Dominican Republic, Day 3: Road trip to Las Terrenas

Even after our rough start when our car rental fell through, we eventually managed to dodge a bullet. On our second full day in Santo Domingo we arrived at Alamo first thing in the morning and- miracle of all miracles- our rental car was actually waiting for us! I was so happy I could have hugged the agent who handed Scotty the keys. 

Just before taking off we witnessed a van being returned with its rear window smashed out and a large dent below that. And then we saw that our car was brand new- so new it didn’t even have a license plate yet. Big gulp. Of course, at that point there was no turning back.

Here, I have to insert a word of praise for Scotty, because he really can drive it like he stole it. Give the man some third-world road construction on mountain roads with no guardrails, open manhole covers, and oncoming vehicles in lanes they have no business being in: he won’t even break a sweat. I would be lying if I said there haven’t been a few times we had "I don’t think we’re going to make it!" moments. But all in all, when Scotty’s at the wheel, I know I’m in good hands.

Scotty with our rental car, en route to Las Terrenas 

Then, with me playing navigator, we headed east back towards the airport and towards the highway that would take us northeast to the Samaná Peninsula, a two and a half-hour drive away.

We made it as far as the outskirts of the city when the road dead-ended with the entrance to a military base and a big, modern gas station like one you’d see in the States. I got out and attempted to ask a young, armed guard for directions. For a man holding an automatic weapon, he was extremely nice and really tried to help me, looking at the map I had and trying to ask which way I wanted to go. Thing was, I didn’t know and besides saying that in Spanish, I couldn’t communicate any better in Spanish and was having a hard time understanding him.

Instead of giving up, the awesome guard asked a few passerby customers for help and one young guy turned to me and in perfect English said we could follow him and that he would point us in the direction of the road to take. As we left following the guy’s fancy black SUV, the guard waved goodbye, smiling. Being reminded of the kindness of people is one of my favorite things about traveling.

The driver of the SUV actually stopped and rolled down his window when it was time for us to turn off. He explained that there would be a toll stop not to far ahead and wished us luck when we thanked him.

Off we went, through three toll stops, and past fields of palm trees without their tops (harvested perhaps, for heart-of-palm? A palm tree disease?).

The highway is a straight shot for the first half of the drive, then winds through jungle and volcanic red rock hills.

Later on in the trip, we talked to a local guy from Santo Domingo who told us that it used to take around five hours to drive to Las Terrenas, whereas now it only takes half that.

Back tomorrow with more on Las Terrenas!

 The beach (at last!) in Las Terrenas