FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Dominican Republic – Advanced Leadership Challenge
How long is the flight to this country?
Direct flight from New York to Santo Domingo takes approximately 3-4 hours.
Will there be a flight leader to this country?
Yes. All flights between the Dominican Republic and the USA will have a flight leader starting in New York. Return flights to the USA will also have a flight leader as far as New York. Flights from the Dominican Republic to Costa Rica, Panama, and Peru will not be escorted.
Do we need to get visas for this program?
Students from the United States and Canada will be automatically issued a 30 day tourist visa upon entry into the Dominican Republic, for the cost of $10. STUDENTS MUST HAVE $10 UPON ENTRY TO PAY FOR THE TOURIST CARD.
What province(s) of the Dominican Republic does this program pass through?
During this trip, students will visit the provinces of Santo Domingo, Monte Planta, Duarte, La Vega, Independencia, San Cristobal, Montecristi and Barahona
What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
Rustic Pathways does not make recommendations regarding immunizations. We strongly suggest that you consult with a travel doctor or your family physician for medical recommendations based on the area where the student will be traveling (as listed above). You can also check the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov for more information.
How does this program connect to other programs?
On Tuesday afternoon students will return to Santo Domingo. They will spend that night in Santo Domingo at a hotel near the airport. On Tuesday evening students transferring to other programs in Latin America can catch a flight to Costa Rica, Panama, or Peru. Students connecting to other programs in the Dominican Republic will join their new trip on Wednesday morning.
How long is the drive from Santo Domingo to this program?
There will be several locations that students stay at/visit during this trip; therefore participants should expect several bus rides throughout the two weeks. The shortest distance will be a one hour bus ride, while the longest ride will take up to about five hours.
What is the climate in the region where this program takes place?
Students should be prepared for hot, humid weather in the 80s and 90s during the day with occasional rain showers.
Is this a good program for students interested in practicing their Spanish?
This program focuses mainly on leadership skills however; students will be in close contact with local Spanish speaking children making the program an excellent opportunity to practice Spanish conversational skills.
What service projects will I work on and how are the projects identified?
The main service work is based on creating a team that is strong enough to create an overnight summer camp for local children. The first part of the trip will focus on the creation of such team which then will move into the actual set up of the camp, planning the logistics and details of the activities. Then the main work will come by making the camp come true and running the 5 days long session for the kids. Overall this program involves some of the most rewarding yet hardest service work we have in Latin America.
How physically strenuous is this program?
This program is appropriate for most levels of physical activity. Students should be prepared for a two day hike that includes an overnight camping experience (sleeping in tents!!!) which would be the biggest physical challenge during the program. There will be other activities, such as; high ropes, rafting, some physical labor involving the camp itself that participants need to be ready for.
What costs are not included on this trip?
There will be several optional activities offered in the beginning of the trip including rafting, horseback riding and rappelling. Students need to have extra allowance money if they wish to participate in any of these listed activities and should also have some extra for souvenirs, additional snacks, or soda from the local grocery stores.
What are the optional activities available at an additional cost on this program?
All activities are included in the cost of the program except for the following:
- Rafting $50
- Rappelling $50
- Horseback Riding $16
What kind of food will we be eating? Where?
Students will be eating traditional Dominican food prepared by local cooks and restaurants. Breakfast may include plantains or toast with eggs, fruits and cereal. Lunch and dinner will be typical dishes which consists of rice, beans, salad and a meat/seafood dish or veggie dishes.
Can we cater to specific diets?
Rustic Pathways can cater to most dietary needs on this program. There will be ample access to fruits, vegetables, rice, beans, and grains for those who are vegetarian. Vegan diets can be accommodated, but with a little more foresight and planning as this is not a diet commonly encountered in the Dominican Republic. Please know that while we are happy to accommodate alternative diets, many of the special diets common in the United States are not common in other parts of the world and travelers must be patient and understanding in having these needs be met. Please contact harry@rusticpathways.com with any questions regarding special diets or allergies.
Will the kids be drinking bottled water?
Tap water in the Dominican Republic is not recommended, we will provide bottled water for our students throughout the course of the program.
What will the accommodations on this trip be like?
During their time in the Dominican Republic students will stay in a few different places. On the first and last night of the trip, the group will stay in a comfortable three star hotel in the capital. For the rest of the trip there will be times when the group stays in hotels, tents, and cabins and the one things that they will all share is to fulfill the basic requirements of Rustic Pathways; clean, hygienic and safe!
What are the bathroom facilities?
The bathrooms facilities will either be right in the rooms shared with another student, or be communal bathrooms shared with other Rustic Pathways students of the same gender, they will all have running water and American style toilets except for the overnight camping when bathrooms will be outdoors. When not in hotels, showers will be rustic and no hot water at times.
How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
There are typically more girls than boys however the exact numbers vary from week to week.
What is the ratio of guides to students?
Rustic Pathways generally strives to maintain a ratio of approximately 1 guide for every 5 students. In the program, there will be three American guides, and at least one local guide. Our guides go through a rigorous selection process including interviews with our Country Director and a full background check.
Is your staff qualified in First Aid?
Because safety is our number one priority, all of our programs have guides that are certified with First Aid and CPR training. Many of our guides are also qualified Wilderness First Responders, EMTs, Wilderness EMTs, or Life Guards.
How often (if at all) will students be able to do laundry on this program and what will it cost?
Students should pack enough clothes and personal items to last through the program. Laundry may be available at some of the hotels, at an extra cost.
How often will they have access to phone and internet?
Students will have limited to no access to internet during the program. They will be able to purchase international phone cards in the Dominican Republic, which can be used to call home. We will facilitate at least one call a week to parents.
