Hello everyone!
We have 3 exciting expeditions planned to the Dominican Republic this year! We anticipate 40-50 people per trip, and the spots will likely be filled quickly. I am sending this out now so you can mark your calendars, and so that you have an opportunity to tentatively reserve your opportunity to participate.
We are currently finalizing the website, where you will be able to register, download important forms and information, etc. More information on that is coming, but for now you can respond to this email with the dates that might work best for you, as well as any questions or concerns you may have.
The dates for the 2015 expeditions are:
March 7-15th
March 21-29th
June 27- July 5th
The summer trip will take place in the eastern part of the island, and will likely be similar to the 2014 expeditions. The Spring trips will take place in an exciting new location in the mountains.
The schedule for the spring expeditions:
Saturday: Participants will meet at the Santo Domingo airport at noon to depart for a night in a beach resort near Juan Dolio (resort to be determined shortly).
Sunday: We will leave early and spend the day at Isla Saona. We will take a catamaran to the island and will return on a motor boat. It’s a great opportunity to relax and get to know one another. You wont have a choice really, as we will all be stranded on a boat or beach together. After the island we will return to Juan Dolio for the night.
Monday – Thursday: We will depart early Monday morning to travel to the mountains 3 hours north. We will work in a town called Cotui, and will stay in a hotel nearby.
Friday: We will tour the Barrick Gold facility. Barrick is a key partner in our endeavors there, and they consistently donate their time and resources to the communities we serve. The DR has the largest gold reserve in Latin America, and the third largest in the world, so the tour should be very interesting. After the tour we will travel a short distance to a lake in the mountains called Presa de Hatillo. We will sail around the lake together on a boat, make good use of the dance floor, and visit some caves that were once the homes of the indigenous taino people. Friday night we will enjoy a nice dinner and return to our mountain hotel.
Saturday: We will go to a river with a waterfall called Salto de Jima and enjoy the morning. Once we have had our fill of fun there, we will travel to Santo Domingo and stay Saturday evening in the Zona Colonial. This is the oldest western city in the hemisphere, and home to some great shopping, sightseeing, and fun. We will stay the night there in the Hotel Europa.
Sunday: The Zona Colonial is about 30 minutes from the Santo Domingo airport. Most participants will leave Sunday to return home.
The anticipated cost per person for the expedition is $1,500. This includes all planned meals (except alcohol) and all the lodging, transportation and activities. It does not include airfare.
Please let us know if you are interested in participating! We plan to have a year as exciting and rewarding as last year was. Thanks for all you do to help us make that happen!