DR Living
CABARETE CAVES
Bordered by the foothills of the Cordillera Septentrional to the south and the Cabarete Lagoon to the North, the park guards 77 square kilometers (48 square miles) of pasture land, lagoon, jungle, tropical plants, Caribbean birds, caves, and abruptly jutting hills. Many of the freshwater springs encountered in the park have subterraneous origins deep in the belly of the earth.
Unlike much of the Lesser Antilles islands, the majority of the Dominican Republic does not have volcanic origins. The subtle collision of tectonic plates below the Earth’s crust around 50 million years ago pushed the ocean floor up in jagged points. Years of erosion have rounded the points giving the foothills seen from Cabarete the appearance of a green upside-down egg crate. Once in the park, it is obvious that these hills are actually old coral reefs.
An area of astounding beauty and many hidden secrets, the Area Protegida Cabarete and Goleta should not be missed. Accessible from either end of Cabarete, a visit can last from just a few hours to the entire day. It is VERY easy to become disoriented in the park due to the dizzying maze of unmarked footpaths and the extremely lush vegetation. We highly recommend that your first visit be with a reputable guide company. The funky named and internationally renown, “Iguana Mama”, leads 1 hiking and 3 mountain bike trips in and around the protected area. At the Callejon entrance, there is also the Cabarete Caves Company, which offer 1.5 hour tour suited for all ages. It leads through
impressive areas and hillls accomanied by very interesting explanations.
HOW TO GET THERE: While there are several dirt paths and small rocky mule trails leading into the Area Protegida Cabarete y Goleta, there are two main entrances. Located on the eastern side of Cabarete at the end of the “Callejon de la Loma” road, about a 15-minute walk from the center of town, visitors may gain access to the park at the “Cabarete Caves” office. For a more remote experience, a 5-km (3-mile) ride in guagua or carro publico heading west out of town will bring you to the roadside community of Islabon. Just before the
Islabon bridge, a small road proudly bears the sign “Area Protegida Cabarete y Goleta” at its entrance on the right-hand side. A 5-minute walk brings you to the park entrance. Visitors should expect to pay RD$50 per person to a National Park official for admittance at both entrances.
Cost of the tour: $20 Adult, $10 Child (smaller children can go free). Open every day.
THE JEWISH MUSEUM OF SOSUA (MUSEO JUDEO)
In 1938, when no other nation would welcome Jewish refugees, Rafael Trujillo, the Dominican Republic strongman, offered to take in 100,000. Between 1940 and 1945, 5,000 Dominican visas were issued, but only 645 Jews actually made their way to the Dominican Republic. The refugees settled in the tiny seacoast town of Sosua, then just jungle land, that Trujillo had established with funding provided by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
Upon arrival, every new Jewish settler was given 80 acres of land, 10 cows, a mule and a horse. Although most of the settlers were German or Austrian Jews and had professional or craftsmen’s backgrounds, they quickly picked up the agricultural life offered by Sosua and established a successful Jewish cooperative—Productos Sosua—that today produces most of the county’s meat and dairy produce.
Trujillo’s generosity probably stemmed mainly from his eagerness to have the Western nations overlook his brutal massacre of 25,000 Haitians in 1937, and his desire to “whiten” his race. He believed that the young European men would marry Dominican women and produce light-skinned offspring. He was correct in this in that most settlers were single young men who did marry Dominican women. The children usually considered themselves Jewish and many stayed in Sosua.
Today, only about 30 of the original Jewish families remain in Sosua. By the 1940′s, most of the nearly 700 inhabitants had moved to either New York or Miami. Although no longer in the Dominican Republic, the Sosua Jews have maintained a tight-knit community. Until 1980, the town was still entirely Jewish; however, with the opening of the international Puerto Plata airport four miles west of Sosua, the village has turned into a major beach resort.
Today the town has 3,000 full-time residents, with about 70 Jews. Those who did remain in Sosua and held onto their land, have made a fortune. Erik Hauser, an original settler from Vienna, now owns an entire block of the lucrative downtown area, where hotels and restaurants were built on his original 80 acres. He is Sosua’s wealthiest resident.
Sosua has one functioning synagogue that holds services every other Shabbat and on the High Holidays. Passover Seders are held in community members homes and an annual Purim carnival is a major community event. The small Jewish community also has a museum dedicated to preserving the history and story of the town’s original Jewish settlers.
Some expats say that the name of the town Sosua comes from the legend: “The first Jewish man to arrive here was named Joshua, but none of the locals could pronounce it correctly. They would say they were going over to Josua.” – Sosua.
The Sosua Synagogue has a museum with photos and memorabilia of the first Jewish settlers. You can also attend services there.
The Jewish Museum ( Museo Judio ) located next to the Casa Marina Hotel
To be continued…
A lawsuit in the Dominican Republic is a long and expensive process. Most lawsuits run for years and court decisions are in general not in the favor of the foreign investor. The Dominican court system is highly corrupted and verdicts often manipulated or delayed by one of the parties.
We strongly recommend that you do not start a lawsuit unless it’s the last and final option. Lawyers in the Dominican Republic are substantially overcharging foreigners with as much as 500-800% and they do not have a malpractice insurance. Paying expensive lawyer fees do not guarantee anything and choosing big law firms for small cases is not a good option as your case is pushed to a junior lawyer with little experience.
Furthermore it’s not unusual that lawyers from both sides are “operating under an unwritten mutual agreement” of complicating court cases especially among foreigners. The reason for that is that the longer the case will run, the more they will be able to charge their clients.
Even if you win a court case in the Dominican Republic it will be almost impossible and highly unlikely that you will ever be able to collect on the verdict. Debt collection in the Dominican Republic from any company or private individual will in many cases only result in more lawyer bills!
The majority of court cases involving foreigners are related to real estate fraud in the Dominican Republic.
Real estate fraud can be avoided by spending time and money on good legal work and especially deep title investigations before buying or signing any contract.
