Dominican Republic Travel Podcast with Carlos Peña

Carlos spends a stormy day in Monte Cristi, wrestling with power cuts, planning the Dajabón border market trip, and learning the hard truths about drought and the local economy. Plus goat prices, salt history, and the cost of a quiet life on the DR's wild frontier.

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Episode 31 of Dominican Republic Travel Podcast with Carlos Peña. Carlos Peña is in Osvaldo Virgil Airport, Dominican Republic.

Places in this episode: Cafetería Fedora, Parque Duarte, Reloj de Montecristi, Parroquia de San Fernando, Centro de Interpretación de la Sal, La Casita de Yeya, Muelle de Montecristi, Luxury Chic Hotel.

Covered: Dajabon border market planning, Monte Cristi daily life and blackouts, Salt flats history and economy, Local food and prices, Coastal walking and pier scene, Weather and storm impacts.

Chapters:
00:00 Osvaldo Virgil Airport
01:38 Parque Duarte
02:57 Centro de Interpretación de la Sal
04:20 La Casita de Yeya
05:20 Muelle de Montecristi
06:37 Luxury Chic Hotel
08:19 Quiet room with wind

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#MonteCristi #DominicanRepublic #ElMorro #Salinas #Dajabon #BorderMarket #NorthCoastDR #TravelDR #OffTheBeatenPath #ChivoLiniero #CaribbeanTravel #OsvaldoVirgilAirport #DRDrought #CayosSieteHermanos #FrontierTown #DominicanFood

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/dominican-republic/

Carlos climbs El Morro at dawn, explores the salt flats and interpretation centre, and eats chivo liniero in Monte Cristi. He prices real life in this frontier town and reflects on the road ahead.

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Episode 30 of Dominican Republic Travel Podcast with Carlos Peña. Carlos Peña is in Osvaldo Virgil Airport, Dominican Republic.

Places in this episode: El Morro de Montecristi, Salinas de Montecristi, Centro de Interpretación de la Sal, Parque Duarte, Museo de Máximo Gómez, Coco Mar, Malecón de Montecristi.

Covered: El Morro hike, Salt flats and salt centre, Chivo liniero food, History (Manifiesto de Montecristi), Cost of living in Monte Cristi, Planning Dajabón border market day trip.

Chapters:
00:00 Parque Duarte
01:00 Centro de Interpretación de la Sal
03:31 Museo de Máximo Gómez
04:33 Coco Mar
05:33 Night street
06:29 Quiet room interior

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#MonteCristi #ElMorro #DominicanRepublic #SaltFlats #ChivoLiniero #NorthCoastDR #TravelDR #Caribbean #Hiking #Birdwatching #SaltMuseum #Dajabon #BorderTown #RoadTrip #DRTravel #FrontierLife #IslandLife

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/dominican-republic/

Carlos drives the northwest coast from Río San Juan to Monte Cristi on the day he moves there. A three-hour guagua ride, a first meal of chivo, and a first walk along the malecón at dusk, with real costs and residency notes for this desert frontier town.

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Plan your trip to Dominican Republic: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Dominican Republic guide →

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Episode 29 of Dominican Republic Travel Podcast with Carlos Peña. Carlos Peña is in Osvaldo Virgil Airport, Dominican Republic.

Places in this episode: El Malecón, Parque Duarte, Reloj de Montecristi, Museo de Máximo Gómez, Cafetería Fedora, Salinas, Centro de Interpretación de la Sal, Hotel Vista al Morro.

Covered: Travel day from Río San Juan, Monte Cristi town walk and history, Salt flats and salt museum, Chivo cuisine, Arrival in new base town.

Chapters:
00:00 Guagua interior
01:29 Osvaldo Virgil Airport
02:56 Parque Duarte
05:01 Cafetería Fedora
06:05 Hotel Vista al Morro
07:06 El Morro

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#MonteCristi #DominicanRepublic #ElMorro #NorthwestDR #CaribbeanTravel #SaltFlats #Chivo #DominicanFood #TravelPodcast #DRTravel #RoadTripCaribbean #CayosSieteHermanos #MonteCristiNationalPark #Dajabon #Malecón #OffTheBeatenPath #DominicanCulture #SaltOfTheEarth

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/dominican-republic/

Carlos spends his final evening in Río San Juan as a storm rolls in, savoring the town's rhythm, tracking down the best sancocho, and wrestling with the decision to leave. He shares the real cost of a day here and what it means to call a place home, even briefly.

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Episode 28 of Dominican Republic Travel Podcast with Carlos Peña. Carlos Peña is in Río San Juan, Dominican Republic.

Places in this episode: Cafe de Paris, Mercado Municipal de Río San Juan, Boca de la Laguna, El Mangle Restaurante, La Ciénaga, Laguna Gri-Gri, Cave of the Swallows.

