1. What Makes MotoCaribe Touring Different?
Somehow the adventure has been lost along the way with other touring companies.
2. Do I need a passport?
Yes, a passport is required.
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_832.html
3. Do I need to visit a doctor before visiting?
It is always a good idea to consult your physician before traveling, although for the regions you will be visiting bug spray should be sufficient. Please consult the link below for more information.
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationDominicanRepublic.aspx
4. Should I purchase travel insurance?
It is always advisable to purchase travel insurance before a trip.http://www.insuremytrip.com is a great starting point to find the policy which is right for you.
5. Which airport do I fly into?
Fly into Santiago, airport code STI– the best time to arrive is between 11:00am and 2:30pm.
6. How do I get from the airport to the MotoCaribe home base?
Motocaribe will pick you up in our tour van.
7. How will I get back to the airport after finishing the tour?
Motocaribe will take you to the airport after the conclusion of the tour.
8. What should I pack?
For when on the bike:
Your warm weather mesh riding jacket and riding over pants. Lightweight rain gear, your riding boots, riding gloves and protection. We believe in ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time)
Under your riding gear we recommend bringing a few wicking tee shirt and shorts. We make stops at some amazing places where you can take a swim. Peeling off your riding gear quickly with the ability to get wet, and then dry off quickly makes the stops along the way more enjoyable.
When off the bike:
A pair of flip flops, and an old pair of sneakers so you can experience all the water attractions as things tend to be very rocky, barefoot is not enjoyable.
Casual clothes for night time, a baseball hat because the sun is bright, a bandana to cover the back of your neck while riding, two bathing suits.
Any prescribed medication, bug spray, sunscreen, and personal toiletries.
Camera and charger, cell phone and charger (check with your provider for service availability)
A backpack or a small sized magnetic tank bag to store things on the bike.
9. What type of motorcycles does MotoCaribe provide?
2008 Suzuki V-Strom DL650’s
10. What enhancements have been done to the motorcycles?
Givi engine guards, Fenda Extenders, swing arm spools.
11. What is the seat height on your motorcycles?
32 inches is the stock seat height, we do have bikes that are lowered to 30 inches.
12. Do I have to pay for gas in my motorcycle?
No, fuel is included for the entire tour.
13. How do I transport my luggage?
Motocaribe will transport your luggage in our trailer. If you have a magnetic tank bag you can bring it for small items like your camera, cell phone, wallet, passport and things you want to have with you while riding
14. Do you provide helmets?
Yes, we have modular flip-up type helmets available from Small to XXLarge for use during the tour. Feel free to bring your own helmet if you prefer.
15. How many miles per day will we be riding?
On average 100 miles per day. A good rule of thumb in the DR is that 100 miles feels more like 250 because of the riding environment and scenery.
16. What is the weather like in the Dominican Republic?
It’s tropical with an average year round temperature of 84 degrees. Occasional rain as is typical in the region. Lower humidity and cooler temperatures in the mountains.
17. What are the accommodations like?
Queen size bed, air conditioned, and cable TV, showers with hot and cold water. The accommodations are clean and comfortable; we provide coffee pots and supplies in the rooms, as well as bottled water for the entire trip.
18. What parts of the Dominican Republic will I tour?
We start out in the mountain town of Jarabacoa in the Cordillera Central region, and then out to the Samana Peninsula.
19. Which resorts will we be staying at?
You will stay at Gran Jimenoa Hotel in Jarabacoa and La Tambora while on the Samana Peninsula.
20. Will I have to buy my own meals?
No, breakfast lunch and dinner are provided every day during your tour.
21. What is the food like in the Dominican Republic?
Breakfast typically is scrambled eggs, fresh fruits, pancakes, breakfast meats and cheeses, fresh squeezed juices, and wonderful coffee. Lunch will be authentic Dominican fare, chicken or fresh fish, rice and beans, green salad, French fries. Dinner is also authentic Dominican fare, chicken, pork, soups, salads and potatoes prepared different ways. Plantains are common with all meals.
22. Is the Dominican Republic safe?
Yes, especially the areas we will be traveling in. Like anywhere in the Caribbean there is crime in the DR, but mostly confined to the large cities; which we intentionally avoid.