We recommend that you use trusted lawyers to avoid problems and losing your money. Contact us for a list of trusted Dominican lawyers with good reputation who speaks fluent English and Spanish.
When investing in the Dominican Republic make sure that you have signed legal binding contracts – do not believe in promises and do not expect to find the same moral standard and quality of work that you will find in a developed country. Never to pay any money directly to estate agents, sellers or building companies.
Only a Notarized contract in Spanish is legal in the Dominican Republic. However it’s a good idea to spend money on a translation into your own language.
If you are planning to move to the Dominican Republic and need Dominican residence or you simply want to employ a maid. We recommend that you use the same trusted law firms as it’s important to understand the strong labor laws in the DR. Maids are entitled to a rather big settlement if fired after 6 months and that the amount increases up to several years of salary. Foreigners will lose any court case against employees!
Making the decision to move here, should be done with a great deal of consideration. Many who have ended up living here, came for several vacations 1′st, even though many have moved here after their 1′st or second visit. One of the most important questions is, how are you planning to survive financially?
Unless you have a healthy pension, a secure overseas income or a lot of money behind you, then be aware that if you want a lifestyle with a decent rental apartment/house, car, petrol, schooling for kids, internet, phone, power, security and your groccery bill etc… then it will easily require anywhere from $2500 and upwards per month. That’s not including the “unforeseen” expenses like being ripped off by uniformed forces, local traders and fellow residents.
Especially on the North Coast the economy is currently at all time low, mainly caused by a corrupt government and many politicians who have managed to steer the Tourist to other areas like Punta Cana by raising taxes on airline tickets so that many airlines have shut down their routes to Puerto Plata.
If you plan to find work here, then there are very few jobs on offer, so make sure you secure this during a vacation here.
If you plan to start a business here, then be aware that the entire economy is struggling here, and getting money from clients in some trades are not an easy task. Also be aware that the labour laws are very aggressive (especially if you’re a Gringo, they will go after all they can get if you have a dispute about something with a staff member). The laws are very discriminative compared to many other countries, here the majority of your staff must be Dominican, rather than having the right to choose the best applicants.
Many monopolies also exsist here, and often it’s more about who you know than what you know. If you’re planning to construct something in order to do your business, then be aware that unless you get the right advice (and the right counstruction firm with good connections) then often such constructions will be tackled, with demands for rediculous sums to allow you to continue.
If you’re planning to rent a space and start trading some kind of product or service, then be aware that it won’t take long before all sorts of money hungry parasites will come running to your business address, trying to milk you for money. A good rule is never pay a field guy, as in many cases they are not from a ligitimate department, but rather some trickster with a fake plastic badge! For some reason, they usually drive SUV’s – normally Mitshubisi Montero’s with tinted windows and have some political party sticker on their vehicle.
If you are able to operate here as a consultant for an overseas company without the need for an actual office, then this can save you a lot of headache and money. Especially the Sosua – Cabarete has for years been the magnet of some of the “misfits” of other societies from both within the DR and from other countries, so be very careful not to jump in feet 1′st into a partnership or trusting the 1′st supplier that you come across. The Nice People Networking club might be the club for you, as their values lean on finding the ethical traders in the region and connecting you to them.
When living here, you will see people living very different lifestyles, based on their financial ability to allow themselves time out for leisure or with their loved ones and for relaxation. So be extremely honest with yourself when you try to decide on moving here (especially to make money) as here we continue to see the Dreamers arrive, only to leave again within 6 months to 2 years after their business failed.
Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance!
Getting out of Jail fast:
Due to the frequent “classification” and some cases of “racism” experienced by foreigners here in the Dominican Republic, then it’s especially highly recommended for foreigners to insure themselves against being locked up for periods of time in some of the worst jails in the world, while a painfully slow legal system tries to clear up the matter of who was the one at fault, whether this relates to a car accident with injured or dead persons or a shoot-out at your property when robbers climbed your fence etc… etc…
The Police mostly just throw people in Jail after which it’s your challenge to untangle yourself from the situation even if you’re clearly the victim (usually by paying money).
In serious cases a Judge might put the bail to Two million or more pesos to release you, so therefore it’s a good idea to get insurance against this. One insurance that exists here covers you for various amounts depending on whether you pay RD2000 – RD3000 or more upfront, and based on the amount paid, you can get 2 – 3 – 4 or 5 million pesos worth of cover. Even better, if they do start hauling you to Jail, then you can call the insurance company’s hotline, and someone will come and get you released from Jail and get you transferred to a Hotel in Santiago where you have your own room, shower etc… and communication tools to get your situation resolved from the confinement of comfort, rather than being stuck up to a year in a tiny smelly jail cell with 4 murderers.
To get more information about this insurance, then please contact us at: info@nicepeoplenetworking.com
Car or Motorbike insurance:
There are several insurance companies and brokers on the island, (of which some are advertised in our Business Directory). An insurance for your motorbike can be obtained for about RD800 to RD2000 depending on the policy and it’s coverage. Third Party car insurance cost round RD8000 for a year, and full coverage from RD35000 and upwards.
The fact here is though that if you’re involved in an accident, then 90% of the drivers are un-insured, so don’t expect the other party to help you get your car or bike repaired even if they are at fault.
Home and content insurance:
Fires are rarely seen or heard of down here, as most buildings are constructed in concrete block and have tiled floors. Earthquakes or flood damages are more likely depending on how your building was constructed and it’s location. However like other countries it is of course possible to insure your home and content against both natural damage and robberies if you believe this is a potential issue.
Medical insurance:
Quite affordable insurances are available here as well, where you only have to pay a smaller portion of the medical bill in case of illness or emergencies. However a lot of the expats here only bother covering themselves for major medical help where the operation or treatment exceeds I.e. RD30000-50000 and the occasional time where they need medical help, they pay it themselves. You will of course have to way up the pro’s and con’s of this based on your life style, income etc…
Business and Personal liability insurance:
If your business deals with clients or members of the public, if you are part of a condominium complex, or a private villa owner, equally if you come into contact with the public in the course of your business activities, public liability insurance should be the top priority insurance cover on your list.
