islandhopper1999
26 Mar 2020
03/26/2020
We just returned on the 19th of March after being in the DR for 2 weeks.
We bought the tour while on the airplane on the way to Puerto Plata. We read the description in the brochure, in depth, and thought what a great way to see and learn about the country and culture. We tend to gravitate more towards this sort of thing versus the 'adventure adrenaline junky' tours.
Boy, were we wrong!
The only positive, other than being picked up in a covered, windowless truck with bench seating (which was quite comfortable considering it was quite hot that day) and truthful thing about the description in both guides, was the tour of the cheese factory. It was insightful, informative and was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone...but it went downhill after that and we were not the only ones to say that on the tour.
After leaving the cheese factory, we were driven, for which seemed like miles, but was probably only 5 or 10 miles, into the countryside to a little village to visit this little old lady who served us coffee and we were made to bang on drums...oh ya, and leave a tip! We couldn't understand what that stop was all about other than to show life in the countryside...which coincidently, was not on any brochure!
The next stop was a visit to where they supposedly made organic oils and such and given the opportunity to purchase overpriced herbs and oils. This was supposed to be the 'typical artisans house' and place where they supposedly made bread, but we didn't see any artisans or bread being made. But you could definitely purchase Vanilla for $6 US where we purchased the same product 2 days previous in Puerto Plata, at the market, for under $1 US. Shameful!
On we went to the Cacao plantation/factory where the tour took us in a small circle through the Cacao trees. Took all of 5 minutes or less. Again, on to the visitor centre where they had you sit on chairs, watching a 'sales pitch' for the products that were produced at the centre, but here you could taste the cacao which they served hot. We didn't get to go into the factory and see how everything was made, although you could see workers going about their jobs. Informative, somewhat, but again trying to sell you something.
The tour, if you can call it that, of the 'cigar factory' was a total deceitful farce at best. You get dropped off at this store front location where you're herded in and given a demonstration of cigar rolling, along with a history lesson of cigar leaves and such. You have the option to go into the walk-in humidor or peruse the store where you can buy made elsewhere trinkets to take home and collect dust!
We weren't shown a tobacco plantation.
We weren't shown a 'factory' where you would see the leaves drying and the whole process of what it takes to get leave from the field to the table where the cigars are eventually made.
We were shown into a store, plain and simple!
And the final visit of the tour...the 'hidden beach'! Which really wasn't hidden as we could see it from our resort! Again, what a complete farce and waste of our time and money! Top it off, the tour description in the brochure on the plane said nothing of this beach, nor were we given notice of being taken there when we made the booking.
The only saving grace of this tour was the lunch they served. My wife and I, and others gave the lunch a 9/10. Fried chicken which was crispy, not greasy. Rice that wasn't clumpy and vegetables which were a perfect al dante. And they served us Rum if we wanted, no extra charge!
We cannot endorse this tour as we felt it was a deceitful sham in every sense of the word!
Would we recommend this tour - NO!