Join us on a familiarization trip for yacht charter brokers in the Dominican Republic with the owner of a boutique inbound travel company that focuses on authentic experiences across the country.
We were given a great introduction to the Dominican Republic by a team of passionate individuals with a desire to introduce the real "local" feel of the DR to discerning travelers. Sergio Taveras, owner of Bonvidó, excels at using his local knowledge, network & insider access to experience the best the island has to offer in terms of culture, gastronomy, and water adventures!
Our likeminded belief is that luxury is different to each individual, and as the country's slogan well states "Dominican Republic Has It All". Collectively, our main objective is to promote the DR as a destination for yachting.
Enjoy watching our whirlwind of adventures & experiences!
Quick facts about the Dominican Republic:
There is a new government in place that welcomes tourism & we felt safe!
10 million people will visit the Dominican Republic by the end of 2023.
With 11 million residents, the Dominican Republic is an upper-middle income developing country with one of the fastest-growing economies in the Caribbean
Just 2 hours south of Miami & less than 4 hours from New York, it's the best connected Caribbean island with the most international daily flight across 9 international airports. United Airlines is expanding its service to 3 daily flights between Newark & Santiago, along with three daily flights to Santo Domingo!
In Santo Domingo, the downtown revitalization project is installing underground cables in the Zona Colonial on 11 streets to improve the tourist experience.
Boca Chica Marina is 30 minutes from downtown Santo Domingo
The new Director at the San Souci port, located 30 mins from the SDQ airport is eager to have yachts visit. The tourist tax included. Its only $60 to bring in a yacht. Bigger yachts over 65' will need a shore agent.
Yacht Charter Vessels for 2023: Must report arrival & departure between each port, this can now be done in the marina where you are staying. It is now a lot easier to both go in and out of the country as well as cruising between different ports.
Discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, it has an incredible rich history with Santo Domingo being the oldest capital city in the Western Hemisphere & a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Dominican Republic is the home of baseball, cigars, cultural celebrations, gastronomy, chocolate, amber, Larimar and dance such as merengue, bachata & salsa. Its ecosystem makes it the breadbasket of the Caribbean because it easily grows, enough to feed its own people as well as export.
With nine distinct ecological regions, the Dominican Republic attracts scuba divers, hikers, spelunkers, and avid birders. The famed offshore region of the Silver Bank fills with the melody of whale song, as humpback whales come to calve. Many of the dive sites are suitable to beginners & will feel most comfortable on the Southern coast where currents are calmer. Advanced divers can explore both coasts as well as the deep wrecks & walls. The best time to dive is between June & September when the waters are clear and calm with good visibility. Year-round sea temperatures range between 75°F-84°F, allowing diving even in the middle of winter, when temperatures hover around 77°F.
Exploring the Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo:
It’s our 2nd visit to the Dominican Republic in the past 5 years exploring the Colonial City—the first European settlement of the Americas and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990. This historic neighborhood consists of a pedestrian-friendly maze of narrow streets brimming with 16th to early 20th century architectural wonders. They lead toward colonial buildings turned museums, shops, hotels, restaurants & sidewalk cafés. Cigars of every variety were purchased at Cabinet Tabaco Boutique Ciudad Colonial. High quality Larimar pendants and earrings were a popular discovery at the shop at the Museo de Larimar. After a relaxed lunch tasting Dominican artisanal foods at Meson de Bari, we hopped on our bikes from Zona Bici to explore the Zona Colonial! We worked up a great appetite for dinner at Maraca, known for its creative dishes, ambiance and fabulous service.
Exploring Samana in the Dominican Republic:
On our way to Samana to The Bannister Hotel and Puerto Bahia Marina! Exploring the beautiful Los Haitises National Park via boat was really exciting! Los Haitises–which translates into “hilly land” in the Taino language–attracts numerous visitors who come here by boat to see its magnificent series of 98’ high rock formations jutting out of the water. The park also boasts extensive mangroves along its bay, which is dotted with cayes that are home to multiple bird colonies, as well as a series of caves known for having one of the highest numbers of petroglyphs and pictographs in the country. Lunch on the beach of freshly cooked local shrimp, fruit and coconut bread made our day! Not to be outdone, the hotel hosted a surprise outdoor Brazilian-style grilled dinner accompanied by a cigar rolling demo and rum tasting!
We believe in switching off and enjoying the healing power of togetherness: being present, spending quality time with loved ones & reconnecting with nature! Ermitaño Playa feels as though time magically stops & all you need to breathe in beautiful surroundings. Mid-day, we hopped back into the boat to meet the staff from Bannister Hotel back at Playa Moron who had prepared an outstanding beach picnic. (Seriously-they know how to do it right!) Shopping in Las Terrenas town with a visit to El Mosquito Bar was a very lively experience.
🚩A special trip the following morning was made to ÀNI. Ani Villas Dominican Republic is a fully staffed & serviced private luxury 14-bedroom estate set on its own peninsula with sweeping ocean views. The architecture incorporates the finest in tropical design, contemporary finishes, and local art filled with touches of Dominican heritage. The estate’s name, ÀNI, refers to the time guests spend together as part of life’s journey, but also to the future offered to students of the non-profit ÀNI Art Academies organization. We were inspired by the idea that an arts education is offered for free to the locals, the ÀNI story began in 2010, when both organizations were founded by arts patron and philanthropist, Tim Reynolds. Our lunch here was outstanding, created by generous hosts who are dedicated to curating unscripted experiences & memories to last a lifetime. We very highly recommend ÀNI!