Public Liability Insurance- condominium liability insurance claims are often extremely high, some times running into the hundreds of thousands. This means that a business which isn’t covered could be in serious financial trouble if it found itself liable to pay damages or compensation from its own pocket.
The number of firms now offering ‘no win no fee’ claims services means that no business can afford to be without comprehensive business insurance. What is public liability insurance?
Public Liability Insurance can cover your business for damages and compensation payouts along with any related legal fees in the event that your business has caused injury or death to a member of the public or damage to their property. While it is not a legal requirement to have Public Liability cover, most businesses are expected to have cover. Companies operating without it may find it more difficult to do business.
Here is a list of beaches we find attractive to visit, all located in the north coast of the Dominican Republic
SOSUA BEACH (Sosua Bay)
Playa Sosua, near Puerto Plata, and the Playa Dorada, is probably one of the main tourist attractions in the north. The beautiful turquoise of the Atlantic, and the great expanse of the white sands lends to a magic that one must experience in person. Sosua Beach is perfect for that long stroll – so inviting to just send your cares away on the next set of waves.
Whereas Europeans tend to visit the eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana and surrounds, North Americans have been returning to the Puerto Plata area. With the golfing at Dorada, and the tranquility of Playa Sosua – it’s little wonder.
Waters here are mostly calm. It is a perfect place for your kids to play. Inspite of the fact that the beach can be crowded on weekends, it still preserves crystal clear turquoise waters. This is definately one of the most beautiful beaches on the north coast. Great for snorkelling and glass bottom boat trips, as well as it is the most popular spot for scuba diving trips.
PLAYA ALICIA (in front of the Waterfront restaurant)
Playa Alicia is smaller than Playa Sosua, with a lovely rock cliff at one end. It does not have much natural shade, but has the advantage of having less people and fewer vendors asking you to purchase things than Playa Sosúa. Playa Alicia is a gorgeous yellow-sand beach with a quite strong surf. It is always clean here, as the beach is visited by the guests from the neighbouring Hotel Casa Marina. You can hire sun beds and umbrellas, and even order some snacks and drinks from the restaurant up the cliff “Waterfront”. Now a newly built park is overlooking this beach. The beach access closes at 7PM.
PLAYA LAGUNA (Escondido Bay)
Just a kilometer away from the center of Sosua you will find a nice secluded beach. In the higway you will see the sign Playa Laguna turn into the road going down to the ocean, and follow the signs to lead you to the coast. Here you will find a set of oceanfront complexes right on the beach. Normally this beach is not busy, so for one who is seeking tranquility it could be the magic place, no vendors or shops along the beach, just you and the ocean.
PLAYA AT NATURA CABANA (Perla Marina)
This beach is located between Sosua and Cabarete, in the residential area Perla Marina. You need to go to the famous resort/restaurant on the beach Natura Cabana, and access the beach via this resort. The beach is normally not crowded, and changes with a season, it can be sandy at one spot and rocky at the other. The stretch goes along for about 2 kilometers, you can use the private beach by the Natura Cabana and order drinks/snacks from the restaurant, they offer sunbeds too, or choose to take a walk and find yourslef a more secluded, untouched spot. It is frequent that you can see a group of horse back riders along the beach. Great sunset!
ENCUANTRO BEACH
Encuantro Beach is an isolated stretch of beach located between the more heavily populated cities of Sosúa and Cabarete this popular surfing beach is accessible to the public via dirt roads.
Encuentro Beach consists of five distinctive breaks:
Coco Pipe is a serious, powerful and hollow reefbreak which favors high tide and North or Northwest swell. This wave is almost always bigger than it looks from the beach, with a heavy vertical drop. This was first surfed by Bam Rossiter, who managed to ride a 589ft wave fakie.
Bobo’s Point is a series of consistent peaks with a hollow but easy take off. It is powerful when overhead and best at low to mid tide on a Northeast swell.
La Derecha, meaning “the right”, is the North Coast’s most consistent surf spot. Two peaks, outside and inside with two distinct take off zones, and a reef that breaks like a point combine to create a wave that breaks with any swell direction and any size.
La Izquierda, meaning “the left”, is a hollow barreling performance reefbreak. Two sections that usually connect make up this fairly long wave. It is also very consistent with something to ride almost every day, although the wave tends to close out at heights over 12 feet (4 meters).
Destroyer is a powerful, hollow and shallow left, over a sharp reef. This dangerous wave breaks best at 8 to 10 feet (3 meters). More info http://www.surfingdominicanrepublic.com/
CABARETE BEACH (Central Cabarete)
Cabarete is famous for having excellent conditions for the sports. Everything revolves around the six kilometers of Cabarete Beach. On a two kilometer stretch (Cabarete Bay) businesses of all types have sprung up, many run by foreigners who first came as tourists and then came back to stay.
The restaurants, bars, surf shops and occasional hotel are located just far enough from the beach to add to the destination, not detract from the enjoyment of the beach. Many feel the attractiveness of Cabarete is in the people, the mingling of tourists who enjoy the intimacy of the smaller non inclusive hotels that encourage their guests to venture out and discover Cabarete. In the evening, the restaurants place their tables on the beach to serve dinner. While most are plastic tables, don’t be fooled. The quality of some of the restaurants is first class. The whole evening experience of strolling on the beach under the stars from one place to the other to pick the restaurant for the evening is special. Many tourists even dress up for a fun people-watching evening. See and be seen.
While Cabarete caters to a young sports-minded crowd, it is also perfect for those who just want the leisure of sitting in the shade or taking sun on the beach, and for parents with little children.
KITE BEACH (Cabarete)
Kite Beach Cabarete is the most popular windsurfing and kitesurfing (kiteboarding) location and one of top 10 kite surfing spots worldwide.
Best kitesurfing is at KiteBeach itself, although Cabarete bay west and the nice long stretch of Bozo beach, (on the way to Kite Beach), is also where the kitesurfers go to ride, or take kiteboarding lessons.
