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2024 Daily Tour Itinerary
2024 Daily Tour Itinerary
Day 1 • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Welcome to a sun and fun-filled vacation in the Dominican Republic, where the sounds of Bachata and Merengue music fill the warm tropical air. Experience the colonial charm, natural beauty and warm “Hispaniola” hospitality of this island paradise. Relax for three nights at your resort in Punta Cana, located on one of best white sandy beaches in the world. Fly into Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Transfer on your own using the airport taxi service. Enjoy a two-night stay at your downtown Santo Domingo hotel. Rooms are available for check-in after 4:00 pm. Dinner is on your own.
Day 2 • Santo Domingo
After breakfast, join Caravan for an 8:00 a.m. welcome briefing. Then visit Santo Domingo’s iconic landmark, the Christopher Columbus Lighthouse. Enjoy magnificent views of the city. Inside, you’ll see replicas of the Santa Maria, La Pinta, and La Niña ships that sailed with Christopher Columbus to the New World. Next, visit the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the Americas. Photo stop at Columbus Park and see the first Cathedral of the Americas. Then, explore the 15th century Fortress Ozama, the Museum of the Casas Reales (Royal Houses) and the Diego Columbus House on Spanish Plaza. Lunch is on your own. Free time to shop for cigars, rum, and handicrafts while strolling the cobblestone streets. Return to your hotel. Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 • Botanical Gardens, Higüey
Morning visit to the National Botanical Gardens, dedicated to preserving Hispaniola's varied flora. During a brief trolley ride you’ll see native and exotic plants, tropical orchids, ferns, and palms and pass through a bamboo tunnel. Next, head east through picturesque sugar cane fields. Lunch is on your own. Afternoon visit to the Higüey Basilica. Founded in 1502 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, Higüey is a revered pilgrimage center known for its shrine to the Virgin Mary. Then, arrive at your resort located on Bávaro Beach in Punta Cana for a relaxing three-night stay. Enjoy dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 • Cacao Farm
Morning drive through the rural countryside. Visit a 4th generation, family-run organic cacao farm. Walk through a cacao grove. Learn about cultivation and harvesting of cacao beans and how cocoa is made. See why the Dominican Republic has earned a worldwide reputation for exceptional tasting chocolate. Return to your resort for lunch. Afternoon is at leisure to sample the many amenities of your resort. Enjoy dinner tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 • Punta Cana
Entire day is at leisure to enjoy your Punta Cana resort. Sheltered by an offshore reef, the miles-long Bávaro Beach is perfect for romantic beach walks on the soft powdery white sand. You may want to wade in the calm, crystal clear ocean waters or swim in one of your resort's many pools. A full range of activities and spa services are also available for a fee. Lunch and dinner are included today.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 • Yuma River Cruise
Morning at leisure. After lunch, journey to the small fishing village of Boca de Yuma. Embark on a Yuma River jungle cruise. Bordering Del Este National Park, the river is home to white herons, pelicans, and other shore birds. Learn about pirate legends and lost treasure. Next, free time to shop for colorful conch shells. Then, return to Santo Domingo. Farewell dinner tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 • Santo Domingo
Your tour ends this morning at your hotel in Santo Domingo. Breakfast is included only after 6:30 a.m. Caravan includes departure transfers on the day the tour ends from your hotel to Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, arriving at 5:00 a.m, 7:00 a.m, 9:00 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. If you wish to go at a different time or extend your time in the Dominican Republic, you will need to transfer on your own at your own expense. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan. ¡Muchas Gracias!
Meals: Breakfast
2024 Hotels
2024 Hotels
Accommodations in the hotels and lodges are rooms with two beds and private bath or shower. A limited number of single rooms are available. Triple rooms are usually two beds.
Days 1, 2 • Santo Domingo
To be determined.
Days 3, 4, 5 • Punta Cana
To be determined.
Day 6 • Santo Domingo
To be determined.
Airport Transfers
Airport Transfers
arrival Transfers
To be determined.
departure Transfers
To be determined.
Airfare is not included or sold by Caravan.
Passports & Visas
Passports & Visas
To enter Dominican Republic, you will need a U.S. passport valid for 6 additional months after the date of your arrival into Dominican Republic. Non U.S. citizens, please check passport and visa requirements. Note: If you are travelling with children under 18 years old without both parents or legal guardians, you should carry a notarized letter of authorization signed by the missing parent(s) or guardian(s). A notarized birth certificate showing only one parent, a parent’s death certificate, or a court order of child custody may also be permissible. Failure to have proper documentation could result in denial of boarding by the airline, due to international child protection laws.
