Day 1 – Arrival and Cable Car to Rainforest

Fly into Santiago, the 2nd largest city of the Dominican Republic located in the Cibao Valley. The group will then make the transfer to the beautiful coastal city of Puerto Plata, affectionately known as “The Bride of the Atlantic”. After getting settled into our relaxing beach resort, we will adventure up the Caribbean’s only cable car to the peak of Mount Isabel de Torres. At an altitude of around 2,500ft, it holds an ecoregion of Hispaniola tropical moist broadleaf forest.

Day 2 – Organic Eco-Farm, Monkey Jungle and Zip-Line

Following breakfast, the school group will head to an organic eco-farm where we will not only learn about Permaculture, Aquaponics and Vermiculture systems, but we’ll grab an inner tube and our sunscreen and float down to the beautiful Yasica River. With our appetites built up, we’ll enjoy a homemade lunch prepared from fresh organic produce grown on the eco-farm. From here we will venture over to Monkey Jungle for a hands-on experience with squirrel monkeys as well as fly through the mountains on an exhilarating zip-line course.

 Day 3 – Language Immersion Institute and Local School Service Project

This morning we will visit a local modern languages institute and dive into Spanish language & Dominican culture immersion. We’ll learn why language is always closely tied to culture, and vice-versa, and how the Dominican culture is so special and unique in the Latin American world. After enjoying a local Dominican lunch, we will visit a local Dominican school and get to work serving the administrators, teachers, and students the best way we can. There are so many ways in which we can serve and give back to the local community and its education system.

Day 4 – Language Immersion Institute and Local School Service Project

Our day will once again begin with immersion at the institute, growing our appreciation for a people group, their language, and their beautiful community-oriented culture. In the afternoon we will head back to the local school to continue to serve as needed. In the evening, we will enjoy exciting dance lessons from a local instructor to learn the moves of the Dominican Republic and Latin America (including Bachata, Merengue, Salsa, and more)!

 Day 5 – Catamaran Snorkel tour and Chocolate Factory

Today is the day to truly enjoy the crystal clear island waters and incredible reefs. We will sail away from Puerto Plata on a catamaran boat down the coastline to a couple of amazing coral reefs and into the breath-taking Sosua Bay paradise. We’ll eat lunch aboard the catamaran as we enjoy the sun and ocean breeze. To wrap up the day we will see first-hand how chocolate & other cacao products are made at the Del Oro chocolate factory! If we’re lucky, we may even enjoy some of this delicious local chocolate as well.

 Day 6 – Visit the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua and Amber Museum

The Damajaqua Cascades is a series of 27 waterfalls located on the Rio Damajagua, just outside of Puerto Plata. Enjoy hiking up through the hills, then sliding and jumping through the waterfalls and crystal-clear natural pools. We will conclude this afternoon with a tour of the Puerto Plata Amber Museum. Dominican amber is very unique and differentiates itself from Baltic amber by being nearly always transparent, and it has a higher number of fossilized specimens. Ever seen the Jurassic Park movies?

Day 7 – The Journey Home

After breakfast, we will take a journey into the island’s complex history as we tour the Spanish Fortaleza San Felipe, dating back to the early 1500’s. Following an amazing week of science, history, language, culture, adventure & service, we will prepare for our flight back home. The Dominican truly is a natural paradise and it’s no wonder their slogan is “Dominican Republic Has It All”.

Additional activity options include:
• Dudu Blue Lagoon caves and sink-hole pool zip-line & nearby Playa Diamante excursion
• River Kayak tour
• Horseback Riding adventure (inland hills or beach)
• Oceanworld Adventure Park (hands-on dolphin, shark, and seal encounters)
• Playa Encuentro Surfing Lessons
• Whale Watching excursion to Samana Bay & Cayo Levantado
• Cabarete’s El Choco National Park and Caves
• Colonial “La Isabela” historical tour
• Santo Domingo Colonial Zone

Itinerary subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including availability with vendors, weather conditions and flight schedules.