Kite Beach simply has better wind direction – a perfect side-onshore wind, especially useful when you first learn to kitesurf, so you don’t get dragged out to sea and have no problems to return to the beach (Before you learn how to kite surf up-wind).
Kitebeach also has stronger and more consistent winds than Cabarete west. The central part of the Cabarete bay has little wind by the shore and the eastern section of Cabarete bay has practically no wind most days, since the C-shaped bay blocks the wind.
There are around 15 kitesurfing schools in Kitebeach & Cabarete.
PLAYA MAGANTE (Los Gringos)
Playa Magante is situated between Gaspar Hernandez and Rio San Juan on the north eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, famous for its wild beauty and seclusion. You will see a signpost from the main road in Yagua (via Magante) down to Magante Beach. This is the most gorgeous beach you can ever visit on the north coast, very secluded, tranquil, shallow waters, unforgettable view like out of the book. Perfect for relaxation or getaways.
Here you will find the Los Gringos Beach Bar and Grill offering everything from a refreshing drink or a quick snack to a four course meal…plus three wonderful thatched beach cabanas to stay in. Its new thatched gazebo is perfect for a wedding or special group function with wonderful views of the beach and sea.
Los Gringos is situated at one end of Playa Magante, a spectacular stretch of sand scattered with palm trees offering plenty of shade, where you can walk for miles and enjoy what nature has given this part of the island.
And, as the place is protected by a double coral reef, there is safe swimming and snorkelling from the beach. Thankfully, no power boats and no jet skis. Just the occasional local fishing boat and the lap of the waves. Those who are keen on collecting shells and corkels will find this place a great find, as it has plenty of different kinds.
The hosts of the place will make your visit as enjoyable as possible, whether it is for a lunchtime snack, a gourmet meal, a special group function, a few drinks and a game of beach volleyball or a week of bliss staying in your own beach cabana. Breathtaking sunsets a local
speciality.
PLAYA CALETON
Playa Caleton is a charming little beach tucked away into a bay, protected by 2 small islands at the mouth of the bay. The water here is typically very calm and clear. For the adventurous, apparenty snorkelling is pretty good out by the islands.
The locals frequent this beach, and it is relatively unknown in tourist circles, because to find it is an adventure in itself. Driving time from Cabarete is 30 minutes towards Playa Grande. After going through the town Rio San Juan approximately a kilometer up the road, there will be a two story small hotel/bar, now start looking for the sign. There is a Playa Caleton sign on the right side of the road. If you blink you will miss it. On the opposite side of the road there is an open bar, that serves drinks, the road before the bar, and it looks more like a trail into a bar, but yes, this is the road to Playa Caleton and worth the drive in. Ask the bar owner if you are unsure.
Drive very slowly, it is about a 2 minute drive in, the road is very uneven. There are rentals for chaises and there is food from the shacks, where they will make whole fried fish and other things on the menu. Avoid the months where there is no letter R in the month… fish isn’t good at these times.
The unique thing about this beach is that on the right side of the bay on the rocks are white busts of human heads. Some have fine coral afoxed to look like hair, it looks like a shrine… probably 40-50 of these adorn the rocks. Folk lore has it a boat from Puerto Rico sank at the mouth of the bay and all the people drown… fact or fiction.
The sand is lovely. Avoid Sundays, as the locals come, drink and it becomes a horror show, but there is Police around if things get out of hands.
PLAYA GRANDE (Cabrera)
Playa Grande, in the Rio San Juan/Cabrera area is probably known best for serious golfers. Many golfers consider the course here at Playa Grande to be the best in the Dominican Republic. A few have even compared it to Pebble Beach. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Ten of its holes border the Atlantic Ocean. These are atop dramatic cliffs overlooking our featured beach. Playa Grande has some serious beach front as well.
Located 120 km east of Puerto Plata, Playa Grande Beach was once rated as one of the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world by Conde Nast Travel magazine. As you can see, this expanse of white sand, coconut palm lined paradise is a must see.
Each end of Playa Grande Beach is anchored by rugged coral formations and beautiful cliffs. Some great surfing and boogie boarding can be done at certain places along the beach. Keep your eye out for some of the locals who know the area and surf well.
Behind the tree line are a number of food vendors who offer up some of the finest in traditional Dominican cuisine. And some of the seafood is incredible. You won’t go hungry here – so plan on spending the day.
PLAYA DIAMANTE (Cabrera)
A newly asphalted road from Sosua towards Rio San Juan leads you to Playa el Diamante. About 15 minute drive after Rio San Juan, past Cabrera, there is a sharp right curve, where you should slow down by a big sign “Pescaderia” on the left and a pointer to Playa el Diamante. Continue down the small street to the ocean, which opens a beautiful scenery.
It is a spectacular view: the lagoon in the form of a circle with fine white sand and turquoise water, blending smoothly into the blue of the
deep ocean. Two low rock formations with wind shaped trees frame around Playa el Diamante, the precious diamond of Dominican Republic. In addition to the wondrous landscape of this lagoon, there are unique small freshwater streams struggling out from the sand at the edge of the sea water, covering the surface which resembles a giant mirror. Playa el Diamante is the most shallow beach you have ever seen. First, you walk on a thin layer of fresh water, massaging your foot palms, 20 meters later, the water reaches your ankles, 40 meters further up to the knee. If you want to swim, it would take you some time and around 70 meters of walking deep into the lagoon. This is the best place for families with
children and couples who like privacy. Playa el Diamante is completely deserted on weekdays, but can be very crowded on weekends as lots of loud Dominicans come here to party.
The beach fascinates you and not only by its splendid beauty, but also what seemed to be against all laws of physics, the cold spring water is
on top, and a warm sea water near the bottom. This happens because the fresh cold water is lighter than the salty ocean. It feels incredibly nice and very relaxing by every cell of the body. The sand beneath is caressing your feet with the smallest white sand, so pleasant. One step and your foot hits the cool little stream, another step and you feel the warm, thick ocean waters. Its a great natural SPA, where the tiny geysers on the bank gush out from under the sand, turning into a mere trickle of spring water, flowing into the ocean.
