Transport
We had a fantastic full-day tour to Higüey and the Yama River. The whole experience was well organized and offered a great mix of culture, scenery, and fun. Visiting Higüey was fascinating, and the Yama River was beautiful and relaxing. The real highlight was our tour guide — she was absolutely exceptional: knowledgeable, engaging, and if not a little bit mad (in the best possible way!), which made the day even more memorable. A brilliant experience from start to finish!
Sugarcane, sacred shrines, a riverboat trip and even a voodoo show. This exclusive excursion has a bit of everything that makes the Dominican Republic so fascinating. Expect to meet plenty of locals and explore inland around the River. Get off the beaten track for a true flavour of Dominican culture and society when you visit a fruit farm, a fishing village and a market. Luis, one of our expert guides, says, ‘Higuey is where most of the local resort staff live, and it's an enriching experience to see daily life in full swing. At the market, you can buy all sorts, from a bottle of rum to a live chicken.'
You'll get a real taste for the country straight away with a visit to a plantation. Savour tropical fruits such as papaya and pineapple as well as coffee and cocoa. Up next is Higuey, the provincial capital, where you'll get to poke around for spices in the market and see locals stocking up on fresh produce. You'll also pass by the lamdark modern basilica – an important shrine.
Next, we head south through tropical countryside to the little fishing village of Boca de Yuma. After a leisurely lunch of Caribbean dishes prepared with local ingredients, you'll set off on a boat ride on the River Yuma. Afterwards, discover the complicated history of Dominican sugarcane plantations at a ‘batey'. These plantation camps are home to communities of sugarcane-harvesting Haitians. Meet and chat with the community, and then watch as they put on a voodoo show.
