Santo Domingo Full Day Cultural Tour

Don’t book it

Picked up at 7am, before resort started breakfast. Drove 5 minutes and dropped in a parking lot to stand in the sun for 1 hour. Put on a bus for 10 minutes then transferred to a van. Started the drive after 8:30! Got to 3 Eyes and walked past the lakes. Was told we don’t have time for the boat ride across the lake because we have to go to 2 shopping malls. I said I didn’t want to shop, I want to sightsee. Then I was told the ticket doesn’t include the boat ride. 10 minutes later I saw guide give a man a bunch of tickets in exchange for money, curious! On top of that, we stood in the sun for 20 minutes ‘resting’. It was hot! And, we could have gotten right on the boat without a wait. Very disappointing. Drove through city as guide pointed things out on way to restaurant. No air conditioning and buffet wasn’t good, other groups at same restaurant. Left as group and took shopping even though everyone in group did not want to. Stop at a couple landmarks then took to Larimar store where the tour guide and our driver took shots of liquor. You are given NO TIME to explore on your own and the only architecture you see is what you pass from store to store. You are not allowed to go off on your own to meet the group later. And I practically begged. Only book this if you want to spend an entire day of your vacation driving, eating bland food and shopping somewhere that gives the guide a kick back. Unfortunately, I’m not exaggerating.

via Viator

Very good

Well for me it is very nice the whole trip a unique experience. Our always active driver very punctual etc.. the beaches very nice. Thank you for this lovely experience

via Tripadvisor (translated)

Loved it you learn a lot about Dominican culture

A sensational tour as you learn a lot from Dominican culture, and the places visited are very beautiful and incredible

via Tripadvisor (translated)

OK if you know what you're getting into

The day starts with the pick-up in the morning (between 7am and 8am) at the hotel. From there, however, it is not directly to Santo Domingo but first to a gas station to redistribute the passengers to other buses and minibuses. Afterwards, a short journey to another petrol station and a redistribution to other buses again takes place. Now the journey to Santo Domingo begins. The bus was climate cooled and the seats were comfortable. Halfway through the journey, we stop at the motorway for a toilet break. The toilet is located in a souvenir shop where you should of course like to buy something. The tour guide was happy to assist with the purchase... The 10-minute pee break then turned into almost half an hour before it continued. Once in Santo Domingo we were first driven to a park to see the caves. Everything was explained in Spanish and English. Despite ordered German guidebook, English rather than German was spoken. The tour group was easily 30 people. From the park we went into the city past the presidential palace with a 10-minute stop each. Unfortunately, part of the tour was basically viewable from the bus. It was only in the old town that we continued on foot. There was lunch in a restaurant. The quality of the food was good but the restaurant much too crowded as other tour groups eat lunch there. From there we went back to a gift shop. Again, attention was paid by the tour guide to the proper consumption appetite of the guests. Even when packing, the tour guide was happy to help;). The tour of the old town seemed too short. But we received explanations for all the sights. At the end of the tour we went back on the bus and with a break and a change of the rather chaotic kind (the drivers did not really know which of the guests belongs on which bus) we went back to the hotel. I therefore recommend going privately to Santo Domingo and then organizing a private guide there via TripAdvisor or other portals. A lot of flair is lost when you march through the city with a bunch of people.

Response from the operator: Thank you very much for your observation and recommendations, we will take into account everything you said in your comment.

via Tripadvisor (translated)

It was a very beneficial very instructive thing and I loved it

I loved the cultural walk where I met all the Dominican cultures and some offspring really was something unforgettable I want to repeat the experience again I would like to repeat the complete Dominican culture

via Tripadvisor (translated)