PLAYA DORADA (PUERTO PLATA)
Playa Dorada Beach is located in Puerto Plata on the Dominican Republic north “Amber Coast”. Amber was actually discovered here. This is one of the Dominican Republic’s most established resort areas. Playa Dorada Beach is a great area as each of the resorts here have their own piece of the beautiful, beige beach. But the area has also a public access.
There are some nice reefs here as well. Just off the shore, and even close-in along the strand, you’ll find some of the best snorkeling on the north shore of the Dominican Republic.
The Ventana Beach Resort is on one end of the hotel area. From there, you can see right up the Playa Dorada Beach with a spectacular vista of the region. This ocean here makes for great windsurfing and kiteboarding. Some water skiing can be found, however, ocean waves make skiing tiresome.
Remember that the “Amber Coast” faces the turbulent Atlantic – water can be rough. Another thing to note about the area is that it does rain a lot during the winter months. Because this coast is well developed, it can get crowded.
PLAYA COFRESI (Puerto Plata)
Cofresi Beach is located close to Puerto Plata and was named after an infamous Puerto Rican pirate, Captain Roberto Cofresi. This town began much like Buzios, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; a tiny fishing village that went on for years as a sleepy bay on the Atlantic.
Today, Cofresi has changed but only slightly, with high-end hotels and condos offering great views of both Cofresi Beach and the nearby mountains. What a fantastic bay – golden sand blending into crystal clear water. There is only one entrance to the town; a narrow road that runs all the way to the beach. Mountains peak at either side of the city.
Close to Cofresi Beach is the Ocean World & Water Park which houses the world’s largest dolphin lagoon.
PUNTA RUSIA BEACH (Montecristi)
Punta Rusia is one of the most picturesque beaches on the Dominican Republic‘s north shore. Lined with beautifully green coconut trees and speckled with a few fishing boats makes Punta Rusia one sleepy and delightful beach. Remember that picture in your mind you had as a kid of that laid back Caribbean beach? This is it.
And a special treat; on Sundays you’ll find local musicians playing bouncy meringue tunes everywhere along Punta Rusia. What’s even more special, is that there is plenty of beach here to go around – so even on weekends – you won’t feel crowded out.
Shade abounds with thatched huts in various locations along the strand. Umbrellas can be rented as well. There’s a small reef that follows the beach in some areas, so snorkeling can be good if the surf is low.
Otherwise, there is too much silt to see much. A local operator can run you out to “Paradise Island” where snorkeling is perfect. On the way back, you can pass by mangroves and check out the wildlife.
PLAYA MONTE CRISTI (Montecristi)
In the far north-west corner of the Dominican Republic, is the province of Montecristi. This is home to Monte Cristi Beach, or Playa Monte Cristi. Since Monte Cristi Beach sits on the Atlantic, again we are faced with some rough waters at times.
Columbus first sighted this island in this area. As a matter of fact, ruins can still be found in the area from the first European settlement.
Certain areas of Montecristi have been nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage Center. So, when you’re not enjoying the beach – take a tour through this historic city.
There is no escaping the huge “El Morro” next to the small island named Pablillo. That’s where our beach is found. It’s semi-circular and has significant surf, for the most part. You can surf and boogie board here. You will note that the sand is more golden here. This is because of the mix from the rock.
El Morro Beach (or Montecristi) is rarely crowded and mainly secluded. The beach is rocky in places.
Private Practitioners:
Choosing the right doctor in the DR is very important, so be sure to ask several people about who they recommend or their feedback on one
you are contemplating. If you ever get medical advice that shocks you I.e. that a condition you have is far more serious than what you
expected, then make sure you get a second or third opinion before taking the prescribed medicine or treatment. The old rule is “if it sounds too good to be true, then it normally is!”. In our NPN business Directory you can find GP’s, however it just depends on where you are located whether they will be suitable.
Health Insurance:
Insurance here is relatively inexpensive, however if you believe that you will have very few smaller medical problems in a year, then maybe
it can pay just to ensure yourself for emergencies or health issues that would cost over a certain amount for that treatment, and then take
care of paying yourself for smaller treatments I.e. blood tests, urine tests etc….
Hospitals:
Choosing the right hospital is again very crucial, as some have doctors who are brilliant and others some that are known to have made patients health much worse, caused deaths or simply just trying to keep you in there with ongoing tests and treatments to make as much money from you as possible. The ones to quickly get out of, are the ones that try to avoid being clear about their prices are, or their recommendations are far fetched. Don’t feel embarrassed to ask what it’s going to cost based on various possible treatment scenarios – if they find questions uncomfortable, then it’s normally because they are unqualified or up to tricks to make money from you. Especially be careful with some of the private hospitals, as they are known for conducting bad practice and retain incompetent staff. Follow your instincts!
Emergencies and Ambulances:
In case of emergencies, be prepared that before hospitals will treat you, they will demand that you or someone who’s with you, will cover
the bill for the operation/s and treatment. Be aware that the Dominican Republic is not a welfare state, so don’t expect that you will be “rescued” unless they know they’ll get paid for their work and materials – to them it’s their direct income when you pay. On the North Coast – here’s one number for an ambulance service: 809-412-5555 but ask around for more numbers when it’s clear where you are going to reside.
Preventing Accidents and Illnesses:
* Touching sea life and corral: Be careful not to touch any sea life or corrals when you are either swimming, snorkeling or diving, as the sea life here are not all just harmless gold fish. Many fish and sea urgents have poisonous spikes and others will attack if provoked. Also be careful where you step as many tourists or locals here have had very painful foot or leg surgeries getting long black spikes taken out from the local sea urgents that crawl along the bottom, especially near rocks and reef.
* Chose a clean beach: Unfortunately many Dominicans are undereducated in regards to protecting the environment and themselves. Many throw rubbish, glass bottles and other objects wherever they finish with their drinks and snacks. So stepping on broken glass, syringes or sharp metal objects are always a risk in such a beach.
