Boca Chica

[JesseJames]

Have a great time Teebone. You will not find more aggressive touts than you will meet in BC. Stand firm. They will want to arrange everything for you, including food. For example, if you let them "recommend" a restaurant on the beach, they will intervene as your waiter and try to charge you 75 $ for lunch. Same with just about about everything else. Don't even get started in a conversation. Just say "No soy tan tonto" (I'm not that stupid) and turn your back. If you drive in BC, expect to pay a bribe or two for bogus traffic violations. I love the trashiness and seediness of BC. Be selective on chicas since there are plenty to choose from. Have a blast.

How do you handle the muggings and getting robbed? This is a serious question. I was robbed there but did enjoy the seediness and the low down hoes. Didn't like getting robbed and I'm older now. Why not hire one of those characters as a body guard? If he's making a few bucks off you, he'll keep the violent clowns away. I don't mean being a chump and paying $75 for lunch. Let him make $25 or so over the course of a day. Paying protection. You can't fight off three guys but he may keep them away. Of course, don't turn your back on him either. Just a new approach.

[Strike2]

Off to BC in a few, then to Santiago. Can't wait. First trip through BC. Thanks for the post and help everyone.

Have a great time Teebone. You will not find more aggressive touts than you will meet in BC. Stand firm. They will want to arrange everything for you, including food. For example, if you let them "recommend" a restaurant on the beach, they will intervene as your waiter and try to charge you 75 $ for lunch. Same with just about about everything else. Don't even get started in a conversation. Just say "No soy tan tonto" (I'm not that stupid) and turn your back. If you drive in BC, expect to pay a bribe or two for bogus traffic violations. I love the trashiness and seediness of BC. Be selective on chicas since there are plenty to choose from. Have a blast.

[TeeBone]

Off to BC in a few, then to Santiago. Can't wait. First trip through BC. Thanks for the post and help everyone.

[Surfer500]

A tank of gas has got to be at least $60 in the DR and you will use two. The bus takes 5 hrs and I can sleep. Not to mention it costs $8. I have very little use for a car in Sosua. I know how to use the public to go to Caberet for $1.

Up until my last two trips I used both the public taxis and guaugas for transport all around Sosua and its dirt cheap. I need a car in Sosua because I hit the surf spots every morning, fortunately money is not an issue for me so I enjoy the luxury of being able to come and go as I please with out being crammed into a can like a sardine and / or waiting.

[OldKool]

A tank of gas has got to be at least $60 in the DR and you will use two. The bus takes 5 hrs and I can sleep. Not to mention it costs $8. I have very little use for a car in Sosua. I know how to use the public to go to Caberet for $1.

On my trip before last I flew into SD and then drove to Sosua. You can rent cars for very cheap in SD. You also can take the toll road which is a very easy drive with very few cars. I made it in less than four hours each way last time. No dealing with bus's or taxis either. This will cost more than taking the bus but will save you a lot of time.

[Tempoecorto]

Can be quite an experience. The buses are very basic and make many stops. I think they stop on demand like a publico but I could be wrong. They can get packed and standing passengers are accepted. At different times I have had a small sack of seed-corn and a six-month-old baby dumped on my lap, though both times thankfully only on the Navarete to Pto Pta leg. I have seen a piglet, a performing parrot, a propane cylinder and a brace of fighting cocks inside on different trips. Not recommended to our more snobbish or metrosexual members. Their expensive cologne won't help them here.

I did the la Javilla once late 2012 - back and forth from Santiago. And yes, it was a riot. The stops were regular though. No aircon, at least in my bus and more crowded compared to metro. I also think they did the hospital and back to the terminus loop but I did not know the town then so I did not get off there. I got a moto, taking me to Portofino from the terminus.

It was an interesting sampling of the place and culturally intriguing. Would love to do it anytime.

[Qualude]

I use what would be normal down time for the bus travel. Leave SD around 10 am arrive in Sosua around checkin time 2 pm. The buses are decent and rest and enjoy the ride. Spending the night in SD is usually fun for me. There also many buses returning to SD on both Mtro and Caribe.

Excellent reply OldKool, I never thought about it that way. It normally takes me about 6 hours for my batteries to get recharged. After the morning roll I could just recharge them on the bus.

[Charles Pooter]

Incidentally, if you are DR savvy and don't have a lot of baggage, you can also ask to be taken to the parada of Puerto Plata for Javilla Tours where they have smaller buses leaving every 15 minutes for Puerto Plata.

Can be quite an experience. The buses are very basic and make many stops. I think they stop on demand like a publico but I could be wrong. They can get packed and standing passengers are accepted. At different times I have had a small sack of seed-corn and a six-month-old baby dumped on my lap, though both times thankfully only on the Navarete to Pto Pta leg. I have seen a piglet, a performing parrot, a propane cylinder and a brace of fighting cocks inside on different trips. Not recommended to our more snobbish or metrosexual members. Their expensive cologne won't help them here.

Good choice for those going to Blackbeards as these buses will stop at the entrada to Costambar, unlike the Metro or Caribe buses. Only if you are travelling light enough to do the last leg by moto, though.

From Puerto Plata you can take a moto to the parada de Sosua at the public hospital and then take a publico taxi to Sosua.

The buses from Santiago always used to go past La Javilla to the hospital then loop back through the town to their depot at La Javilla. I cannot swear they still do as it is six years since I made that journey. But most people alighted at the hospital rather than at La Javilla, so I guess that is their usual routine.

[Surfer500]

They always try to upsell you on the ride all the way to Puerto Plata or Sosua. Incidentally, if you are DR savvy and don't have a lot of baggage, you can also ask to be taken to the parada of Puerto Plata for Javilla Tours where they have smaller buses leaving every 15 minutes for Puerto Plata. From Puerto Plata you can take a moto to the parada de Sosua at the public hospital and then take a publico taxi to Sosua.

