All this cold weather in DC has me seriously reminiscing about our awesome honeymoon. If you missed part one of my honeymoon recap, you can check that out here. Today I wanted to share about the awesome excursion we did while we were in the Dominican Republic. We were able to book our excursion through our first hotel – the tour company had a whole setup near the lobby. We waited to book until we were in Punta Cana and there were no drawbacks to doing so – unless you have your heart set on a particular excursion, I don’t see any problem in waiting to book.
Our excursion was an all day event that started with an 8am pickup at our hotel. We headed over to a horse reserve / nature reserve area where our group of about 20 was given a run over of the day and got our helmets and the climbed into our 4x4s for the first part of the excursion. We off roaded for about 30 minutes and then walked through an ecological reserve to a natural pool to swim. It was super fun (but more fun on the way back, when I got to drive!).
Getting ready to head off (the only other American couple is directly behind us – everyone else spoke different languages, which was awesome!):
The natural pool – I actually cut my foot on a rock in the pool but didn’t care because it was so beautiful.
After riding back to where we started on the 4x4s (so so SO fun to drive one!), we took a shuttle to the end of Punta Cana beach and climbed aboard our catamaran. The catamaran took us on a roughly 30 minute trip down the beach, where we docked and had a fun outdoor lunch. The catamaran was also where I was first introduced to Mamajuana the famous Dominican drink.
Our lunch was so fun and a great chance for me to put my (un poco) bit of Spanish to use! After lunch, we hung out on the beach for a bit before getting back on the catamaran and traveling to another natural pool, this one in the middle of the ocean. The natural pool was so shallow (like 3 feet) and so we docked there, hung out, swam, listened to music and drank mamajuana! 🙂 Good times!
We had the BEST time on our excursion and I highly recommend it. It was active but yet relaxed and a full day (8-4) which felt like a great deal.
Do you normally do excursions when you travel?
I have always wanted to travel to the Dominican!! It looks beautiful!! The only time I have done an excursion was when I traveled to Mexico years ago. We spent a day at the pyramids and small towns with great food!! So much fun!
It is a really beautiful place!
Ohhh, you have me dreaming about warm weather without children as I have one on a 2 hour delay and one with school cancelled today….a mama can dream right? Looks amazing! We have done excursions when we actually traveled by ourselves 🙂
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…So many races…..need more time (and money)!
Ooof – sorry friend! I’m dreaming about the warm weather as well. 🙂
This looks like so much fun, Courtney; I love your polka dots, too. 😉 We have gone both ways – excursions and no excursions. For the most part, I really like them, especially if it’s something we are really interested in or an area/attraction that we really want to see and don’t know where to get started on our own. I love riding in those 4×4 vehicles, too! Such beautiful pictures; I needed to see these on this 22 degree morning. Have a great day!
Tara @ Running ‘N’ Reading recently posted…Stephanie O’Dea’s Black Bean Chili Soup
Oh I know, right? My beach picture is my background on my phone and it keeps me sane in these temps!
never been to the Dominican but now I want to! Especially today 🙂 been waiting for Honeymoon Pt2! looks like a fab time!
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Shamrock Half Training Week 3
Haha, thanks! Still have to write about the all inclusive we went to next — step by step. And you would LOVE it!
It looks like this was a fun excursion! Seeing all of your pics has me longing for warmer weather on this cold, dreary day.
me too, kathryn, me too!!
And when are we going back for our honeymoon?! This is such a breath of fresh air today–I needed this!
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i know – it’s so nice to remember back to that WEATHER! 🙂
That looks incredible! We’ve done excursions. I like them because someone else handles all the details and you just get to have the fun!
HoHo Runs recently posted…First Light Half Marathon (Recap)
exactly! that’s why we did ours – so easy!!!
Sounds wonderful! Bill and I love those little excursions, too. I think parasailing was my favorite of the things we’ve done.
it was so delightful!