Dominican Heritage Tour - 2019
About Gerry Isabelle
Gerry Isabelle is a Dominican-American traveler, writer, artist and tourism entrepreneur from the Bronx, New York. Her childhood dream of traveling has taken her all over the world, cultivating a particularly strong love and connection for the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Her writing and photography on travel, society and multicultural identity can be found on her platform: Dominican Abroad (website and Instagram).
About Dominican Abroad
Dominican Abroad is a digital media platform and provider of immersive travel services. On the digital side, that means articles, videos, and photography, related to travel and society. The content includes how-to travel guides and cultural insights through the lens of a multicultural, multilingual, and remote millennial from NYC.
The travel services provided include trips around the world with a focus on Cuba and the Dominican Republic, including a Dominican Heritage Tour that launched in February 2019 and was featured in the New York Times. Dominican Abroad values sustainable and ethical tourism, and strives to lead tourism business into the hands of local small business owners (including local women of color).
ABOUT THE DOMINICAN HERITAGE TOUR:
The Dominican Heritage Tour is a culturally immersive and holistic travel experience into different corners of the island. Rather than staying in a gated resort, we are taking you to experience an in-depth side of the country, from countryside rural living… to local hot spots in the country’s capital… to the island’s natural wonders. We’ll get a taste of everything DR has to offer.
This curated experience aims for travelers to more deeply understand and connect with the multicultural influences (African, Taino, and European) that make up much of the rich Dominican heritage. Travelers will learn about more about the complex history of the island while culturally immersing themselves through experiences like cooking lessons in Monte Plata and honoring our Afro-heritage with a Fiesta de Palo or los Congos in Villa Mella. Along the way, we will also meet local Dominican activists and community leaders who we can connect and share with.
For 6 days and 5 nights we’ll explore the following:
Santo Domingo, Monte Plata & Villa Mella:
Take cooking lessons in the campos of Monte Plata
Afro-influenced Fiesta de palo dance ceremony or los Congos in Villa Mella (UNESCO)
Walking tours and visits to historic sights
Learn a less colonized version of Dominican history
Discuss topics in today’s Dominican society with local social activists, community leaders and researchers
Engage in sustainable travel as we collaborate and work with local entrepreneurs, including WOC
Explore Monte Plata’s Socoa Waterfall
Barahona, Los Patos, Pedernales & Bahia de las Aguilas
Discover the Dominican southwest
Road Trip through the Dominican Riviera
Making stops along the way in Barahona for the best mangos in the world, larimar shopping (unique gemstone only found in Barahona, Dominican Republic), and epic views of the Dominican Riviera
Los Patos beach & river
Boat tour through Laguna de Oviedo + Isla Iguana + natural mud spa
Crystal clear Arroyo Salado natural pool
Private boat to visit Bahia de las Aguilas — ranked as one of the best beaches in the world
PRICE & PAYMENTS
Cost: $900 – Everything included except flights, alcohol, travel insurance, and two meals.
2020 Dates: February 15 to February 20.
The non-refundable deposit is $200 in order to reserve your spot.
A note on payments and Installments: Dominican Abroad accepts payments by installments, so pay the trip off as you go – the deadline to pay the full amount is January 15, 2020.
OPTIONAL ADD-ON: WELLNESS RETREAT IN THE DOMINICAN ALPS
Since the tour runs from Saturday (2/15) through Thursday (2/20), travelers will have the weekend to: fly back home, spend time with their families in DR, solo travel on their own, and/or join our long weekend wellness retreat in Jarabacoa. After the Heritage Tour, from Thursday to Sunday, we will be in the quaint Jarabacoa mountain town in the Dominican Alps; staying in a gorgeous hotel by the Jimenoa river. We will embrace wellness by: relaxing, getting massages, checking out the local gastronomy (including gorgeous mountain restaurants) and embracing the Dominican mountainous outdoors.
Activities include: meditating, yoga, relaxing, horseback riding, hiking, visiting the many nearby waterfalls, paragliding or water rafting, and/or massages.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL
If you book before November 2019, you save $50 off using the code: TRAVELLATINA.
Return Policy: The deposit is non-refundable. The rest of the payments are refundable up to 50% if you cancel before January 15, 2020.
For full tour details email isabelle@dominicanabroad.com for the booklet brochure.