Backpacking in the Dominican Alps

Joe · 01-08-2004, 02:43 PM

Just got back from an amazing trip to the city of Bonao, Dominican Republic. Had never been to the island before but wanted to stay away from the big all-inclusive resorts on the beaches so hunted down a small ranch in the Dominican alps.

Arrived not knowing what to expect, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience. Getting there was interesting, hoping a couple of buses from the airport to the ranch, but it was cheap.

The Ranch (Rancho Wendy) is located at the base of the Dominican alps. The scenery is truly beautiful. I got a room with private bath that was right beside a small stream. I don’t know if my deep sleeps were due to the hours of hiking or the soothing sounds the stream made all night long.

There are numerous hiking and trekking options that lead from the Ranch to a variety of different peaks. You can hike to a series of dams, up to scenic waterfalls, or along ancient paths that lead to Taino Indian caves. Level of difficulty depends on your desire, it’s all there.

Rancho Wendy is located about 10 kms. West of the city of Bonao in a small village called Los Quimados. The place is very peaceful and relaxing, just what I needed after working in a downtown Toronto office for the last six months! The owners are very friendly and really went out of their way to make me comfortable. The have maps of the area and can provide a guide for the more off road hikes.

I highly recommend Rancho Wendy if you want to get away from the all-inclusive beach scene and see what the real Dominican Republic is like!

chapter11studios · 09-08-2004, 10:23 PM

Sounds really interesting. What made you think of the Dominican Alps? I will look into this... never even crossed my mind until I read your post!

01-08-2004, 02:43 PM	#1
Joe Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kenya Posts: 4	Backpacking in the Dominican Alps Just got back from an amazing trip to the city of Bonao, Dominican Republic. Had never been to the island before but wanted to stay away from the big all-inclusive resorts on the beaches so hunted down a small ranch in the Dominican alps. Arrived not knowing what to expect, but it turned out to be a wonderful experience. Getting there was interesting, hoping a couple of buses from the airport to the ranch, but it was cheap. The Ranch (Rancho Wendy) is located at the base of the Dominican alps. The scenery is truly beautiful. I got a room with private bath that was right beside a small stream. I don’t know if my deep sleeps were due to the hours of hiking or the soothing sounds the stream made all night long. There are numerous hiking and trekking options that lead from the Ranch to a variety of different peaks. You can hike to a series of dams, up to scenic waterfalls, or along ancient paths that lead to Taino Indian caves. Level of difficulty depends on your desire, it’s all there. Rancho Wendy is located about 10 kms. West of the city of Bonao in a small village called Los Quimados. The place is very peaceful and relaxing, just what I needed after working in a downtown Toronto office for the last six months! The owners are very friendly and really went out of their way to make me comfortable. The have maps of the area and can provide a guide for the more off road hikes. I highly recommend Rancho Wendy if you want to get away from the all-inclusive beach scene and see what the real Dominican Republic is like! __________________

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09-08-2004, 10:23 PM	#2
chapter11studios Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2	Sounds really interesting. What made you think of the Dominican Alps? I will look into this... never even crossed my mind until I read your post!