Dominican Republic South coast

[nolagal]

We will be sailing to the DR from Ile a Vache. Any thoughts on the best place to clear into the country? Seems it must be either Barahona or Salinas. If so anyone have a preference?

[Sailormantx]

According to Virgintino's guidebook, Baranoha does international clearances, Salinas is only local. I am at Ile a Vache now, heading to Baranoha next week if the forecast light winds hold.

[nolagal]

Thanks for the reply. Looks like you are a week agead of us. We hope to leave Jamaica on Tuesday. I also have Virgintino's guide; was just looking for any other info. There's not much out there.

Maybe we'll be seeing you.

Fair Winds

[nolagal]

If you don't mind - let us know what you discover. No one is answering who has been there so looks like you are the explorer.

Maybe we'll catch up with you - you're certainly eye-catching!

Dale

Originally Posted by Sailormantx

According to Virgintino's guidebook, Baranoha does international clearances, Salinas is only local. I am at Ile a Vache now, heading to Baranoha next week if the forecast light winds hold.

[Sailormantx]

I plan on staying in Baranoha for a bit unless it is not a good place. Need to do some work on the boat, getting ready to sail to Canada for the summer. May move to Salinas after a bit...too soon to tell.
Re Ile a Vache: No need to go to mainland or clear in here. The restaurant at the resort is ridiculous expensive, locals tell me $37 for buffet with tip. local is better. Eat at Jean Jean's , lobster or conch $12, beer is $2 all over. Do make the market at Madame Bernard, hike there, about an hour or 2. If you find too much produce too bring back, take a local boat back, 100 goud, money can be changed there. Rate is 1USD = 40 goud. Internet cafe on the beach, $2/hr and cold beer available. You will be besieged by locals on arrival, usually 1st one to your boat gets to be your guide/worker. I used Mckendy (brother of owner of internet cafe) and a youngster named Corby, found them to be reliable. Replaced all the bamboo in my rigging and refueled with there help. Fuel is $5 gallon, plus delivery, found it to be clean when I run it through the baja filter.This is a place like no other in the Caribbean, more like Africa. Look me up if you see me, I am sailing for Baranoha tomorrow.

[Sailormantx]

One other thing...you will be approached by a Pierre Henry Cesar and asked for a $5 fee for garbage. You will be given an official receipt. Although he says he listens on the radio to pick up your garbage, he will never answer. Do NOT give garbage to kids to take ashore, they will leave it on the beach; either find the dump(past Jean Jeans) or have your local help take it there.

[nolagal]

Great information. We are looking forward to visiting. We've gotten other names from friends who where there about a month ago and had heard about Jean Jean from cruisers we met along our travels.

Thanks again and we'll look forward to hearing about Barahona and maybe catching up with you.

Dale

[Sailormantx]

Anchored in Barahona yesterday. Launched dinghy and returned with a boatload of officials. Quick ,courteous everybody got a small tip. Official cost were $10 to immigration, $43 for the boat and $25 for despacho. Anchorage here is well protected. It is in front of 2 commercial docks, I understand that they will give you 24 hours notice to relocate when a ship is due in once every few weeks. There is a small marina there $20 / day, they may squeeze you in. Fuel here is 5.15 per gallon at the current exchanged rate.