* Watch out for unsafe objects: In the DR, the safety standards are much lower than in I.e. Europe, USA etc… which means one always have to use ones awareness and instinct. It’s not unusual to fall or drive into a deep hole because no-one cared about covering it up with a safe lid! Watch “live” electrical wires or exposed panels in commercial buildings, homes, from street posts or hanging down from above. Also you’ll find that trades people in the DR can be very sloppy by leaving metal wires or other materials sticking out from lamp posts etc… Sharp edges are rarely thought of as dangerous, so be careful about what’s around you in this regards I.e. glass table with unpolished edges etc… Be careful of slippery tiles! Only recently you’ll find a few tiles coated with “slip proof” surfaces, but as these cost more and because some of the unsafe tiles often are better looking, then these often end up in bathrooms, on stairs etc… and once wet they become lethal to walk on.
* Beware of poor electrics: One thing to check if you either rent or buy a place here is the size of the breakers used for power points, various appliances as well as the general set-up of the property’s wiring. Many toddlers here have been electrocuted to death because there was either no breaker in place or the breakers “Amp’s” where too high to cut off the power in time, when these little toddlers got curious and stuck metal objects into power outlets. Maybe get a highly recommended foreign electrician to check your panel and breakers before moving in (especially if you have small children).
* Swimming pools and kids: Every year hundreds of children drown in pools in the DR. Be aware that safety fences are still not seen hardly anywhere, and it’s not required by law either. So always have an adult accompanying the child in the pool. Many of the drownings actually happen when parents assume that because there are plenty of people in the pool, then “surely someone will save little Julie if she’s in trouble”, however busy pool activity and noise often drown out cries for help or a child who suddenly “goes under” – so since you love your children be responsible and get off the sunbed to protect them in the water or live with a lifetime of regrets! (Parents do your resting at the hotel or at your home!)
* Unpredictable drivers /accidents: Over here they say you need eyes in your neck as well to survive on the roads. Dominicans and Haitians typically live life on the edge every day, so when driving don’t be surprised to encounter people overtaking in the most insane moments. They are also well known for ramming the brake on without any care for what’s coming from behind. Motorbike drivers have literally been beheaded hitting the back of trucks who suddenly braked or parked out on the road, so either overtake them or keep your distance! Then you’ll also find people pulling out from “no-where” or many ego centric motorbike drivers drive on their rear wheels, and this also caused many accidents. At night be careful as 90% of drivers here won’t be bothered lowering their headlights for you even when you flick
your high beam at them – this is dangerous as now you can’t see all the motor bikes who are heading in your direction who mostly don’t have
any rear lights or pedestrians walking on the roadside in pitch darkness thinking they are walking reflectors!
* Potholes and animals: Be careful of the many potholes on the roads here, especially when you’re on a motorbike or even worse when on a
scooter with small wheels, as they sink deeper into the pot hole and can cause you to have a nasty crash. Also be aware of the many animals
running loose both during day light and through the night. If you travel at a high speed whether on straight or windy roads, it’s quite
possible to ram into a donkey, cow, horse or other animal running loose.
* Cactuses and Plants: Be careful about which plants you or your children touch here, as some of them will give you a nasty skin rash or
prickle you with poisonous spikes. Also watch what berries your children consume as some are definitely not for eating. The cactuses below can damage your eyes as they have poisonous milk (Pencil Cactus and Euphorbia candelabrum).
If you plan to move to to the DR, then it’s important to realize that there are
the “Have’s” and the “Have not’s”. It’s a third world country and if you leave
yourself open to be mugged or robbed, then the chances are high that you will
be! Typically if you’re white, then you’re considered rich in many locals eyes
(even if you’re struggling to get by).
Make sure that you check out the various residential areas before you accept a villa or apartment. Most foreigners will give you their run down on what security measures they are taking to secure themselves and their belongings in each specific town or area. Gated communities usually have security guards which you pay for either through your rental agreement or separately.
Unless the Gated Community is paying top dollar for a security company which has modern communication tools, a tight system and great screening then you can normally expect that the level of quality is much to be desired. Guards are only getting paid anywhere between 6-10000 pesos per month and it’s quite common to catch them sleeping at night. Most robberies are either linked to the security guards or done directly by them. So often when community’s want joint security rather than individual security, then it’s like “The wolves looking after the sheep”. If you plan to secure a villa, then often the best security is what you provide yourself.
Here are some tips:
* As most burglary’s are inside jobs then be extremely picky on who you hire as a guard, house keeper, nanny or gardener (if you can handle it
yourself, then that is often safer). Individuals looking for work have an amazing ability to come across as angels, when only a small percentage are. If
you hire based on recommendation, then be sure that the person who recommends the potential staff member is someone you would trust with the title to your
house! In other words many scams happen here where even the recommending person is in on the robberies – so be very careful when recruiting!
* Keep it to your closest friends if you’re throwing a party or if you are going away for the day – a weekend or for a while. Be very careful who comes into your property I.e. prostitutes, moto-concho’s, taxi drivers, cleaning staff and police are renown for casing your place, and then soon after you get burgled (often by police with masks). If someone you don’t know asks you where you live, be vague in your answer I.e. “Cabarete” and quickly bounce a question at them to get off the topic. If they persist, then simply say – “with all due respect (name) – I prefer to get know people for a while before I entrust where I live as too many bad things happen in this area – I hope you understand!”. If they don’t understand or respect that, then that should be a warning sign in itself.
* Get a Legal weapon with license – on the North Coast we recommend the arms dealer opposite Casa Nelson in Puerto Plata. A shotgun & license cost
from RD32000 and upwards depending on the model. Both rubber and normal shells can be purchased.