Why bother? Well, if you have just missed a Caribe tours bus and will have to wait another hour for the next one, this will get you to Sosua rather quicker.

The $20 from STI to the bus terminals is a bit steep, but better value that the same fare from POP to Sosua, which is much closer.

On my trip before last I flew into SD and then drove to Sosua. You can rent cars for very cheap in SD. You also can take the toll road which is a very easy drive with very few cars. I made it in less than four hours each way last time. No dealing with bus's or taxis either. This will cost more than taking the bus but will save you a lot of time.

[Frannie]

My man T is in Sosua right now kool. This is how he traveled. He flew into Santiago. Caught the bus to Sosua. I gave him the game plan and it was easy for him. His only problem was the cab driver insist on driving him to Sosua for $95. After he explained but he just wanted a ride to the bus station the cab driver try to take him to Sosua anyway. T said did cab driver went and said something to the lady at the ticket counter and he ask the lady for a ticket to Sosua and she said there were no more tickets. He called me complaining I told him to walk away wait 10 minutes and go back up there and they sold him a ticket. the cab ride from the airport to the bus station was $20

They always try to upsell you on the ride all the way to Puerto Plata or Sosua. Incidentally, if you are DR savvy and don't have a lot of baggage, you can also ask to be taken to the parada of Puerto Plata for Javilla Tours where they have smaller buses leaving every 15 minutes for Puerto Plata. From Puerto Plata you can take a moto to the parada de Sosua at the public hospital and then take a publico taxi to Sosua.

Why bother? Well, if you have just missed a Caribe tours bus and will have to wait another hour for the next one, this will get you to Sosua rather quicker.

The $20 from STI to the bus terminals is a bit steep, but better value that the same fare from POP to Sosua, which is much closer.

[OldKool]

I use what would be normal down time for the bus travel. Leave SD around 10 am arrive in Sosua around checkin time 2 pm. The buses are decent and rest and enjoy the ride. Spending the night in SD is usually fun for me. There also many buses returning to SD on both Mtro and Caribe.

OldKool, everyone places a different value on their time. It also depends on how long of a trip you are taking. If it is a week or more the time becomes less valuable. However, your calculations are off by 50%. 5 hours from SDQ to Sosua and another 5 hours back. In other words 10 hours total not 5. 1. 5 + hours from Santiago to Sosua on the bus not 1 hour. You also have to factor in cab fare ect. For me on a 3-4 day trip not worth it for others it's worth it, as they say TEHO.

[GrownMan1]

OldKool thanks for your post. I used to check the airfares into POP, STI & SDQ from Atlanta frequently and they were generally only a difference of a few dollars, well after reading your post I decided to check again and I had a "WTF?" moment. ATL to POP and STI was almost the same as usual but ATL to SDQ was over $300.00 less. Needless to say I will be booking into SDQ going forward as long as their is such a great airfare disparity. Thanks again!

You know what's funny is cheaper to fly from Jacksonville to Atlanta and then DR then to fly from Atlanta to DR. My friend paid about 510 round trip and I paid 390. We had the same flights in Atlanta. The same thing sometimes from Jacksonville through Miami to the DR. It may be ab 8 to 20 dollar difference.

[GrownMan1]

I use to fly into SD and take the bus to Sosua. The bus costs like $8 but takes 4 to 5 hours but saving $200 is worth it to me. On my next trip I have booked a flight to Santiago which is about the same as flights to SD. Santiago is 48 miles from Sosua and the bus ride takes about an hour and costs $4 dollars. I will let you guys know how I make out. On my last trip I had one of chica meet me in SD and spend the night. I had a great time with her and caught a early bus to Sosua. I know how to enjoy SD but Sosua is such wild and fun place, I could have a great time in BC but Sosua is so much better then BC.

My man T is in Sosua right now kool. This is how he traveled. He flew into Santiago. Caught the bus to Sosua. I gave him the game plan and it was easy for him. His only problem was the cab driver insist on driving him to Sosua for $95. After he explained but he just wanted a ride to the bus station the cab driver try to take him to Sosua anyway. T said did cab driver went and said something to the lady at the ticket counter and he ask the lady for a ticket to Sosua and she said there were no more tickets. He called me complaining I told him to walk away wait 10 minutes and go back up there and they sold him a ticket. the cab ride from the airport to the bus station was $20

[Grub1]

Flying into SDQ will always save money but if you are going to Sosua they are a lot to consider. If you miss your bus going back to SDQ you will loose any savings.

[Qualude]

I use to fly into SD and take the bus to Sosua. The bus costs like $8 but takes 4 to 5 hours but saving $200 is worth it to me. On my next trip I have booked a flight to Santiago which is about the same as flights to SD. Santiago is 48 miles from Sosua and the bus ride takes about an hour and costs $4 dollars. I will let you guys know how I make out. On my last trip I had one of chica meet me in SD and spend the night. I had a great time with her and caught a early bus to Sosua. I know how to enjoy SD but Sosua is such wild and fun place, I could have a great time in BC but Sosua is so much better then BC.

OldKool, everyone places a different value on their time. It also depends on how long of a trip you are taking. If it is a week or more the time becomes less valuable. However, your calculations are off by 50%. 5 hours from SDQ to Sosua and another 5 hours back. In other words 10 hours total not 5. 1. 5 + hours from Santiago to Sosua on the bus not 1 hour. You also have to factor in cab fare ect. For me on a 3-4 day trip not worth it for others it's worth it, as they say TEHO.