Unfortunately, this trip was extremely disappointing from start to finish. We were around half an hour late leaving, and then were taken to a petrol station where we were put onto another bus without anyone properly explaining what was happening.
The day was very poorly organised. We spent a huge amount of time stopping and waiting, including around half an hour on the bus because the wrong people had been put onto the coach. The tour guide even asked if there was anyone who spoke English, despite the booking being for English-speaking guests. When we said we were English-speaking, the guide clearly did not seem happy about it.
The bus itself was overcrowded and uncomfortable. The air conditioning kept being switched on and off, and with people reclining their seats all the way back, there was hardly any room.
A large part of the day seemed to be spent being taken to gift shops, where we were left for long periods. It felt like the actual sightseeing was secondary to stopping at shops. We also made numerous unnecessary stops to pick up people along the way, both going and coming back, which made an already very long day even longer.
We only had around 40 minutes in Santo Domingo, which felt extremely rushed, despite spending hours travelling and stopping elsewhere. This was supposed to be a sightseeing trip, but it felt as though very little time was actually spent seeing the destination.
The food provided was also very disappointing — mainly rice and very fatty pork skin/fat, which certainly won’t suit everyone’s tastes.
Overall, this was a very long day with very poor time management and organisation, and we felt that our valuable holiday time was wasted. If you are booking this trip expecting to spend the day exploring Santo Domingo, be aware that a significant amount of the day may instead be spent on a bus and in gift shops.
I would not recommend this trip based on our experience.
9
92lianw
September 14, 2026
Very Disappointing Tour. Not Worth the Time or Money
The trip was very disappointing. There was very little to see or do, and only two of the stops required tickets and the rest were free. Given the itinerary, I expected much more from the tour. The tour was advertised as starting at 8am, but it didn't actually get started until around 10:30am. It also finished around 2pm, making the actual tour much shorter than expected. On top of that, we spent more than 30 mins waiting in a gift shop, even though some of us weren't interested in buying anything.
The lunch was another disappointment. Six people had to share one very small table, with barely enough space for everyone. The seating arrangement was extremely uncomfortable.
The tour guide was okay and did a decent job, but honestly, the guide was the main reason I'm giving this tour 2 stars overall.
Unfortunately, based on my experience, I would not recommend this tour.
J
Jorge_P
September 10, 2026
Too much shopping
Too much time spent buying souvenirs. Little touring around the city. Zero local culture. The guide was slow.
H
H3218LXjosep
September 8, 2026
Turist complained
We are extremely dissatisfied with the tour we took to Santo Domingo.
To begin with, we were supposed to be picked up at 8:00 a.m. Then the pickup time was changed to 7:30 a.m., but in the end, we were not picked up until 7:45 a.m. There were more passengers than available seats. One pregnant woman had to sit in a seat with only half of a backrest, and all of the seats were extremely uncomfortable.
The driver did not tell us where we were going or who our tour guide would be. After an hour and a half, we stopped at a gas station, where the driver refueled the vehicle while the engine was still running and all the passengers were inside. This happened twice during the tour.
We then continued to a place where we were taken to purchase handicrafts. Our guide, a man named David, joined us there. He told us we would have 15 minutes to shop, but that 15 minutes turned into 40 minutes.
Throughout the tour, David spent a great deal of time speaking negatively about the history of the Dominican Republic and about politics. He did not clearly explain where we were going next or what the itinerary was.
He also did not allow anyone to eat anywhere other than the places he selected, even when he himself did not like the food. At every stop, he went over the amount of time we were supposed to spend there. We were also taken to two different shopping locations where we felt pressured to purchase something.
To make matters worse, David, the tour guide himself, had to stand because there was not even a seat available for him.
According to the itinerary, we were supposed to return at approximately 5:00 p.m. Instead, we did not arrive back until 8:30 p.m. As a result, all of the passengers missed their dinner reservations.
The entire experience was extremely disappointing and poorly organized. The safety issue involving the vehicle being refueled twice while the engine was running and all passengers were inside was especially concerning.
Our group consisted of four people, and none of us will ever use your company again. We strongly recommend that you review the way this tour is organized, the transportation provided, and the conduct and professionalism of the tour guide.
S
Sidney_H
September 8, 2026
Super super informative...
Super super informative guide was amazing got to experience Santo domingo in it's fullest only thing I will say is it's hot super hot so be prepared
N
nishantpai
September 5, 2026
Amazing day trip to Santo Domingo from Punta Cana
Had an amazing day trip to Santo Domingo with the team. The pickup and drop and the tour guide were excellent! Would highly recommend this to anyone visiting Punta Cana.
A
adrianapA2003EQ
August 31, 2026
A different day in Punta Cana!
Very interesting! Tour through the history of Santo Domingo, the Three Eyes Park was spectacular. The photos do not show how impressive the water holes are. If I had to change something, I would do the city tour first; the sun and the heat are relentless. Both the guide and the driver were very attentive and pleasant!!! It has been a great day!
B
Betsy_S
August 29, 2026
Great experience
The tour guys, Manuel and Ozuna, were great. The places we went to were very beautiful and interesting
4
436piedadt
August 27, 2026
good but... it could be better
It is a long and exhausting journey, time is lost in the boarding process, because it is a vehicle from the hotel to a place and after that place to Santo Domingo, the guide was very kind, but he did not go into much depth in the explanations, the time in the shops is disproportionate to that which was used for the other activities, the lunch place is very simple and had problems with the air conditioning, also they rushed us out because another group was arriving, the food was good and the girls who serve are very kind.
S
Susana_L
August 25, 2026
The excursion to Santo...
The excursion to Santo Domingo was a very good experience and, in general, I was very satisfied. I give it 4 out of 5 stars, mainly due to an issue with lunch.
I want to especially highlight our tour guide, Ozuna, who deserves a 10/10. He is a cheerful, professional young man with a great deal of knowledge about history. He provided us with information with real facts and dates, and he also communicated perfectly in both Spanish and English. He was attentive to the group at all times, gave very clear instructions, and organized the time at each place very well. We had the perfect amount of time to explore, take photos, and refresh ourselves without feeling rushed.
I also want to highlight the driver who worked with Ozuna. I don't remember his name, but he was very professional and punctual throughout the entire trip.
The only point that I consider they need to improve is the lunch. There were two restaurants, one downstairs and one upstairs. I was assigned the one upstairs and, unfortunately, the experience there was not good. The food tasted good, but when we arrived at the buffet, there were practically only the last portions left and we had to insist that they replenish the food. Even the salad ran out and was not replenished. The drinks were warm and the available options were very limited.
I consider that this part of the excursion needs to improve, especially the coordination so that the food is available and fresh when the groups arrive.
I would give the upstairs restaurant a 2/5. However, aside from that inconvenience, everything else was very well organized and we really enjoyed the tour.
Osuna: 10/10 👏
Excursion in general: 4/5 ⭐
I would do the excursion again; I would simply recommend considerably improving the lunch experience.