Independent review of the Catalonia Gran Dominicus resort

This is an independent review of the Catalonia Gran Dominicus resort in Bayahibe, South-East Dominican Republic, following a 3 week stay in April/May 2009.

Cost/arrival/car rental [inc video]
The beach 
Restaurants and bars
Sports
Entertainment
Excursions
Accommodation and Facilities
Interview with Tito
Interview with Janeris

Catalina Island

This is one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean.

It is an uninhabited island which takes around 45 minutes to get to from Bayahibe.

There is a restaurant on the island and a number of stalls from which to buy gifts.

Say hello to Alex from stall 5. If you ask nicely he may offer you a tot of the local brew Mamajuana.
Ashers tried it and suggested that it would go nicely in the car!

His gifts however are excellent.

I took the photograph [above right] on a remote beach on Catalina island.

The excursion leaves on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday and lasts between 9-1.30pm. The cost is 45US and you get a drink within that price.

The island pretty much shuts down at 4pm and all of the stall holders take a boat back to the main land.

The alternative to going on an organised excursion is to go to Bayahibe and ask a fisherman to take you.

Ashers and I did this and the advantage was that we got the boat for a day and that the pilot will take you anywhere on the island. If you got 3 or more in the boat the cost would be better.

Deep sea fishing

You can book this from the beach. Go to the where you get the beach towels from and there is a separate place to book deep sea fishing.
[cont right]

Catalonia Gran Dominicus Excursions

Speedboat excursion

The speedboat excursion takes you up the Chavon river. For golfers, that is the river that you can see from the Casa de campo golf courses.

If you have been to Altos de Chavon, it is the magnificent river that you look down upon.

The cost is 150US for the boat and the trip lasts 2hrs 30 minutesOther activities

Parasailing

 -for 45US you can go parasailing for a 15 minute trip around the bay.

Bananaboat

This will set you back 10US per person.

Waterski/wakeboard

Available at 40US.

Catalonia Gran Dominicus Excursions

There are some very good excursions available at the all-inclusive resort that is the Catalonia Gran Dominicus.

It seems like you have a couple of choices.

You can look at excursions provided by tour operators [ie Thomas Cook etc]
or you can take a look at the excursions which can be booked though a gentleman called Franklin
who works in the office situated on the beach next to where you get your beach towels.

Franklin speaks a number of languages including English.

The prices are correct at May 2009:[cont left]

Above: The Blue marlin
Below:Dye Fore golf course taken from Altos de Chavon

You can book deep sea fishing for 4 hours for 120US per person. This includes all equipment and at the time we in the Dominican Republic
[April/May] blue marlin and white tuna were on the menu.

VIP snorkel excursion

This was for the really keen snorkellers and took in 5 separate locations.

These are as follows;

-Piscina natural
-Mangroves
-Lengua de arena
-Paradise Reef
-Lunch

The price is normally 85US but he was prepared to accept 70US.[cont left]

Catalonia Gran Dominicus Excursions