Constanza - The coldest settlement in the Caribbean

Need some ideas what to do in Dominican Republic without going to the beach or just want to cool off? This post (and Constanza) is for you!

How to get there

There is an option to take a bus from Santo Domingo to Constanza, the problem with this option is that Constanza is a small city, and there is not much to do in it but plenty to do around it. So unless you want to just hand out in town, or you have someone to show you around (a guide or a local friend) you should opt in for a car. That is what we did. The car does not have to be a 4x4, you can do the trip perfectly with a small car. With that said, a 4x4 is definitely more comfortable and you can free yourself from extra worries and from shaking along the unpaved roads.

Stops along the way

The road to Constanza is through a mountain, which means a lot of turns so get ready for that. On that mountain road there are a few spots that are worth a break from driving.

Parada Miguelina - Our regular highway stop, in case you need a break to refresh and have a snack

Vista del Valle - An elevated restaurant with an amazing view of the area, a great place to have your breakfast or lunch

Alto de la Virgen - A resting spot with a great view (on a sunny day) and some explanations about the area. With a bonus option of a great Instagram photo.

Mirador Constanza - One last viewpoint before you enter the city. Overseeing the town and the mountains around

Where to stay

If you opted in for the public transport option, there are some hotels and AirBNBs in the city, and some more homey hosts that you might need to find with the help of a local. If, however, you decided to go with a car like we did, it opens up the option to be in one of the mountain stays outside the city, where you can enjoy some peace and quiet, nature, BBQ, and a jacuzzi with a view. If you are lucky (or you go to the same place we did), the place will have very friendly dogs to welcome you. We have stayed in a place called La Casita de Charo, and other than the friendly welcome we also enjoyed amazing service from the hosts!

Explore the nature

The main attraction of the area is, of course, the nature. There are quite a few hikes that you can do, most of them are reachable by foot but they are far from the city so once again a car is a better way. One of the possible hikes is to get to Valle del Tetero, which we visited in our hike to Pico Duarte, but that one is a lot so we opted in for an easier one.

Sendero de Aguas Blancas - About 25 minutes drive from the city you will find a big waterfall with this name. The waterfall is impressive and you can swim in the cold water or have some rum in them to warm up. There are 2 points to view the waterfall:

1. From the bottom - Fairly easy to reach and very straightforward. Just drive until you get to the spot and after a 5 minutes walk from the parking you are in the water with a huge waterfall above your head.

2. From the top - The more interesting one is a view from the top of the waterfall. On the way to the waterfall, about 5 minutes before you reach the destination, keep a lookout for stairs on the right side of the road. Park your car across the road and head out for a 20-25 minute hike up the hill until you reach the top. You will pass a few platforms built to view everything from the top, each has a different view and is worth a photo

Beer

How can I have a post without a special beer place I found on the way? There are a lot of places to have a beer in Constanza, but there is only one place to have craft beer - La Esquina GastroBar. The place has a chill vibe, amazing food and a great selection of local and imported beers, they even have their own beer that is brewed for them, so for all the people that are searching forgotten beers (like me) this one is for you!

Final thoughts

We spent in Constanza only a weekend, which is probably enough for the city itself, but I think the nature around it is worth exploring and I would definitely return to try some different hikes. So pack your waterproof equipment and hiking shoes, get there and explore! Found something more interesting that what we saw? Let us know!