The Deep South of the Dominican Republic: A Bucket List Destination
Before writing this article I did a quick search on Google - “Where should I travel next?” It turned up over 5 billion results! Talk about overwhelming ... It’s true, the world is filled with unique places that promise adventure, excitement, a real sense of getting away. Well, I’m here now to add one more region of the world to the mix - The southwestern corner of the Dominican Republic. Let me tell you why.
Robert Frost famously wrote about taking ‘the road less traveled by’. You’ve probably heard the poem, maybe even quoted it a handful of times:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.”
If you choose to come to this lesser known part of the Dominican Republic, you will truly be choosing the road less traveled.
A Destination for Adventure
DON’T MISS IT
When people hear of the Dominican Republic, their first thought is often the popular all inclusive resorts that line the eastern coast. While these are indeed beautiful, they don’t offer the adventure and culture that many travelers seek these days. This is not the case with the Southwest. Unfortunately most don’t make it this far into the country. Deterred by a lack of information, many leave the country without seeing what it really has to offer, or worse yet, they never come at all.
Don’t make that mistake! Not only is the Dominican Republic accessible and affordable to travel to, it also offers true adventure. Home to the Caribbean’s lowest point on land below sea level (Lago Enriquillo) and its highest point above sea level (Pico Duarte), it is truly a treasure trove of geographical marvels. There are mountains to hike, virgin beaches to swim, waves to surf, caves, rivers, waterfalls and lagunas to explore. You won’t be bored here.
The deep south offers the excitement of Bali’s beautiful nature and rich culture, minus the flood of tourists and over-crowded beaches. When you come here, you will feel that you are truly experiencing something new and unique. If you spend enough time, you will even feel a bit like a local as you eat fresh fish that was just brought in off a boat on the beach or as you ride a moto-concho (motorcycle taxi) to a corner store, colmado as they’re called here, to pick up some snacks or a Presidente beer.
SIDE NOTE . . .
Speaking of fried fish. . . here is a picture of some of the best you’ll ever have. Crisp, tender, perfectly seasoned and just the right amount of greasy. Are you drooling yet? I sure am! Don’t worry, we will tell you exactly where you can get this mouth watering local favorite in a future post coming soon. Make sure to hit the subscribe button so you will know when our latest articles are available!
Is it Safe?
Another reason people may avoid the area is because they’ve been told it’s dangerous. Unfortunately, blanket warnings like this instill fear but do little to educate us. The truth is, anywhere in the world we travel has certain risks, and if we are going somewhere new it’s our responsibility to educate ourselves about those risks and the best ways to stay safe. An informed traveler is a safe traveler.
We will be putting together a whole article dedicated to safety in the Dominican Republic soon. In the meantime, The Broke Backpacker has put together a great guide to staying safe here.
Pack Your Bags!