Covered: Cooking and food, Local life and community, Rain and weather, Cost of living, Residency process, Leaving a place.

Chapters:
00:00 Cafe de Paris
00:50 Beach
02:08 Boca de la Laguna
04:16 Rain on street
05:51 Quiet room
06:39 Night street
07:46 Room

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#RioSanJuan #DominicanRepublic #TravelPodcast #DRTravel #NorthCoastDR #LagunaGriGri #CaveOfTheSwallows #Sancocho #CriolloCooking #LocalLife #TravelDiaries #Caribbean #IslandLife #SlowTravel #ExpatLife #Bachata #Merengue #ResidencyDR

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/dominican-republic/

Carlos spends his final full day in Río San Juan riding out a summer thunderstorm, learning the town's rhythm of resilience, and reflecting on the counterclockwise journey ahead. He names the real costs of living here and the practical steps for anyone thinking of making the move.

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Plan your trip to Dominican Republic: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Dominican Republic guide →

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Episode 27 of Dominican Republic Travel Podcast with Carlos Peña. Carlos Peña is in Río San Juan, Dominican Republic.

Places in this episode: Laguna Gri-Gri, Mercado Municipal, Super Café San Juan, El Patio de Andy, Color Cafe, Playa de Río San Juan, O Carballo Criollo, Catalina Tropical Lodge.

Covered: Río San Juan daily life, Residency paperwork, Cost of living, Leaving Río San Juan, Storm and power cuts.

Chapters:
00:00 Mercado Municipal
01:17 Super Café San Juan
02:51 El Patio de Andy
04:23 Playa de Río San Juan
06:27 Río San Juan
07:27 Catalina Tropical Lodge

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#RioSanJuan #DominicanRepublic #DRTravel #CaribbeanTravel #LagunaGriGri #SwallowsCave #Mofongo #Sancocho #ExpatLife #DRResidency #CostOfLivingDR #NorthCoastDR #TravelPodcast #CaribbeanExplorer #IslandLife #SlowTravel #CriolloCooking #PresidenteBeer

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/dominican-republic/

Carlos spends a slow, stormy day in Río San Juan as scheduled power cuts roll through the town. He visits the music school by the lagoon, prices a monthly flat, checks in on his residency paperwork, and reflects on what a working fishing town does when the lights go out.

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Plan your trip to Dominican Republic: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Dominican Republic guide →

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Episode 26 of Dominican Republic Travel Podcast with Carlos Peña. Carlos Peña is in Río San Juan, Dominican Republic.

Places in this episode: Laguna Gri-Gri, Cafetería bonita 💗, Super Café San Juan, Mercado Municipal, La Ciénaga, Escuela Libre, Fénix Casa de Cambio, Malecón.

Covered: Power grid and scheduled maintenance, Residency application process, Cost of living details, Local culture and music school, Town rhythm during outages.

Chapters:
00:00 Cafetería bonita 💗
01:48 Mercado Municipal
03:38 Escuela Libre
04:52 Super Café San Juan
06:45 Malecón
08:19 Quiet porch at night

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#RioSanJuan #DominicanRepublic #TravelDominicanRepublic #LagunaGriGri #OffGridLiving #PowerOutage #NorthCoastDR #ResidencyDR #ExpatLife #CaribbeanTravel #FishingTown #RealDR #DRCostOfLiving #DGM #Banreservas #MusicSchool #Mangroves #SlowTravel

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/dominican-republic/

Carlos spends his final morning in Río San Juan before heading west, hitting the fish market and a local comedor, then reflecting on what the town has taught him and what the next leg of his counterclockwise trip around the DR will bring.

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Episode 25 of Dominican Republic Travel Podcast with Carlos Peña. Carlos Peña is in Río San Juan, Dominican Republic.

Places in this episode: Mercado Municipal de Río San Juan, Playa de Río San Juan, BanReservas Rio San Juan, O Carballo Criollo, Catalina Tropical Lodge, Laguna Gri-Gri, El Patio de Andy.

Covered: Leaving Río San Juan, Local food and costs, Residency and banking, Travel logistics by guagua, Reflection on town rhythm, Safety in a small town.

Chapters:
00:00 Catalina Tropical Lodge
02:03 Playa de Río San Juan
03:49 O Carballo Criollo
04:57 Room
05:57 El Patio de Andy
06:59 Bus ride

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#RíoSanJuan #DominicanRepublic #DominicanTravel #Caribbean #NorthCoastDR #PuertoPlata #DRTravel #LagunaGriGri #TravelPodcast #CaribbeanTravel #ExpatLife #DRResidency #FoodTravel #Merengue #Bachata #HiddenGems #RoadTrip

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/dominican-republic/

Carlos spends his final full day in Río San Juan with the fishermen at dawn, learns the town's quiet Sunday rhythm, and reflects on the long road of residency paperwork while the Playa Grande airport debate looms. A working town's last dance before the road west.

☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo

Plan your trip to Dominican Republic: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Dominican Republic guide →

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Episode 24 of Dominican Republic Travel Podcast with Carlos Peña. Carlos Peña is in Río San Juan, Dominican Republic.

Places in this episode: Playa de Río San Juan, Boca de la Laguna, Playa Grande, Cabo Francés Viejo, Centro Histórico, Parque Central, Super Café San Juan, Fenix Casa de Cambio Rio San Juan.

Covered: Fisherman economy and fish auction, Residency and banking paperwork, Playa Grande airport development debate, Cost of living and food prices, Local rhythm and Sundays, Power grid and scheduled maintenance.

Chapters:
00:00 Playa de Río San Juan
01:13 Playa Grande
02:30 Centro Histórico
04:05 Boca de la Laguna
06:07 Parque Central
07:29 El Mangle Restaurante
08:35 Street at night

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#RioSanJuan #DominicanRepublic #NorthCoastDR #CaribbeanTravel #FishingTown #LagunaGriGri #PlayaGrande #CaboFrancesViejo #DominicanFood #Mofongo #Bachata #Merengue #ExpatLifeDR #ResidencyDR #TravelPodcast #SlowTravel #OffTheBeatenPath #CriolloCooking

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/dominican-republic/

Carlos spends his sixth day in Río San Juan watching the town shift from fishing work to evening dance, learning merengue and bachata steps at a local spot, and pricing what a month here might cost. He also checks in on the airport development and the residency paperwork that's still waiting in Santo Domingo.

☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo

Plan your trip to Dominican Republic: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Dominican Republic guide →

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Episode 23 of Dominican Republic Travel Podcast with Carlos Peña. Carlos Peña is in Río San Juan, Dominican Republic.

Places in this episode: Laguna Gri-Gri, Cave of the Swallows, Playa de Río San Juan, La Casita de Playa, Cafe de Paris, Mercado Municipal, Catalina Tropical Lodge, Playa Grande.

Covered: Rio San Juan nightly rhythm and dance, Laguna Gri-Gri boat tour and cave, Airport development debate, Living costs and rent prices, Residency and banking paperwork, Learning bachata and merengue.

Chapters:
00:00 Río San Juan
01:02 Laguna Gri-Gri
03:12 Playa Grande
05:12 Beach bar conversation
06:12 Quiet night street
07:32 Catalina Tropical Lodge

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#RíoSanJuan #DominicanRepublic #NorthCoastDR #Bachata #Merengue #LagunaGriGri #CaveOfTheSwallows #PlayaGrande #AirportDevelopment #TravelDR #LocalLife #WorkingTown #DanceLesson #CostOfLiving #BeachBar #CaribbeanVibes #IslandLife

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/dominican-republic/

Carlos spends his fifth day in Río San Juan immersed in the town's working heart. He watches the tuna auction at the port, helps fillet a fresh catch, and learns how the sea feeds the town. He also gets the latest on the Playa Grande airport development and reflects on what it means for this quiet corner of the coast.

☕ Enjoying the show? Help keep every episode free — buymeacoffee.com/paris2tokyo

Plan your trip to Dominican Republic: eSIM & data · Tours & tickets · Airport transfers · Car rental · Travel insurance · Hotels & full Dominican Republic guide →

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Episode 22 of Dominican Republic Travel Podcast with Carlos Peña. Carlos Peña is in Río San Juan, Dominican Republic.

Places in this episode: Boca de la Laguna, Escuela Libre, Mercado Municipal, El Mangle Restaurante, Centro Histórico, Cabo Francés Viejo, Playa Grande, BanReservas.

Covered: Fisherman life and fish market, Local food and costs, Río San Juan town rhythm, Residency/banking steps, Airport development, Lagoon and coast.

Chapters:
00:00 Boca de la Laguna
01:58 Escuela Libre
02:53 Playa Grande
04:51 Centro Histórico
05:48 Mercado Municipal
07:10 Cabo Francés Viejo

A full transcript of this episode is available in supported apps.

#RioSanJuan #DominicanRepublic #NorthCoast #LagunaGriGri #FishingTown #CaribbeanLife #TravelPodcast #ExpatLife #DRTravel #PuntaCanaToSantoDomingo #LocalExperience #FishMarket #MovingAbroad #CaribbeanCoast #PlayaGrande #DRResidency #CriolloCooking

https://www.paris2tokyo.com/podcasts/dominican-republic/