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Participant, CLF 2022-2023 Director, CLF 2023-2025 Harvard College Class of 2029
June 19, 2025
June 7, 2025
Get to know Dominican culture, contribute to an ongoing aqueduct project, and relax on tropical Caribbean beaches on this tropical island trip.
Experience daily life in the heart of the Cordillera Central mountain range, also known as the Dominican Alps for its cool weather, scenic vistas, and high altitude. Many small villages here lack basic necessities and infrastructure such as running water and electricity. Contribute to Rustic’s ongoing efforts to bring water to these communities by helping with the construction of an aqueduct to serve local homes and farms. After service, enjoy a weekend of sun, relaxing on one of the Dominican Republic’s incredible beaches. Take part in activities like hiking the Baiguate Waterfall or visiting the town of Jarabacoa.
Perfect start to service adventures
Age 12-18
$2,495 plus Airfare
Fiji service and island living
Age 14-18
$3,995 plus Airfare
Arrive at Miami International Airport (MIA) where you’ll meet your Rustic Pathways Flight Leader, who will help get you checked in and through security before traveling with your group to the Dominican Republic. Get acquainted with fellow Rustic travelers before boarding your flight.
Arrive at Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the hotel and settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.
After breakfast, head into the heart of the Dominican Republic and settle into your new home in the beautiful province of Jarabacoa. Share a traditional Dominican meal, hand-made with fresh vegetables and enjoy the cool mountain air as you get to know your group and prepare for the next few days of service.
You’ll spend the next three nights at the Rustic Base House in shared rooms, separated by gender; private bathrooms with Western-style toilets and intermittent hot water.
The rural Dominican Republic is home to some of the lowest standards of living in the country. Houses often lack running water or electricity, and sewage systems are absent in many places. You will work alongside locals to help raise the living standards through one of many projects initiated by the community, based on the needs at the time. Get your hands dirty digging lines for water pipes. Then head back to the base house for dinner and an evening discussion.
Spend the day working alongside your new local friends to advance one of the projects in the area. Over the past several years, students have contributed to building aqueducts that have brought running water to more than 20 rural communities in the mountains around Jarabacoa. You may also contribute to another side of this project by working on a black water treatment system that helps filter wastewater and preserve the Rio Yaque del Norte, the longest river in the Caribbean.
Drive the three-hour ride to Sosúa for a full day of relaxing on the beaches of the DR’s North Coast. Swim in the turquoise water and enjoy a lunch of fresh fish straight from the sea. Spend the night in a cozy beach town, relaxing and enjoying island life. Sunday, go snorkeling and have lunch before you head back to Jarabacoa.
Students will spend the night at a small hotel in Sosua. Shared rooms separated by gender with private bathrooms, Western-style toilets, and hot water. Then return to the Jarabacoa base house for the next two nights.
Put the finishing touches on your project. Say goodbye to the community members you have been working with this past week. This day is important since you are passing the torch on your project – make sure to leave the site clean and the project at a good point to ensure it gets finished efficiently so it can best benefit the community. That afternoon, visit a nearby waterfall and celebrate your hard work! In the evening, gather around a bonfire and settle in for your final night in the mountains.
Head back to the capital for a tour of the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the first university, cathedral, and hospital in the Americas. Take a tour of the walled city and learn about the deep history of the first European settlement in the Americas. After touring the Colonial Zone, head over to a special dinner and dance show at a typical Dominican restaurant. At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.
Spend your final night in a hotel with shared rooms separated by gender with private bathrooms.
Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your flight home or to your next Rustic program as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.
If you’re staying in the Dominican Republic, your Program Leaders will take you to your next accommodation to meet your new group. If you’re continuing on to another Rustic Pathways destination, you’ll board a connecting flight to that country.
Packing the right gear (and the right amounts) is the first step to an incredible travel experience. Follow these tips to pack like a pro:
Travel light. Pack only the essentials. You’ll need less than you think! Consider no checked bag. We strongly recommend that you consider packing only a carry-on size bag. This prevents your luggage getting lost or separated from you, keeps your bag manageable, and helps you be more mobile on your travel day. Bring the right clothes. Pack clothes that are culturally appropriate for your destination and acceptable for service projects. This means bringing long shorts (think Bermuda and basketball shorts), t-shirts with sleeves to cover shoulders, and appropriate footwear. Leave your valuables behind. While traveling, it’s easier for things to get lost, stolen, or damaged. Keep any prized possessions safe at home. Check with TSA. Make sure your luggage complies with TSA regulations, especially your carry-on. Useful tip: Pack an empty water bottle and fill it up after security. Extra paperwork? If you need additional forms filled out to get credit for your service hours, no problem! Bring these forms with you so they can be completed in-country.
A school backpack is ideal as it will be used for daily activities and outings.
A 40-50 liter duffel bag or backpack is ideal.
Clothing
Toiletries
Travel size bottles in Ziploc bags
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.