Hand Guns are twice the price or more and require yearly taxes paid on them. Be careful of a common scam which can get you into a very messy and costly situation, which is buying a second hand gun through some amigo who’s got some other great amigo with an unlicenced weapon. Often they sell you the gun or shotgun for a cheap price and next they dob you into the corrupt police who then throw you in jail, and now you have to
pay some insane amount to get out again, which all the culprets get a piece of – just not worth the risk! Often it’s the people who come to you with some offer that’s got a scam up their sleeve. If burglars know you have weapons and they have seen you leave your property, then they will try to burgle you to get the weapons. With “fast in and out” burglaries, they are usually after cash, jewelry, lap tops, weapons or other small stuff that can be carried on a motor bike and resold in a hurry.
* Ensure your property is well fences to make it hard for burglars to enter, and even add other materials on top if you can stand looking at them – also sensors or cameras can be erected to make it even more secure. Some even have metal bars on all windows and doors, but again it depends on where you are living and how secure you wish to be and if it makes you feel jailed by doing so.
* Get 2-3 dogs. Two for outside – especially spaded females are very protective and on alert, where male dogs often get lazy after a couple of years. Get one for
inside as your live “indoor alarm system” for when you are sleeping. Maybe get a small dog who will bark his head off if it hears something going on outside. This little fella might just save you in case burglars poison the outside dogs followed by them entering your yard.
* Keep as little cash or valuables in the house as possible and DON’T build a safe. Either a construction worker or a maid will know or find out you have it,
and this slips out amongst their friends who tells someone else about this “treasure chest” or they get involved in arranging a burglary with someone they
know.
* As a foreigner, avoid getting into vulnerable situations I.e. walking in the wrong neighborhood or street especially at night. Or walking in a
remote area where you could be attacked. Buy a small can of Mace (Pepper spray) and maybe carry a weapon as well if you do have to venture out of the publics
eye. Most attacks and burglaries are coward attacks. When challenged, most locals take off, as they were not really looking for a fight, but instead an
easy financial catch. If you come driving at night and you ever have someone jump out in front of you with a gun, then try to run him over or at least avoid stopping and get away from him. May sound harsh, but it’s either you or him that ends up unlucky!
* Don’t flaunt your stuff, money etc… - here it’s not so much admired but rather envied and chased! (Down play your income if you are doing well, as this can make them come for your stuff as well)
* Like anywhere else in the world, lock your car, stearing lock, house, gate etc…
* If you ever think of calling the Police, then try to get an experienced “friend” with the right connections to help you out, or they will try to extort money from you to substitute their low wages!
The good news is that in general it’s quite safe to move around when you are in the eye of many people I.e. in towns, near shops,
restaurants, schools etc… just use common sense and if you are ever followed by someone in public, then turn around and challenge them confidently I.e. “Que Passa?” and 99% of the time they will move on, as they don’t want public attention.
Driving in the Dominican republic is an experience in itself. Especially foreigners who come from countries where road rules are strict get a shock when they see what drivers here get away with. Here are some examples:
Daring: A large number of motorist run red lights, drive with alcohol in their hands, texting or on the phone while driving or wear no helmets when on motor bikes. Motor bike drivers often drive on their back wheels down streets with parked cars and people and seem to have no care for their own or others safety – their ego must prevail! Also it shocks new comers to see small motor bikes with up to 5 people on them (often 1-2 baby’s hanging off mum’s arm). Taxis and mini busses are often crammed with so many people, that you would think they are trying to enter Guinness record book for the most people squeezed into them! Construction workers or truck assistants are often sitting on top of cargo, with no apparent fear of what would happen if they crashed.
Noise: Many drivers also believe they “must” be noticed by everyone else, and build half a disco into the boot of their cars and drive with the boot open after which they turn the volume up till it can be heard 5 blocks away and set every car alarm off nearby. The police seems to ignore this.
Disrespect/Arrogance: Especially male taxi, bus and truck drivers, seem to take great pleasure in driving ridiculously slow while riding on the middle line with their arm dangling out the window – pulling a long queue of annoyed drivers behind them. DR would also be one of the only country’s in the world where a large majority of drivers refuse to lower their headlights when it’s dark – a big mean ego seem to kick in with a majority when they get behind the wheel! Don’t be surprised if motorists in front of you suddenly slam their brakes on, as they’ve decided that now they need to have a 1-2 minute chat with an amigo or they suddenly saw, or they see a potential buck to be made from someone standing at the road side and therefor justify that it’s o.k. to risk harmonica collisions behind them so they can make 50 pesos!
Rust buckets: Here you will see trucks, cars and vans that are nearly rusted away with bent chassis, warn tires and no side mirrors. A lot of bikes, cars and trucks blow black smoke that will make you want to keep a good distance!
Accidents: If you are a foreigner, it’s very common that if you are involved in an accident, that you will be blamed for destroying years of damages that existed already in their vehicle of bike, and even when you are the victim, many locals will try to frame you as the villain – watch out for this! Watch out at night for motor bikes with no lights (Stay on the middle line as often it’s hard to see the bike till it’s too late) – also there’s many vehicles with missing lights, so be careful not to assume it’s a motorbike coming towards you when overtaking. If someone plays your bluff about you having to pay them money to get rid of them, then suggest to them that you both go to the police to show license and insurance details, as in many cases they start humbling down straight away when they realize they have to be questioned by police. Make an “on the spot decision” what is in your favor, as the police is well known to squeeze you for money whether they helped you or not. Don’t be in a hurry to play “Mother Theresa” if you see someone at an accident needing a lift to the hospital. If some Dominicans or the ambulance can transport the injured person there, then this is favorable, as even if you as a foreigner weren’t involved with the accident, then they will often try to pin it on you, as here the foreigner is always rich! (even though most are not).
