Dominican Republic – Heart & Soul of the Caribbean

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Grassroots Expedition

6 Days / 5 Nights

$1,995 Adult / $1,895 Child

A purpose-driven vacation on the tropical North Coast of the Dominican Republic.

The Experience

This is an experience unlike any other in the Dominican Republic. Become part of a rural community on the north coast of the island and give back via an eco-bottle construction project. Experience the island as the locals do while seeing the stunning natural beauty of this Caribbean island.

Live surrounded by idyllic beaches, upbeat Caribbean music, and friendly local communities. Explore the tropical countryside hiking to rural villages, snorkeling over the clear Caribbean Sea, and uncovering pristine beaches set amongst lush mountain landscapes. Visit an ecological park where you can explore cool swimming holes and even zip-line through the rainforest. Meet with local micro-enterprises such as a bee keeper who creates locally grown, organic honey for the surrounding communities.

A Purpose-Driven Island Experience

On this Grassroots Expedition, spend a portion of your time lending a hand to an innovative environmental development project. Then explore the lush coast and mountains of this Caribbean island.

Our Impact

A portion of our time will be spent building schools, medical clinics, and houses out of reusable plastic bottles. We’ll collaborate with local communities, many of which we have over a decade’s worth of relationships with, to create these structures, which help rid the area of waste and teach environmental awareness. Most importantly, these projects provide a much-needed resource, with many of these rural areas lacking basic infrastructure. To achieve our purpose, lay cement foundations, stack bottles and secure around the walls, or construct a roof – you pick up where the last group left off, so your tasks differ depending on the time of travel and needs of the community.

Where You’ll Stay

Base yourself at a charming beachfront family-owned hotel in the seaside town of Cabarete. The Velero Beach Resort is a 3-star property that overlooks one of the most scenic points on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic but keeps us close to our primary projects. Each room features a patio with views of the sea, air conditioning and WiFi. In your free time, enjoy the secluded beach just steps away or swim in the oceanfront pool. Fall asleep to the sounds of the swaying palms for an unforgettable stay.

Itinerary Overview

Arrive to the tropical north coast of the Dominican Republic and settle in to your beachfront hotel. The following day we’ll begin our bottle project, repurposing plastic bottles to build homes, schools & clinics. Over the next few days, we’ll also get to know the community members and see the day-to-day rhythms on this corner of the island.

Throughout the week, we’ll also explore the beautiful lagoon and landscapes of Dudu Ecological Park along with a visit to a local bee farm to help construct bee boxes and try the local organic honey. We’ll finish the trip off with a snorkeling trip by boat over the calm Caribbean waters.

Your Expert Local Guide

Discover Corps’ expert family of guides around the world are by your side throughout the journey. Please note that the actual guide may vary from date-to-date.

Nilsa Espino

Nilsa was born in a small town close to the Haitian border and started to get involved in community service at the age of 14. Her passion was helping people living with HIV-AIDS, deforestation, teen education and more.

Nilsa studied small business management at Wisconsin and is now proud to be guiding Discover Corps groups though the community, translating and showing people the beauty of the island that she calls home.

Traveler’s Journal

We had been to a resort in the DR before but we wanted to really explore the rest of the island. This was exactly what we wanted – an up close and personal experience of the real Dominican Republic. Our guide introduced us to really interesting community members, and the volunteer project gave us a way to become part of this village and get to know about the challenges people faced. We fell in love with a whole new way of traveling.
Dominican Republic volunteer

Patty Ching

Princeton, NJ

Read More Discover Corps Reviews

Rating: 5/5 stars

Dates and Prices

Our trips are inclusive of all activities, lodging, transport and most meals to make your experience hassle-free.

$1,995 Adult

$1,895 Child

  • Double Occupancy Price. Children’s pricing applies to travelers 16 years old and younger sharing a room with an adult
  • Single Room Supplement = $495. You are required to pay this SRS fee if we are unable to find you a suitable roommate.

What’s Included:

  • All meals included: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
  • 5 nights beachfront lodging in Cabarete
  • Airport transfers and all ground transportation
  • Volunteer bottle building project: all supplies, materials and connections with the local communities
  • An active daily itinerary including excursion to Dudu Ecological Park, boat ride and snorkeling in the Caribbean
  • All local tips and tips for your guide and driver
  • All gratuities for hotels, meals, baggage & transportation
  • All land transportation during the trip with licensed drivers
  • $50,000 emergency medical evacuation insurance
  • 24-hour Discover Corps emergency hotline

What’s Not Included:

  • International Airfare

Dates

Our intimate, small-group departures consist of like-minded travelers. Don’t see a date that works? Want to make it private? Schedule a personal travel consultation and we’ll make it happen.

2024 Dates

March 28-April 2, 2024

July 4-9, 2024

August 29-September 3, 2024

October 17-22, 2024

November 21-26, 2024

December 19-24, 2024

December 26-31, 2024

2025 Dates

January 16-21, 2025

February 6-11, 2025

February 27-March 4, 2025

March 27-April 1, 2025

April 10-15, 2025

May 22-27, 2025

June 19-24, 2025

July 3-8, 2025

July 24-29, 2025

July 31-Aug 5, 2025

September 11-16, 2025

October 9-14, 2025

November 20-25, 2025

December 18-23, 2025

December 26-31,2025

Want to learn more?

Alumni & Family Discounts, Monthly Payment Plans, and More

Repeat travelers and groups are eligible for discounts. Looking for a payment plan to help manage your trip? Learn more here.

Customized Private Trips

Let us create a custom trip for your group. Learn more about custom group travel.