23. Does the tour take us close to Haiti?
MotoCaribe tours go nowhere near the Haitian border. The Dominican Republic is vastly different from Haiti politically, socially, and economically. It has a stable and democratically elected government, and tourism is the largest industry in the DR.
24. Will I have my own room?
Yes, all accommodations are private.
25. Will I need to be fluent in Spanish?
No, our tour manager is Dominican and she will act as the interpreter during the tour.
26. Will I have cell phone service in the Dominican Republic?
That depends on your provider, check with them if service is available for your phone. Call rates can be expensive, often times it is helpful to upgrade to an international package for the duration of your stay.
27. Will I have access to the Internet while on Tour?
Internet access is very limited.
28. How many other riders will be on the tour with me?
The maximum amount of riders for the tour is 10.
29. What are the road conditions like in the Dominican Republic?
It ranges from smooth tarmac to hard packed dirt; all routes are within the capabilities of the bike and the skills of the group.
30. How much off road riding will I be doing?
Very limited, typical off road is when we are going to an attraction. This is mostly hard packed, with some gravel.
31. Will I be riding by myself?
No, we always ride together as a group, with the lead MotoCaribe rider at the front of the riding group and our support van and trailer at the rear of the group.
32. Will we be riding at night?
No, all riding is done during daylight hours.
33. What are the traffic conditions like in the Dominican Republic?
Our routes take you from sparsely populated mountain village roads to small congested towns with small motorcycle (moto), car and truck traffic. We intentionally avoid big cities. It takes the typical rider a few hours to adjust to traffic on the roads. There are 2.1 million registered vehicles in the Dominican Republic, and 1.3 million of those are motorcycles. Drivers are much more aware of motorcycles simply because they are everywhere. Our extensive pre-tour orientation covers the rules of the road derived from thousands of miles riding safely in the DR. Motocaribe will make sure you are comfortable and confident before the tour begins.
34. What does the lead rider do?
The Lead Riders responsibility is to work with each rider and to lead the tour group safely during the tour. Our lead rider has over 20 years riding experience and has logged over 10,000 miles in the DR alone.
35. What does the tour manager do?
The tour manager handles all the arrangements and logistics while on the tour and will serve as translator during the tour. She makes sure you can focus on riding and having fun.
36. How many stops per day will we make?
It depends on the day, usually no more than an hour in between stops.
37. Where will we stop while we are touring?
Please review the specific itinerary for the tour athttp://www.motocaribe.com/adventure_tours.html
38. What is the purpose of the tour van/support trailer?
The van provides the option of not riding on a specific day. It also allows you to bring non-riding family members or friends along on the tour. The van is also available for any nighttime excursions. The support trailer carries the spare motorcycle, maintenance equipment, food and luggage.
39. Do I have to ride every day?
No, you may choose to opt out of riding on any day of the tour.
40. Will I have to wrench on my own bike?
No, we can make any adjustments you need before/during the tour.
41. Who owns the motorcycle I will be riding?
Motocaribe owns all bikes used on the tour.
42. Will I have to sign a waiver before riding?
Yes, we require you to sign a standard waiver.
43. Should I make a color copy of my passport and drivers license before I arrive?
Yes, that is always an advisable practice when traveling internationally.
44. What time is breakfast in the morning?
We aim to be on the road around 9am, breakfast is usually between 8 and 8:45am.
45. What time is lunch?
Depends on the day and the timing of the stops, but usually between noon and 1:30pm. Snacks are included and may be carried in your tank bag or are also available from the support trailer at all stops.
46. What time is dinner?
Again, it depends on the day but usually around 7:00 PM.
47. What is the currency of the Dominican Republic?
Currency in the DR is the Dominican Peso, for current exchange rates please visit http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from=USD&to=DOP&submit=Convert
48. Will I be able to change money upon arrival?
Yes, the Motocaribe tour manager will be able to exchange your currency.
49. I have never ridden a Suzuki V-Strom 650, what is it like?
It’s one of the most versatile and durable bikes ever made, absolutely perfect for the tour.
50. What types of activities will be doing?
Swimming, hiking, horseback riding, snorkeling and having the time of your life! The DR has a diverse ecosystem and a wildly varying landscape; MotoCaribe’s activities are designed for you to experience the natural beauty of this unspoiled paradise.