Fines: The traffic police “Amet” are fast to pull people over if the driver hasn’t got their seat belt on, or if he/she is on the cell phone. Most times they are just after money – take control of the question asking, speak English and keep the keys away from them – play very difficult, only show copies of all paper work, and tell them that you keep originals in a safe place so that corrupt service people don’t violate you – refuse to go to the station with them – usually they will let you go in the end, as you’ve just entered their “too hard basket”. Better than all this – avoid them when possible – look to the side that they are not standing and by the time you turn your head back, they realize it’s too late to get your attention to pull over (or start sneezing when you approach them waving cars in to the side and just keep going! If you can tell that they are going to fine you, then always claim that you have no cash on you, and take the fine. Afterwards place this amongst your toilet paper as they don’t have any proper follow-up with enforcing you to pay (at least not on the North Coast). Be careful when parking, as Amet drive around like hawks looking for vehicles to tow away – don’t park on yellow lines, where “No Parking” signs do exist, with 2 wheels up on the foot path or too close to a corner (ask a friendly local for advice).
Licenses: Depending on whether you are planning to stay full time or not in the country, could determine whether you choose to go for the DR license or not. Many residents just show a copy of the o/seas license and claim to be a tourist. If you are planning to get a license, then ask someone pleasant in an office, and usually they have a contact to someone who can help you get it for a lot less than trying to go through a lawyer.
Although it is possible to stay in the Dominican Republic without obtaining the official residency permit, there are many reasons why it is better to do so. Reasons include:
A legal resident can work and do business legally in the Dominican Republic – a non-resident cannot. A resident is allowed to bring in his household items, ranging from kitchen appliances, to furniture, tax free. A non-resident must pay all applicable import duties on these goods.
A non-resident cannot sue a Dominican national or a legal resident in court without posting a bond, usually quite high. A legal resident is exempt from this requirement.
In case of inheritance, a non-resident beneficiary must pay a 50% surcharge on applicable estate taxes – residents are not subject to this surcharge. For many foreigners interested in not paying taxes in their home countries on income earned outside their home country, it is a prerequisite to obtain residency status in another country. A resident can enter the Dominican Republic without having to buy a tourist card; a non-resident must obtain a visa or buy a tourist card.
The first step is to obtain your Provisional Residency. You will need the following documents for the residency procedure:
- Birth Certificate
- Four 2×2 photographs front
- Two 2×2 photographs side
- Marriage Certificate (if applying with spouse)
- Two complete photocopies of your passport
- Tourist card showing date of last entry into the country (given to you at the Airport)
- Affidavit of your solvency backed up with evidence e.g. bank letter/deposits, work contract, property titles, etc.
- Notarized statement by a Dominican citizen or corporation or a permanent resident vouching for you in the Dominican Republic (can be provided by a lawyer)
- Work contract (if the applicant works in the country)
- A certificate of good behavior from the Dominican authorities
- Medical exam performed in the Dominican Republic (blood test and chest x-ray)
Birth certificates and other foreign documents need to be translated into Spanish by an official Dominican translator, which a lawyer normally provides.
The one essential part of this is the medical exam for which you will need to attend the medical center at the Department of Immigration in Santo Domingo.
The medical exam is not as onerous as it sounds. It is there mainly to check for Aids, tuberculosis and illegal drug use. Assuming you don’t have any of those, you should pass the medical exam fine. They will also ask you some basic questions, such as ‘do you take any prescription medicines, have you had any recent surgery’ etc, but the answers will not affect the exam.
They will also take a blood sample, a urine sample and a chest x-ray.
The police check is also relatively painless. Assuming you are not a known criminal and wanted by Interpol – you should pass this without problem.
The solvency check is to prove that you are not destitute. If you own a property in the Dominican Republic or have a corporation, this will suffice. Evidence of assets of RD$500,000 (around US$15,000) or more preferably in a local bank account will also be fine.
When the immigration office have approved all the paperwork, you receive a temporary residency permit card (Residencia) and a Dominican identification card (Cédula de Identidad). This process takes approximately 3-5 months, depending on the Dominican immigration authorities.
The temporary residency permit is valid for 1 year. You then have the right to live and work in the Dominican Republic. You will also have the right to leave the country whenever you wish and re-enter with your temporary residence document (you will not need a tourist card or tourist visa to re-enter).
Step 2 – Permanent Residency
After your temporary residency card expires, you can renew the permit and change your status to Permanent Residency. The Permanent Residency is valid for two years at a time and the Dominican identification card (cédula) for six years.
The application for permanent residency is similar to the provisional residency. The documents required for a permanent residency application are:
- Three photocopies of the provisional residency card
- Affidavit by two residents of the Dominican Republic regarding the good morals and good behavior of the applicant
- Notarized letter of guarantee from a Dominican person or corporation or a permanent resident
- A certificate of good behavior from the Dominican authorities
- Medical exam performed in the Dominican Republic ((blood test and chest x-rays)
- 4 photos 2 x 2 (front)
- 2 photos 2 x 2 (side)
One all these have been approved by the immigration office, you will receive a Permanent Resident Card valid for two-years, after which you can keep renewing in two year periods.
Alternatively, after the first two years with the permanent residency permit, you may apply for Dominican citizenship and become formally nationalized (obtaining a Dominican Passport).
Step 3 – Obtaining Dominican Citizenship and a Dominican Passport.
This process can only be started once you have obtained permanent residence, and there is no obligation to take this step. The main reason for taking it is if you want a second passport, you want to be able to vote, or you don’t want the bother of renewing your permanent residency.
There is quite a bit of paperwork to file for naturalization, but that is all taken care of by your lawyer. The whole process takes around 5 months from start to finish.
Program for DR retiree’s
With the approval and publication of Law 171-07 on Foreign Retirees, the Dominican Republic has become a paradise for people planning to retire to an idyllic setting.
Fast-tracked residency paperwork (45 days), duty-free household goods, reductions on motor vehicle taxes, exemption on transfer taxes for the first purchase of real estate, 50% reduction on taxes on mortgages, 50% reduction on the annual property tax, exemption on taxes on dividends and interest, 50% reduction on capital gains are just some of the attractions.
The minimum monthly income required is US$1,500 US for retirees with a government or private pension and US$2,000 in verified income from all others.
To obtain a lawyer on the North Coast, check this Directory page: http://www.nicepeoplenetworking.com/section/ads/lawyers/