Weather & Clothing
Weather & Clothing
Temperature °F (high/low) Rainfall (inches)
| Santo Domingo | Punta Cana | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp | Rain | Temp | Rain | |
| Jan | 84/68 | 0.6 | 83/73 | 1.2 |
| Feb | 85/67 | 0.7 | 83/72 | 1.0 |
| Mar | 86/68 | 0.7 | 84/73 | 0.9 |
| Apr | 86/70 | 1.2 | 85/74 | 1.5 |
| May | 87/72 | 2.4 | 86/76 | 2.6 |
| Jun | 88/74 | 1.9 | 87/77 | 1.9 |
| Jul | 89/74 | 1.6 | 87/78 | 1.7 |
| Aug | 89/74 | 1.9 | 88/78 | 2.0 |
| Sep | 89/74 | 2.1 | 88/77 | 2.3 |
| Oct | 88/73 | 2.1 | 87/76 | 2.3 |
| Nov | 86/71 | 1.5 | 85/75 | 2.4 |
| Dec | 85/69 | 0.8 | 83/74 | 1.4 |
Temperature °F (high/low) Rainfall (inches)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santo Domingo | ||||||||||||
| temp | 84/68 | 85/67 | 86/68 | 86/70 | 87/72 | 88/74 | 89/74 | 89/74 | 89/74 | 88/73 | 86/71 | 85/69 |
| rainfall | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.8 |
| Punta Cana | ||||||||||||
| temp | 83/73 | 83/72 | 84/73 | 85/74 | 86/76 | 87/77 | 87/78 | 88/78 | 88/77 | 87/76 | 85/75 | 83/74 |
| rainfall | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 1.4 |
Clothing Tips
This is a casual tour. Casual wear is suggested for sightseeing and daytime travelling. Dress code for evenings is casual. Suit jackets for men and dresses for women are not required. During the middle of the day, the sun is hot and bright. Caravan recommends shorts or light pants, a light shirt, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Also essential are comfortable, sturdy walking shoes with good treads.
Why Travel with Caravan?
Why Travel with Caravan?
Excellence Since 1952
You can trust our years of experience with tours of superb quality and excellent value. Caravan has enjoyed the same family management and ownership since 1952.
Caravan Care
For your safety, Caravan cancelled most 2020 and all 2021 tour departures and refunded 100% of all payments received. See Caravan’s Covid-19 Terms of Travel.
Caravan's Proud History
In 1965, Roger Mudd hosted a two-hour CBS TV special on Caravan Tours. This TV production took about one month to make and was so successful it inspired the 1968 romantic comedy movie “If it’s Tuesday this must be Belgium.” In the early 50’s the Mayor of Dublin presented Caravan with the Key to Dublin for bringing the first American tour to the city after WWII. Since then, Caravan has been recognized as a pioneer in travel. You can trust in our stability, experience and dedication to quality.
Great Hotels
Stay at park lodges, scenic resorts, and excellent hotels in great locations. See hotel descriptions on each tour page.
Meals
Most meals included within Latin America. For USA and Canada tours, included meals are listed on each itinerary page. Bottled water is provided on motorcoaches in Latin America.
Complete Sightseeing
Enjoy complete sightseeing with more visits, extra features, and local guides.
Fully Guided by Tour Directors
All tours conducted from start to finish by professional tour directors, who are fluent in English, experienced, and fun.
All-inclusive
Caravan includes all activities listed in the tour itinerary page. Caravan does not sell any optional activities which can add hundreds of dollars to your tour price. Your free time is scheduled in great settings where there is no need to buy additional expensive activities.
Shopping Freedom
Caravan will not bring you to overpriced shops in exchange for payments. Caravan gives you ample opportunity and time for great shopping, and the freedom to choose where and when to shop.
Great Value, Book Early
Caravan’s strong buying power gives you great vacations at prices much lower than you can find anywhere. In a typical year, most of our tours sell out quickly. Book early for the date you prefer and the best air fare.
How does Caravan Tours sell these tours for such a low cost?
Caravan delivers volume to our suppliers, who in turn reward us with their very best prices. We in turn pass these savings on to you, and you reward us by buying our tours. As volume continues to rise, we then receive even better prices from our suppliers, and we pass even greater savings on to you. This year our tours are better than ever.
Trade Association Memberships
Caravan is a member of ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors), NTA (National Tour Association), ABA (American Bus Association), CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), and ACMA (American Catalog Association).
