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We arrived at Amber Cover, (Puerto Plata) in the Dominican Republic and just look at this view in from our ship, I knew we were going to have an incredible experience. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words, isn’t it?
From the vehicle aesthetics, offerings open overside rugged outdoor vehicles, I could just tell I chose correctly long before we arrived. As our tour guide, Eddy explained to us, the vehicles we were in offered the Dominican Republic’s finest air-conditioning. If your ship’s destination is Amber Cove, find this tour and take it!
When I travel and look for great adventures to share with you I seek exploration that shares the tale of the area we are in, a safe tour with guides who really offer the culture and history and a way to see to see as much as possible in a small frame of time. Lavishly live my best Puerto Plata Excursion adventure out loud, with the best of the best in excursion options in Amber Cove.
Best Dominican Republic Excursion Adventure
I choose to work with particular vendors based on ratings by other travelers. In seeking the best of the best of the best I found Outback Adventures countryside safaris. While I have not been compensated I was provided the tour at no cost. Please note, all images, and content are my own based on my experience, which was stellar and so very telling of the country. This is my story about Outback Adventures in the Dominican Republic .
So you all have come to know pretty well by now, about 1/2 million people read this site monthly! For all my newcomers, you will quickly learn that I love luxury, but luxury is served up in different ways. For today’s piece luxury was about incredible amenities while on the tour, never having to ask for a bathroom facility, beverages and food provided on a good schedule and the best of the best in adventures.
The Truth Before You Sign Up – It is not A Disney Ride..
While I love Disney, the fabrication of a Safari is only lightly simulated and if you take this tour you will truly understand why. In Disney when they request that those pregnant or with back problems should not take part on their Animal Safari, I now have to giggle (while I realize it is all litigious in nature) this will knock your socks off.
DO not come along on this if you get motion sick, do not like getting rained on (it truly happens), do not like when roads become impassable and the incredible tale that follows makes the memory of a lifetime. If your back hurts or you cannot be jostled around, pass on this. Remember when it rains some of the roads you will be on, actually begin to wash away, but these vehicles and your drivers live this life every day and what happens is fun. Look, just ignore the lady in front of me, definitely not her thing lol!
However, if you love adventures, dirt roads, jungles, backcountry, getting real and down with life and the reality of the area. Jump in baby this ride is for you! Like I said, I heart Disney, but the reality is their Safari ride in the Animal Kingdom is a complete cake-walk compared to what you are about to experience.
WHAT TO BRING
I suggest bringing mosquito repellant (DEET), sunscreen, (or a combination of both, here is what we purchased)
Bring a Towel (our ship had them for use at port)
Water and walking shoes – these are what we own and use nonstop on every beach trip.
Opt for some that have good bottoms like this, so you can wear them all day and walk on all surfaces & in water.
Tip: the inserts pull out so you can wash, dry, clean and wear the next day.
Just bring your swimsuit if you don’t want to wear it, there is a place to change long before you get to the boogie boarding beach.
Pencils, Pens, Crayons, Colored Pencils (in your luggage for your school visit)
Don’t forget your ID and cash- see my note below.
(please tip these guys, not only are they incredible at customer service, but they are humorous and working hard to show you their world).
A sense of humor and a spirit for adventure.
PickUp
So pickup is super easy as is scheduling, go online and handle this at the website, they are SUPER responsive. This may be the easiest, most well-run tour I have ever worked with. Outback Adventures is not just in the Dominican Republic they are also in Punta Cana and their tours are in-depth and fun! These guys are Great! (Left Eddy & right JOSE – our famed driver!!)
If you are at a resort, you will be picked up. The time from our pickup at a port to the hotel was about a 20-minute drive.
We walked right past Eddy as I was so hell-bent on finding the vehicle.
They were on time and waiting for us. Eddy said he was waiting for us, and here are photos I was snapping not even paying attention there’s Eddy!
He is ‘Eddy like Eddy Murphy he says’ and he is a hoot!
Along The Way
Pay attention because there is a lot to see. Here is the statute of King Neptune.
Sorry, the trees got in the way. The beach that this is along is very popular to stroll on and enjoy.
It was raining on and off when we arrived at port that day.
The weather was not an issue, in fact, it lent to the day’s fun. The vehicle has roll down shades to shield from the rain.
You are not in dress clothes and definitely, do not wear your Sunday’s best.
