Dominican Republic: Island Living and Eco-Service

Jarabacoa
Students will stay at an eco-lodge in shared cabin-style rooms with bunk beds. Facility has river with safe swimming spots and common areas to relax.

Las Galeras
Ecolodge near the beach. Shared dormitory rooms with ensuite bathrooms, mosquito nets and fans. Surrounded by nature with a large common room filled with books and couches.

Cano Hondo/Los Haitises
Ecolodge built into a rock face on the borders of the national park. Described by Condé Nast as one of the top destinations in the world for eco-tourism. Various natural pools, common areas, swings, and a bonfire in the evenings.

Santo Domingo
In Santo Domingo, students will stay at a hotel near the airport.

Rustic Pathways works with local community leaders and organizations to identify and prioritize the needs of each community. Please note that while we try our best to ensure we provide our advertised projects, some changes may occur due to the communities and project partners we work with.

Typically students will be involved in environmental and infrastructure development projects on this program. Students will be partnering with the Brigada Verde group to plant mangroves in Los Haitises National Park, and will also contribute in the construction of a wastewater treatment system in Jarabacoa. Prepare to get your hands dirty during these incredibly powerful projects!

The service projects in this program are appropriate for most physical activity levels. Students should be prepared for moderate physical activity including lifting heavy materials, shoveling, digging, mixing cement, woodwork, and other manual labor during the construction projects. Rubber boots are suggested for community service projects.

This program involves service, sports, and adventure activities that require students to be physically active.

Students will be eating traditional Dominican food prepared by a combination of local cooks and restaurants. Breakfast may include plantains or toast with eggs, fruits, and cereal. Lunch and dinner will be typical dishes, which consists of rice, beans, salad and a meat/seafood dish or veggie dishes.

Dietary Requirements/Food Allergies – We can easily accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other common dietary requirements on this program. Please make sure to include this in your medical form so that our staff can prepare and we recommend bringing along some of your own favorite snacks!

Water from the tap is safe to use for brushing teeth etc, but, students will be provided as much bottled water as they can drink. Don’t forget to bring along your own reusable water bottle, so we can minimize our plastic usage.

Students should be prepared for hot, humid weather in the 80s and 90s (Fahrenheit) during the day with occasional rain showers. Since the base is located in the mountains, the temperature will go down into the 60s in the evenings. The weather does not vary much between June and August. Synthetic fiber clothing is recommended, because it dries quickly.

Flights: Direct flight from Miami (MIA) to Santo Domingo (SDQ). This program does not have any internal flights. The advertised dates for this program include travel time from the USA. Students from the USA will depart on a Tuesday afternoon and return on a Wednesday afternoon. The program within the Dominican Republic runs from Tuesday to Wednesday. Please refer to the itinerary for further details.

Visa: –A $10 tourist card fee is included in airfare. Students traveling with Rustic Pathways on passports not issued by the United States are responsible for determining their own visa requirements. Please check with the appropriate consulate or embassy.

Internal Travel: You’ll travel every couple of days. Traveling to your destination internally can require several hours on a bus ride with the group.

Students are allowed to bring phones on their Rustic Pathways program, but must abide by our cell phone policy. Students will not be allowed to use their phones during group activities, nor at any other time where it is disruptive to the group dynamic. If students are unable to abide by this policy, disciplinary action may be taken. We want to encourage students to disconnect in order to fully immerse themselves in the experience and get the most out of their program. Thus, students will not have access to wifi. Reception for international plans is spotty and we do not recommend purchasing one for this trip. Parents will have access to our 24/7 emergency number and will also receive updates from our staff once your student is in country.

Personal gifts, internet, phone calls, and snacks are not included. All other costs (accommodation, meals, in-country transportation, and activities) are included in the program price. We generally suggest $100 – $200 for spending money and incidentals.

Students should pack clothes they are comfortable rewearing and will last throughout the program. Laundry might be available at some of the hotels, at an extra cost, but is not guaranteed.

For community service, students are expected to wear long work pants or capri pants. Leggings will not be appropriate for service here. On beach days, students are expected to cover up appropriately while going to and from the beach – shorts and a t-shirt are acceptable.