Jarabacoa Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Caribe Tours (809-574-4796; Calle José Duran near Av Independencia) offers the only first-class bus service to Jarabacoa. Four daily departures to Santo Domingo (US$5.40, three hours, at 7am, 10am, 1:30pm and 4:30pm) include a stop in La Vega (US$2.30, 1½ hours).

Next-door, a gua-gua terminal (cnr Av Independencia & Duran) provides frequent service to La Vega (US$1.40, 45 minutes, every 10 to 30 minutes from 7am to 6pm). If you prefer to hire a cab to La Vega, the ride costs around US$22.

Públicos to Constanza (cnr Deligne & El Carmen) leave from diagonally opposite the Shell gas station at around 9am and 1pm daily (US$2.80, two hours). It’s a scenic but rough ride in the back of a pickup truck; the first 29km are on a badly rutted road that winds around denuded mountains, but once you hit El Río, the remaining 19km are on a paved road that passes through a lush valley.

Públicos to La Ciénaga (US$2.25, 1½ hours) leave roughly every two hours from Calle Jiménez near Calle 16 de Agosto. It’s 42km long, of which the first 33km are paved. Returning can be more of a challenge, especially if you return from your hike in the afternoon. Don’t hesitate to hail down any truck heading toward Jarabacoa. Chances are the driver will allow you to hop aboard.