|
Juan
Dolio and its neighbor beach town Guayacanes are for those
who seek a couples or family restful vacation but like being
able to take many excursions. If you are staying in Juan Dolio,
you are equidistant from the culture, shopping and dining
and nightlife of Santo
Domingo, great beaches, scuba diving and other attractions
in La Romana, and just
half an hour away from busy Boca
Chica. The town of Juan Dolio is very long and thin, following
the shoreline. There are only two roads: the highway and a
small beach road that connects all the hotels,
so you can walk, jog or cycle in safety here. This destination
is perfect for those looking for a quiet escape with all the
comforts of home. There is nightlife primarily at the hotels
but this is not what you would call a “party hearty”
destination.
What
else is nearby
Almost
anywhere you could possibly want to go is accessible from
the coastal highway which cuts through the town of Juan Dolio
and follows the shoreline. To the immediate east is an extension
of Juan Dolio, called Villas Del Mar, where many restaurants
and all-inclusive hotels are located.
About
15 minutes further east is the baseball city of San Pedro
de Macoris, home town of Sammy Sosa.
Another
hour beyond that is the La
Romana/Bayahibe area.
Going west from Juan Dolio you’ll find the fishing village/beach
town of Guayacanes, then the pretty cove-like beach of Playa
Caribe, followed by Boca
Chica about 20 minutes from Juan Dolio. Santo
Domingo is about a 50 minute drive to the west of Juan
Dolio.
How
to Get There
Most travelers
to the Juan Dolio area will arrive at the Las Americas International
Airport, a 30 minute drive. However, some flights are now
starting to arrive at the new
La Romana airport. This airport is just over an hour’s
drive from Juan Dolio.
Getting
around
Everybody
walks in Juan Dolio. The beach road is quiet and has very
little traffic. What traffic it does have is slowed down by
dozens of very large speed bumps. Good to remember if you
ride a bike! Most hotels here have bicycles on loan to guests.
Motoconchos (motorcycle taxis) also cruise the beach road
but we don’t recommend using them or the hotel bicycles
on the busy highway. Your hotel can help you get a taxi. Rates
are usually posted near the entrance of the hotel.
If you’re
on a budget, the public buses or guaguas travel east and west
on the highway, passing every few minutes. Just stand anywhere
by the side of the road and they’ll stop for you.
| Our
Guide Book Recommendations |
| |
|
|
|
Those
seeking action can head for the area's casinos, discos, 18-hole
golf course or participate
in the water sports programs offered by the many large all-inclusive
complexes.
Go Kart Bahn is a racetrack on the highway to San Pedro where
go karts can be rented for a fast spin around the track.
Expected to be open to the general public in January 2002,
the Cueva de las Maravillas is one option in the vicinity.
Down under, browse at the very good collection of pre-Columbian
art.
There’s
a bowling alley at the far eastern end of the beach road,
past the Melia Juan Dolio.
Tropical Plantation is on the Hato Mayor-Sabana de la Mar
road due north of Juan Dolio. This working flower farm has
a fairy-tale botanical garden and a natural green jungle with
a labyrinth of paths where the fun is in getting lost and
finding your way out again.
Make friends
with a local and get him or her to take you to a night baseball
game in the San Pedro Tetelo Vargas Stadium. The winter baseball
season runs from October through the end of January. Sammy
Sosa owns a disco in San Pedro city. Some big leaguers like
Jose Lima and Bartolo Colon come home during the off season
to play for the ‘folks’ back home. This year's
baseball season is especially exciting, with Alfonso Soriano,
Vladimir Guerrero and many others making up the Estrellas
Dream Team.
| Rent
Your Car Online |
| Travel-Junky
in coöperation with AutoEurope |
For
over 50 years, Auto Europe has been a leader in
worldwide car rental services. In recent years,
we have expanded our services to include over
4,000 car rental locations worldwide. |
|
|
Guided
tours are an excellent way to experience this region, since
there are relatively few attractions within walking or busing
distance.
Some
of the excursions available are:
- Jeep
Safaris
- Santo
Domingo City Tour and Half Day Tour
- Santo
Domingo Night Tour
- Altos
De Chavon artists village/River boat ride
- Cueva
Fun Fun (and its seven-kilometer long underground river)
- Los
Haitises
- Saona
Island
- Catalina
Island
- Rancho
Cumayasa: horseback riding
| Golf |
The
best golf in the Boca
Chica-Juan Dolio area is Los Marlins Golf
and Country Club, on the coastal highway not far from
the Costa Caribe Resort.
18-holes, club house, restaurant, bar, carts and equipment
rentals.
See our golf page for more details at our Golf
Page |
| Scuba
Diving |
Nearly
every large hotel here has a dive shop that offers PADI
certification courses and open water dives. Juan Dolio
is about an hour away from some of the country's best
diving off Catlina Island.
Or you can just get your feet wet with a free introductory
lesson in the pool.
If
you enjoy snorkeling, you can do so right off the beach
in front of your hotel.
You may have noticed the long reef breaking the waves
just off shore. It creates a home for the fish and keeps
strong waves off the beach. Your hotel
should be able to loan you snorkel gear. Dives to visit
the Tanya V sunken wreck can be booked with the dive
shops. |
| Fishing |
 |
Fishing
trips can be arranged at the Metro Hotel
Marina. Marlin, dorado, barracuda and others. |
| Horseback
Riding |
 |
Crazy
Horse Ranch. Juan Dolio. Jungle/beach rides. Or Rancho Cumayasa
for a combined horse-riding, river trekking and Catalina island
visiting day.
|
Scattered
among the mammoth sized resorts are numerous smaller hotels
and guest houses. Regardless of your taste in accommodation,
you will find something to suit you. Most of the smaller hotels
are accessed from the beach road that runs parallel to the
highway.
For more information on where to stay, see
our Hotel Directory >>
A reputation
for excellent cuisine has taken hold in Juan Dolio and Guayacanes.
Sophisticated palates can choose from a variety of fine restaurants
ranging from informal to casually elegant, even a few with noteworthy
wine cellars. Italian restaurants and steak and lobster abound here.
| Entertainment
outside your hotel |
El Batey
disco, next to Decameron Hotel. Merengue, salsa and dance
beat ‘til all hours. Chocolate Bar, on access road between
Decameron and Costa Caribe. Pool tables and international
beers on offer.
Casino
at Coral Costa Caribe – new American style casino with
live music.
Shuttle bus picks up guests from other hotels.
Open to public.
The casino
at Barcelo Decameron is older but has all the standard table
games and slots.
It also has its own shuttle bus and is open to the public.
| For
souvenirs, many small shops line the beach front road
for a leisurely shopping trip on foot. Friendly vendors
ply the beaches, selling jewelry, t-shirts and crafts
priced with haggling in mind.
For groceries, rum, cigars and Dominican coffee there’s
a large supermarket next door to the Decameron hotel.
For serious shopping, take the Santo
Domingo city tour or if you are an independent sort,
take the public bus into the city.
San Pedro is closer than Santo
Domingo but most people prefer shopping amid the
culture and history of Santo Domingo’s colonial
zone to the chaos of San Pedro. |
|
|
