Journey to the mountainous region of the country, visiting Jarabacoa and Constanza (the national agricultural center), trip to the pyramids.

Road quality:
in this case, there are two tracks presented. One of them (the shorter one) involves only one road from Santo Domingo to Constanza: an asphalted route, suitable for all cars. The second track (the more long and difficult one) offers a real journey to the center of the country, visiting Jarabacoa, Constanza and two waterfalls; a trip on a mountain road to the country center – the pyramids. To pass this track you will have to take a real 4x4 offroader with good tyres.

Points:
Water Reservoir 
Piramids – the pyramids, the geographical center of the country
Airport – a local airport in Constanza
Hotel Mi Casa – a reasonably priced hotel with a restaurant
WiFi zone – free access to the Internet
Electronic chargers – an office dealing with recharging cells for photo and video cams.
Car Xenon Bambumusic – car parts, minor car repairs
Hotel – a middle class hotel
Pajon – a Constanza district near the mountainious area
WaterFall Gran Salto Jimenoa – a waterfall
WaterFall Aguas Blancas – a waterfall 
Constanza – a town
Jarabacoa – a town

Description:
The route with the populated places (PP) indicated:
1st Day.  Santo Domingo – Villa Altagracia – Piedra Blanca – Bonao – La Vega – Jarabacoa – Gran Salto Jimenoa - Constanza
2nd Day.  Way up to the geographical center of Dominicana.  Constanza – Colonia Japonesa – Sabana Quelizo – La Nevera (from Spanish - ‘Refrigerator’. The place where the pyramids are located, representing the geographical center of Dominicana) – Los Manaclares – Sabana Larga – San Jose de Ocoa – Llano de los Refugios – Bani – Paya – Yaguate – San Cristobal – El Cacique – Haina – Santo Domingo
First, we go to Jarabacoa. In the heart of the Cordillera Central mountain range, you'll find Jarabacoa. This town has been a popular summer place for wealthy Dominicans for some time but adventure-sports tourism has made it increasingly more so. It's a natural hub for those wanting to participate in these types of activities - the surrounding nature offering mountain fresh air, tall pines, huge waterfalls and many river rapids. It's also a starting point for those wanting to hike Pico Duarte, highest peak in the Caribbean, at 3087 meters (10,128 feet). Tour operators provide river rafting, kayaking, canyoning, hiking, climbing, paragliding and horseback riding trips in this area from all over the country. The town itself is quite enjoyable whether you participate in these activities or not, offering a nice temperate climate, good restaurants and hotels, and nightly baseball games at the field on Calle la Confluencia.
After Jarabacoa we immediately go to the Gran Salto Jimenoa Waterfall. Its cool water is good to have a swim and refresh in it. The Great and Terrifying Solenodon is said to live there. Will you believe in him or not - it is up to you.
Finally, in the evening we get to Constanza. Along the road, there are vast fields of the cabbage, potato, onion and other vegetables. This is where most crops of Dominicana are cultivated. From there, planes take them to the capital city and other regions of the country. During the colonial age, this valley was explored by several discoverers. In 1750, one of the colonists, Victoriano Velano, brought first cows and mares there; by 1783, they considerably expanded their habitat, proliferating happily.  In the geographical article printed by Cayetano Armado Rodriguez in 1915, a well-known geographer of that period noted that “in the Constanza valley, they propagate peculiar dwarf breeds of cows and horses of the size of goat”. Though, we have not seen such species there.
When the British Consul in Santo Domingo Robert Schomburgk visited Constanza in 1851, he found only one inhabited house. 20 years later, in 1871, the Noth-American geologist Willian Gabb saw as many as 12 huts in the valley. In 1887, Baron de Eggers, when visiting the Cordillera Central, counted about 100 persons living in 30 huts distributed throughout the valley of Constanza. 
Until the middle of the XX century, Constanza was a quite underpopulated valley, as the lack of roads prevented access to this truly unique place.  
In his report, Baron de Eggers also wrote that all families populating the Constanza earned their living by breeding horses, horned cattle, bean, batata, yucca, corn, and one more uncommon plant that was omitted by Baron. And the main commercial crop was tobacco. It was rolled into small cigarillos to be successfully sold in San Juan. 
In his work “Reflejos de ayer”, the writer Garrido Puello spoke about severe cold he had had to bear during his visit to the valley in 1910.  “I visited this wonderful nook of Dominicana – Constanza – in 1910, when going to the west, to San Juan. A small settlement that would be a town.” But times change…Nowadays, Constanza is the national “garner”. 
At the Mi Casa Hotel, we stay overnight. There, you may also have a meal, if you like. 
In the evening, before sundusk, you may have time to go to the water reservoir near the town. On the track, it is indicated with the corresponding mark.
In the morning, we go on with our journey; the next stop is the Aguas Blancas Waterfall. The height is about 50 meters. Just like in the case of the Jimeona Waterfall – please do not swim under the water streams. According to GPS, it is 1703 meters higher than sea level. This is the largest waterfall of the Caribbean Islands. The water temperature is about 12 ?C.
Then, we move through the mountains to the very heart of the country, the pyramids. Thus, we are about to meet the clouds. We enter Parque nacional Valle Nuevo. The average speed of the way up is 14 km/h. The route is quite long and complex, but the mountain peaks covered with the clouds refresh the traveler’s eye. Finally, we reach the destination. It is not Khufu, yet… Actually, the zone hosting the pyramids has been called the Refrigerator (from Spanish ”La Nevera”) for a good reason.  They were built in 1957; they have been the geographical center of Dominicana.
We are not going to return by the same road. It is decided to proceed the journey going on through the mountains, fog and rain. Fortunately, the road is not too wet. Moving through mud would be unbearable. You probably will not believe it, but we have passed just all the way with our auto heater on.  It is really cold in the mountains. Sometimes, the temperature drops lower than +5?C.
Finally, towards the evening, we reach the route connecting San Jose De Ocoa and the capital of Dominicana. The journey is over.

What should you take with you?
Warm clothes, flashlights, something to drink (water) and eat, personal care items, money, swimming suits or trunks, an insect repellent, a rope, a spare wheel (just in case).

For more detailed description of the track, please address to the web blog at: 
http://dominicana-life.livejournal.com/15563.html
