Mountain Air and Island Living

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

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. There are shared western-style bathrooms, electricity, but no A/C.

Sosua
Students will also stay at a small hotel in a cozy beach town on the country’s northern coast for one night during the program. The bathrooms are located at the facilities and will either be in the room shared with another student, or be communal bathrooms shared with other Rustic Pathways students of the same gender. Showers are rustic, so hot water may not be available.

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 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 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 3-4 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.

Laundry during the program is not guaranteed, so students should bring clothes that can be reworn and last through the program, but please pack reasonably. Students may use laundry machines at the Quality Hotel on the night of arrival (or last night of program if connecting to another DR program).

It is important that we show respect at all times. The requirements are fairly straightforward and the same for any gender:

Shorts: Basketball-style only; no short running or soccer-style shorts. Rule of thumb is that the bottom of the shorts should be approaching the kneecap.
Leggings or yoga pants: Not recommended because they are too form-fitting. Only if paired with a long T-shirt.
Loose-fitting pants, capris, and long skirts: Acceptable and preferred!
Tops: Shoulders must be covered. No tank tops, spaghetti straps, crop tops, or transparent shirts.

If you arrive and your clothing is deemed unacceptable by your program leaders, you’ll have to purchase appropriate clothing before service work begins in the village.

While at the base, students are able to wear shorts and tank tops, but it can be buggy, so lightweight pants and long sleeves are preferred!

On this program, students will learn about one of life’s most important necessities. Students will live and work in the beautiful, friendly, and often-overlooked mountain communities of the Dominican Republic. They will learn about the various issues that these communities face. In Latin America and the Caribbean alone, there are 32 million people lacking access to water. Take some time to learn more about water access at water.org.