)
The low-slung Yaque II has large, comfortable and modern rooms and front-desk staff
