Season 2 – Episode 18
Long before sailing into Luperon Harbor, we would have never imagined that we would soon be learning to ride a motorcycle… for the first time. But as the saying goes, when in the DR, do as the Dominicans do. This is the best way to do Dominican Republic travel.
Watch this video to see some the following:
- Dominican Republic Travel by Motorcycle
- Party Beach in La Ensenada
- Beer and Pizza in Punta Rucia
- Motorcycle Riding Through a River
- We Cross Another River On Homemade Motorcycle Raft
Watch the Preview Here
The Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is the largest island in the Caribbean. It also boasts the tallest mountains and seemingly endless stretches of uninhabited shoreline. Take any road, any direction, and you will encounter one charming village after another. It seems that the entire country lives on their front porches and roadside colmados (small markets).
This is largely different than the small lowland islands of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. The beauty of those islands is that they are small, plentiful, and you can only get there by boat. But often, there isn’t much you can not already see from the other side of the island.
Riding a Motorcycle in the Dominican Republic
When you arrive in the Dominican Republic, you quickly realize the size and geographical diversity of the island. It is lush and vast. There is a new sight and smell around every curve of the country roads. This is why touring by motorbike is the ultimate way to take in all of the sights, sounds, and smells.
The Dominican Republic is considered the 5th most dangerous place to drive in the world. So it’s no wonder why when you travel on a busy highway or through a congested city. But get out on the rural country roads, and you often have it to yourself.
Weekly Motorbike rides from Luperon
In Luperon, there is a group of expats and cruisers who set up regular rides from Puerto Blanco Marina, usually on Sunday mornings. Just ask anyone at Las Velas restaurant, and they will set you up with Cliff or Craig. These guys have been riding in the area for a long time and know all of the best rides. You can rent a bike from Bob and Sue on gringo hill. Again, simply ask around at Puerto Blanco. At the time of this article, rentals are $75/week, or $200/month.
Related Links
Song Credits
Intro Song – Carribean Cuisine 4 – Magnus Ringblom
3:01 – Cariocas 5 – Joachim Nilsson
6:19 – Dust Bowl 2 – Håkan Eriksson
7:34 – Like Iit – Johnny Berglund
10:22 – Tripping Around Town 5 – Magnus Ringblom
12:14 – Donau River – Magnus Ringblom
Ending Song – Figure It Out – Daniel Gunnarsson
Download these songs for free Here
Here is a transcript of the video:
INTRO
Nick: First time on a motorcycle
Random Guy: For you now no no
Kelly: Do not ride it please! will you please
not
Nick: Yeah let’s just try it
Kelly: What? don’t get hurt don’t kill yourself
[Music]
EMERGENCY ROOM
Kelly: My ears are plugged up there’s a river in my
head. like the noise um what else there’s
not really that much pain except for
noises [clap] like that hurts it feels like
there’s somebody going [gong] in my head going anytime
there’s like a loud noise. yeah we’re
gonna go to the emergency room in town
Voiceover: The clinic in Luperon and all of the DR is
free of charge. a nice service for minor
ailments.
Kelly: The antibiotic drops. Oh, my ear hurts. Antibiotic drops for my ear
infection. Inflammation from the waterfall that we did. Hoping this works. I have to do two drops two times daily.
Nick: what did she say? Did she say like this is a normal thing you get an infection from those waterfalls or just swimming?
Kelly: Swimming. Oh okay yeah she says the water
rushes in your ear and it goes around then she did this but shakes in her head and it causes your ear drum to enflame I guess and then it’s gonna infected and then she pressed right here and that
hurt. Nick is going to put the drops in my ears. So we’re doing two
drops twice a day.
Nick: can you feel it
Kelly: mm-hmm
MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Voiceover: Prior to arriving in Luperon I had never ridden a motorcycle. Hard to believe, I know. Despite the steep learning curve in the DR and a prior close call with the tour bus, bike rides across the country roads quickly became one of our favorite activities. In our opinion, there is no better way to explore this area of the Dominican Republic, just stay off the busy highways
[Music]
PLAYA ENSENADA
Cliff: It’s like Dominican Weekend Party
[Music]
Nick: Oh you got your little backpack I didn’t realize.
SAILING SATORI COMMERCIAL
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[Music]
FIRST RIVER CROSSING
Nick: Do you think, baby you want to try and
take it by yourself? The bike across the river?
Nick: Are we riding through the water?
Friend: yeah
Nick: It’s shallow enough? What do you think go ride on the back?
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
Nick: First time on a motorcycle.
Random Guy: For you now no no
Kelly: Do not ride it. please no
Random Guy: no no girl pass I ain’t know a woman come on tell miss my first step like a man no no no for you
Nick: first time
Random Guy: for you no-no for a time that
Kelly: will you please not
Nick: yeah let’s just try it
Kelly: What? don’t get hurt. don’t kill yourself
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
Nick: Don’t tell anyone
Nick: yeah
Cliff: I could have been more graceful
Nick: yeah me too
[Laughter]
[Music]
Dennis: take those shoes off.
Nick: this is it I went up here no problem on the right
Friend: yeah yeah you won’t they won’t you won’t get money on it either I was all in the mud
SECOND RIVER CROSSING
Voiceover: this river crossing has a bridge that is out of commission. Some see it as a major inconvenience. These two enterprising gentlemen see it as an opportunity. With this makeshift raft and for only fifty pesos, or a dollar per bike, these guys will get to across river in relative safety.
[Music]
[Laughter]
Nick: I’m glad that’s over. I was more nervous getting off than crossing the other river, yeah.
EPISODE PREVIEW
Voiceover: On the next episode of sailing Satori, we do a little organic food shopping in town
[Music]
Our friends visit us on their cruise ship excursion And we get a big upgrade to our solar
Check it out on SailingSatori.life