Exploring Sosua and Cabarete:
The Ocean Club, a Luxury Collection Resort, Costa Norte is the perfect base to relax before or after a yacht charter vacation! It is set on a sandy exclusive stretch of oceanfront called Playa Imbert that offers the best sunsets! A self-contained resort filled with beautiful one-of-kind accommodations & everything you need including 3 pools & a L’Occitane Spa! Yet it’s only 10 min from some of the best surf beaches in the Caribbean, and a 15-min drive from Puerto Plata Intl. Airport. Our fabulously entertaining dinner upstairs at The AGUAJÍ with CEO Ian Schembri Sant & GM Ane Echeverria was an inspired collection of dishes with a contemporary twist from the diverse culture of Indigenous & Taino civilizations across the Dominican Republic. La Cave Wine & Cigar Cellar was the perfect way to top off our perfect stay, accompanied by one of the finest collections of wines & aged rums in Sosua, Dominican Republic. We will definitely return to The Ocean Club Costa Norte!
🚩Special Thanks to All: @_bonvido, @thebannisterhotel, @cabinettb, @larimarmuseum, thestoreatawm, @mesondebari, @zonabicird, @maracasdq
@aniprivateresorts @trueexperiencedr, @elmosquitoartbar @puertobahia, @trueexperiencedr, @lasballenascigars @godomrepublic @theoceanclubcostanorte, @ianschembrisant @aguaji.altacocina, @lacheftita @aneeche
#DominicanRepublic #PrivateTravelExperiences #LocalExperience #IslandLife #Culture #Gastronomy #WaterAdventures #LuxuryTravel #InsiderAccess #LocalKnowledge #ExperienceTheBest #ExploringDR #TravelInspiration #CaribbeanVibes #ParadiseFound #TravelBlogger #DreamDestination #BeautifulBeaches #TropicalEscape #AdventureAwaits #MemorableExperiences #UnforgettableMoments
About Us: Your Charter Yacht Brokers: Capt. Randy & Shelly Tucker!
If you want to experience a luxury yacht charter vacation first hand and up close, there is no better way than on your own privately crewed yacht with a full-time professional Captain and Chef/First Mate. We've been sailing and chartering for well over twenty-five years.
The U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands were our "backyard" which we came to love and cherish. So much so, that we sold everything in 1997 and moved to Charlotte Amalie, USVI as owners & operators aboard the 72' sailing yacht Three Moons. We do know the ins and outs of this special place & the people who live there. That's what makes us an official "Yacht Charters Guru”! Never been on a chartered yacht vacation? We will help you personally design your charter yacht vacation. Imagine being able to sail into small bays with beautiful white sands & fantastic snorkeling. A yacht vacation is a great way to spend time with your friends or family.
Why use a CYBA Certified Yacht Charter Broker?
Key Takeaways:
As a member of CYBA, the Charter Yacht Broker’s Association, we adhere to strict yacht charter booking protocols. We have access to the CYBA industry escrow account to protect your money.
Charter yacht crews, yacht owners and travel agents do not have access to this account.
If it is a busy yacht with lots of charters, the crew are taking care of guests onboard and they honestly do not have time to answer a lot of travel questions.
This is what differentiates professionally licensed yacht brokers from anyone else trying to book charters.
Very Important! It is not safe to send your hard-earned money directly to a business or yacht that is not accredited by a professional charter industry association to handle yacht charter client funds. Always ask!
We have access to the The CYBA E-Contract Charter Agreement. It is made available by CYBA for electronic use only by established, industry recognized and reputable Yacht Brokers.
Choose from an extensive list of yachts, including our spacious and stable catamaran charters, power catamarans, traditional monohull sailboat vacations, or high-end luxury motor yacht charters in the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Belize, Croatia. Greece, and the Mediterranean.
We do not sell yachts like many other agencies so there is no conflict or distraction in our focus for your yacht charter. Our service is free to you. We travel extensively to boat shows and yacht charter shows year-round to personally view and inspect as many of the yachts as possible.
6 Reasons Why We are Qualified:
1. As Members of the Charter Yacht Brokers Association, The Virgin Islands Professional Charter Yacht League, and the BVI Charter Yacht Society, we maintain contact with the yachts to keep abreast of the very latest information on crew/yacht conditions and new yachts entering the arena.
2. We stay on top of local and Federal Governments to keep informed about changes in our industry, as well as involve ourselves with the changes in the environment in which we offer charters.
3. We engage in open dialogue with local publications to help keep the government and the public aware of this important industry in our islands.
4. We attend multiple charter yacht industry shows in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, go aboard each of the yachts, meet the crews, attend association meetings and seminars. We'll happily share our notes about changes to the boats and crews and confirm any newly added features and upgrades as well as re-fits to the boat’s decor like new carpets, interior and exterior soft goods & fun new water toys.
5. As a seasoned charter yacht Owner & Crew, we have access to the "inner circle" and know all the insider facts. 6. We've developed a longtime friendship with vendors of services such as local taxi drivers, ferry companies, good places to stay on land, great restaurants, and much more.
Yacht Charters Guru is Accredited by the Following Professional Associations:
