Category Archives: RESOURCES

All the information and resources you might need while visiting Dominican Republic.

Bus

Bus of Dominican Republic

Traveling by a bus or guagua (smaller bus) is simple even if you are not proficient in Spanish. Just ask people and they will be happy to guide you as to where to catch a bus and how to get to the right bus. Traveling by bus is very economical and safe and is a great way to see the country of Dominican Republic.

Santo Domingo City Bus | The Large Busses | Express Bus | Bus From Santo Domingo to Boca Chica |

A large comfortable bus stuck on the small streets of Colonial Zone.

Santo Domingo City Bus

Oficina Metropolitana de Servicios de Autobuses/ Metropolitan Office of Bus Services better known as OMSA are the city buses and they cost between RD$15 and RD$30 (6/2019). Located in Santo Domingo and Santiago they have many routes and stops. You can find more information in the “SERVICIOS” section at their web site.
Metropolitana Bus

The Large Busses

These buses will take you cross country are full size modern vehicles equipped with air conditioning. Most have onboard movies and are quite comfortable as buses go. The average price from Santo Domingo to Puerta Plata by bus is about $6USD (2006-prices are an average). Remember to take a sweater on the bus. They can get very cold as they keep the air conditioning quite high. They buss is really a very comfortable way to travel any long distance.

*Caribe Tours
Their location in Santo Domingo is Avenida 27 de Febrero and Leopoldo Navarro. They have routs throughout the country and take pride in their promptness. Make sure to take a jacket as sometimes their air conditioning is a bit strong. Check their web site for bus destinations and schedules.
Phone in Santo Domingo: 809-221-4422.
You can also make a reservation on their web site. Caribe Tours

*Metro Tours
Operate from Ave.Winston Churchill and Hatuey, near Ave. 27 de Febrero in Santo Domingo. Their routs are limited.
Phone in Santo Domingo: 809-566-7126
Metro Tours

*Expreso Bávaro
To Bavaro / Punta Cana from Santo Domingo and back with many stops along the way.
Phone: 809-682-9670
Expreso Bávaro

*Terrabús
Located on Avenida 27 de Febrero at Maximo Gomez at Plaza Criolla with busses to Santiago, Puerta Plata and Port-a-Prince, Haiti. Contact: 809-472-1080

*Expreso Macoris
Buses to La Romana and Higuey.
Contact: 809-687-2190

Express Bus

These buses will take you over the entire island. Many of these small busses or guaguas are not in the best shape and riding one can be confusing. The bus stop area is on Revelos Street in front of Enriquillo Park (not far from the Colonial Zone). There is no real office or bus station. Just many bus hubs scattered around in the area. Each has busses or guaguas that go to different parts of the country.

Riding these smaller busses is a true experience that one should have. Some buses are very old and rickety and others are quite nice and could even have air conditioning. These buses are very inexpensive and collect the fare after departure. Make sure you have the correct change as some collectors will not make change.

Watch your belongings. There are many thieves in the area of Parque Enriquillo. It will seem like there is no order at all. Just give yourself enough time to understand what is happening and to get on the correct bus.

Example trip: La Romana from Santo Domingo is about $3USD (2006), buses leave every hour from 5 AM to 9 PM, takes a little under 2 hours, stopping at Camino Ave. The return trip is the same fare.

Tour bus in Colonial Zone

Bus From Santo Domingo to Boca Chica

(7/2012) The terminal is located on Jose Marti which is two blocks from Parque Enriquillo (between Plaza Marti Department Store and Plaza de los Buhoneros) in Santo Domingo. Express buses run every 30 minutes with the fare being $70 Pesos (7/2012).

To get to the terminal from Colonial Zone taking a moto concho (public car): Go to the beginning of the Conde in front of Petrus (this is not far from the Pacos Restaurant and the Parque Independencia – on the corner of Palo Hincado and Calle las Mercedes). The cost is about $25 pesos (DOP). The car will travel on Ave. Mella, past the fire station, then turn onto Ave. Jose Marti, and pass directly in front of Parque Enriquillo then on to the front of the terminal (refer to express bus above). You can also ask any taxi driver to take you. They know where it is.

Here is where you catch the first bus. You will be taken to another terminal, The Andres bus, here you have to change buses and pay for another bus.

This bus will then take you to Boca Chica making the final stop at the park in the center of the town of Boca Chica.

Monday through Saturday you may be able to leave from and be dropped off at Parque Independencia, near the gas station, before 6 PM, on the way to the terminal. On Sundays, the bus only goes to the terminal at Parque Enriquillo.

Note– Make sure you catch the last bus out of Boca Chica, ask the driver to be sure of the time, or you will be spending the night or taking a taxi (usually at least $1000 pesos (8/2011) to return back to the city. It really is very simple.

*To read about helpful transportation tips.
*Important phone numbers to take with you when you travel.
*To read a funny story about Dominican Drivers written by DR Gringa

Colonial Zone Google Map

Colonial Zone Map

A Google map of the Colonial Zone sights, museums, monuments, parks, plazas and other points of interest.

Our map of Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo / Mapa de la Zona Colonial de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic / República Dominicana. It is a work in progress map of all the monuments and sights in the oldest city in all the Americas.

Make sure to view the map as large as possible so all the icons are not jumbled since there are so many sights in such a small area. Click the icon and a little pop up box will appear. This window will tell you what is in that spot and have a link to the page in the Colonial Zone web site for more detailed information.

Holiday Calendar 2015

Holiday Calendar 2015

Holidays – The Minister of Work announced the calendar for the celebration of the holidays for the year 2016 according to the law 139-97 / Días Festivos – El Ministerio de Trabajo anuncia el calendario para la celebración de los días feriados para el año 2015, establecidos en la Ley 139-97. www.ministeriodetrabajo.gob.do

January/ Enero
1 – Friday – New Year’s Day
5 – Monday celebrating (The 6th is the OFFICIAL date) Día de los Santo Reyes Magos – Epifania / Three Kings Day – Epiphany (what is 3 Kings Day?)
12 – Día de la Resistencia Heroica/ Day of Heroic Resistance (this is the first year for this day to honor the men and women who fought for a fairer society)
15 – to End of March – Whale Watching (the best place to observe is the Samana Bay)
21 – Wednesday – Our Lady of Altagracia Day. (more information on Altagracia and a photo slide show of the Basilica de Higuey)
26 – Monday – Duarte Day.

February/ Febrero
1 thru 29 Las Fiestas de Carnaval Dominicano / Dominican Carnival Parties Carnival Dominicano/ Dominican Carnival celebrations happen all month. The weekends are when different communities hold their parades and celebrations.
19 – Thursday – Chinese New Year (celebrations for the Year of the Goat in China Town)
18 – Miércoles de Ceniza / Ash Wednesday
27 – Friday – Día de la Independencia / Independence Day – Día de la Bandera / Flag Day. Dominicans celebrate February 27, 1844 as their Independence Day This the day the country declared its independence again and retook the name República Dominicana (Dominican Republic). A constitution modeled on that of the United States was put forth in November 1844.

March/ Marzo
1 Sunday/ Domingo The big Carnival Parade on the Malecon in Santo Domingo.
29 Domingo de Ramos / Palm Sunday

April/ Abril
3 -Viernes Santo / Good Friday (long weekend from Thursday the 2nd to Sunday the 5th – one of the biggest vacation times here)
5 – Sunday – Domingo de Pascua – Semana Santa / Easter
? – Secretaries Day

May/ Mayo
4 – Monday – Día del Trabajo / Labor Day (official day May 1st) (long weekend from Friday the 1st to Monday the 4th)
31 – Sunday – Mother’s Day. (Always falls on the last Sunday in May)

Find the dates of all the Patronales/ Patron Saints celebrations in Dominican Republic

June/ Junio
4 – Thursday – Corpus Christi Day

July/ Julio
26 – Sunday – Father’s Day (Always falls on the last Sunday in July)

August/ Agusto
16 – Sunday – Restoration Day/ Día de Restauración (more information on Restoration Day)

September/ Septiembre
24 – Thursday – Día de las Mercedes / Our Lady of Mercedes Day.(more information on Las Mercedes)

November/ Noviembre
9 – Monday – Día de la Constitución / Constitution Day (official day is Friday the 6th) (to make for a long weekend from Friday the 6th to Monday the 9th Constitution Day will be celebrated on the 6th)

December/ Decembre
25 – Friday – Día de Navidad / Christmas Day (How Dominicans celebrate Christmas)
31 – Thursday – New Years Eve (New Year traditions)