Punta Cana Travel

The Best Way to Experience the Dominican Republic

When you’re travelling to a destination you’ve never been to before (whether you’re on your own or with a group), you should take advantage of the many opportunities to really experience the country. A lot of people travelling to the Dominican Republic have the misconception that it’s dangerous to leave their all-inclusive resort and therefore they miss out on so many wonderful experiences, sights and sounds. If you’re going to travel all the way to the Caribbean just to stay inside a resort (which in many cases could be located anywhere in the world), why travel at all?

I’ve been living in Punta Cana since 2004 and have never had any problems going out and about in the area – day or night. Of course, every person sees things in different ways, but in my eyes, this is a perfectly safe place for people to go outside their resorts. Many people do, but most people don’t. Perhaps it’s the fear of the “unknown” combined with not speaking the language (Spanish) that keeps people inside the resorts? I always recommend people to go out – either on a daytime excursion, on their own to explore or just for a nice dinner at one of the local restaurants. In my experience, the people who do take the opportunity always come back a little wiser and a little better off.

What’s one of the best ways to see and experience the Dominican Republic if you’re not too comfortable with going out on your own? Well, in my humble opinion it’s taking a day to go on the Monster Truck Safari. If you want a safe way to get out of the resort and go places you would probably never find yourself, this is the way to do it.

What is the Monster Truck Safari?

It’s a full day excursion that runs from the resorts in Puerto Plata, Punta Cana and Casa de Campo in La Romana. People staying in Punta Cana get picked up in the morning in an air conditioned bus from the resorts and from there they go to the city of Higuey (about 45 minutes from Punta Cana). The excursion really starts in Higuey where the Monster Trucks await. These are huge, second hand military trucks (built in the 1960s by Ford Motor Company and used in the Vietnam War) which have been imported from the United States and customized for safe transportation of people. The trucks either have a side entry where people get on and off by climbing a 5 step ladder or they have a back entry with a staircase. The trucks seat between 28 and 32 passengers on rows of 5 passengers – all rows have padded seats for comfort and seatbelts for safety. All passengers are seated facing forward for the best views of the scenery. The wheels of the Monster Truck are the size of a baby elephant and are shock absorbent to minimize the effects of the bumps in the roads…however; it will still be a bumpy ride as you go off the beaten track in the countryside and mountain areas.

Who is on the truck?

Staff includes a certified driver, a certified bartender (open bar with water, soft drinks, beer and rum is included throughout the day) and a certified tour guide will be with you on the truck. The excursion can be done in English, Spanish, German and Dutch.

What does the tour include?

On the Monster Truck Safari tour you’ll see plenty of exciting things and visit places you wouldn’t otherwise go to. The stops along the route include:

A typical Dominican home in the country side: Lots of Dominican people live like any other person would in the US or Europe, but many still live in traditional wooden houses and sometimes with no running water and no electricity. Their kitchens are usually separated from the house and food is cooked over a fireplace. Their bathroom/toilet is also located apart from the house.

A cockfighting arena: This is typically a controversial subject for many tourists as cockfighting is illegal in many parts of the world. However, it’s a big part of the Dominican culture. You won’t see a real cockfight – only a show – and the tour guide will explain the different aspects of this sport.

A small fruit plantation: Here is the chance to see how the different, tropical fruits grow and to taste the ones that are ripe for the season. Fruits typically include banana, mango, pineapple, coconut, melon, and more. You will also see how coconut sweets are homemade over wood in the traditional, Dominican style.

A local school: Perhaps the most popular stop along the route is the school. A lot of tourists are very curious about how the Dominican children go to school and often people bring school supplies to donate. Recommended donations are pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, pens, notebooks, crayons, coloring books, paint and brushes, scissors, toothbrushes and toothpaste, chalk and chalk brushes, calculators, staplers, first aid kits, etc. Not recommended: Money and candy! Although many people feel the need to help the children and poor families by giving money, it is not recommended because it might push the children to wait on the streets for the Monster truck to come by knowing they might get money instead of going to school. In order to avoid any health and dental problems, it’s not recommended to give candy to the children.

Lunch by the river: The Monster Truck has a nice ranch by the Chavon riverside where visitors will get a taste of the Dominican Republic. A traditional Dominican lunch is served as a buffet and includes rice, beans, meat, salad, pasta, bread, etc. The bar is open throughout. There will also be time to do a little shopping and go for a swim in the river.

Voodoo doctor: Last stop on the route is the Haitian voodoo doctor and his magnificent and very strange house.

Helping you helping others: Spending a day on the Monster Truck Safari not only helps tourists become more educated about the Dominican Republic, it also helps the local community. The Monster Truck School Foundation was established in 1997 with a mission of giving all the children in the local community a fair change at a proper education. The public education system in the Dominican Republic is free of charge and there is no tuition to be paid. Each child needs a uniform and their own school supplies to be accepted, and this is what the families usually can’t afford – especially families with more than one child. Monster Truck has helped renovate schools, build schools, and provide uniforms for the children as well as school furniture and supplies for the schools. A part of the money you pay for the excursion goes to help with the ongoing school improvements. Also, if you purchase a Monster Truck hat or T-shirt, a part of the proceeds will also go to improve the local community.

About the Author

Ragnhild Hansen lives in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic and works in the travel business. For more, visit http://www.grouppalmera.com

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