Why did I mention rain? Look at this rainbow along the Malecon. Gorgeous photo opp.
Unexpected Expedition On Private Property
Why I love Outback Adventures so much is that they have partnered with their community to help the communities further in receive economic benefit.
Here we visited a private home, farm and tasted coffee, tea, and fruits.
There’s also a bathroom here (just take note) and after some of those roads, you will be thanking me for mentioning this.
What I am not going to do is share all of my photos, I want you to experience it, so I won’t ruin it. Rather I will provide you a few glimpses.
Here you tour a home of a farming family, where you will see bananas, coffee beans, fresh herbs, etc.
Additionally, you will meet the owners, sample fruit, coffee, and tea.
FACT: the average family with a farm makes only $125 a month. School uniforms cost $60 and without a Uniform, YOU cannot attend school. Do you see an economic struggle?
The School Visit
Here is why I asked you to consider packing pens, pencils, colored pencils, and crayons, you will visit a school. You may not leave cash at all. You may bring school supplies and you will see smiles that will both light up your heart and hurt your heart.
These children are in need of your support. Simply by going on the tour today with Outback Adventures Dominican Republic, you have already helped, but there are a few more ways you can help. Again, I don’t work with this tour company, I am just a normal human trying to do good by others.
The economic challenge here: money for uniforms from families that barely have an income and that only have electricity 10 hours a day. If the children don’t receive an education how can they learn to earn more?
Make A Difference
Consider helping these children and these impoverished families. Bring school supplies and purchase tee shirts, hats, or a pouch from Outback Adventures. (you will be offered this after the tour at the school, you can pay with cash or credit (no worries) and you can make that decision when you get back to the lunch pavilion. This is the pavilion: food, bathrooms, entertainment, and items to purchase are available.
Outback adventures has done something different than other tours in other countries.
They are helping to develop their neighborhoods, villages, countrysides, one school at a time and one family at a time.
Each tour provides 40% of profit to build schools and develop their communities.
The school we visited was created on funds from Outback Adventures. As they grow, the number of schools will grow.
What a difference maker. Rather than using the schools and communities as a tool for business alone.
Rather, they are creating a business that invests in the future of their country.
The shirts don’t shrink and the hats are Cool- trust me, my teen son wanted one, and wore it everywhere we traveled to.
He is smiling, and he let me snap a photo with the tour guide.
I am sure you know HOW hard it is to make an impression on a teen but this tour will!
Let my son’s smile share the heart of the tour with you, there’s something great happening.
Just a small note, our vehicle was filled and EVERYONE bought a tee or a hat
(perhaps that best speaks to how much we all love what this company is doing).
Shopping Area
Since we were gone for about 6 hours and only in port for a total of maybe 7 1/2 hours shopping here makes sense.
If you said Yes to a shirt, they are back here. Buy them support those schools and try them on.
Want to taste some really great alcohol? It’s here.
The guy in the bottom made cigars, my husband could not pass these up.
FOOD
You will be hungry when you get here and the food is amazing.
Want to know something else? IF you don’t eat meat, no worries, there are beans, portions of pasta, salads, bread, rice, etc.
Niko has allergies, so I shot a note over and guess what, his chicken was cooked special (just wonderful!)
On To Boogie Board
Now when you purchase this tour, you might buy it because it offers all you can drink, or maybe for the tour, or the perks of the tour?
This is the path to the beach, it’s a bit of a hike.
Honestly, you get a lot for your dollars. All you can drink: soda, rums, waters etc. Humor.
Culture, History, countryside and boogie boarding. But wait there’s more!
On the beach, you can boogie board, drink (the bar comes with you) and you can get a massage.
Massage girls get tips, that’s it, so make sure to bring a few bucks for an experience you can forever keep and then post at your child’s wedding (LOL)
What’s Going On Here?
Kallie and I are dressed in Victoria Secret’s finest garbage bags.
Eddy got them for any of us who wanted to not be rained on. (it was coming down hard for a bit)
We had so frickin’ much fun, I just could not stop laughing.
See the security guys up above. They were with us, making sure our time was Always safe, provided by Outback Adventures!
Best Dominican Republic Excursion
I can’t imagine a better day. We had a fun, family day, with great hosts, saw incredible sites and learned about Puerto Plata. We gained friends, had delicious eats and always had security. All I will tell you is to book this before someone else takes your space and have a great time. Lavishly live travel out loud in the Dominican Republic with the best tour there is.
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