Explore beautiful Puerto Rico & Dominican Republic expanding your knowledge of the culture, sustainability & the concept of citizenship. Contribute to service projects alongside Amasar with the mission of creating food resilience in Puerto Rico. Travel via overnight ferry to the Dominican Republic where you will complete essential infrastructure service in Los Bateyes- home to sugar cane cutters who historically have lived stateless and undocumented as a result of corruption and greed in our global commerce systems.

Day 1: Bienvenidos a Puerto Rico!

¡Bienvenidos a la Isla del Encanto! Arrive into San Juan Airport where Offbeat Travel staff will meet you and escort you to your lodging to check-in.

Get to know your group and we will have an introduction to Puerto Rico, its history, its culture, and its complicated relationship with the United States led by one of our local staff. Our hosts will also show us a few Salsa steps to start engaging with the local culture.

Lodging: Hotel Dreams Miramar, San Juan

Day 2: Cultura Boricua

Spend the day exploring the different cultural influences of Puerto Rico. In the morning head toward Loiza to learn about the cultural relevance of this community. Loiza is known as "La Capital de la Tradición" for its contribution to dance and music, and for its acceptance of traditional Taíno and African dishes, folk art, and culture. Participate in a Bomba lesson on the beach and learn about the history of this rhythm.

After lunch head to old San Juan to explore all its colonial charm. Learn about the history of the city, check out its plazas, and enjoy the laid back nature of this Caribbean city.

Lodging: Hotel Dreams Miramar, San Juan

Day 3: Embrace Nature

Welcome to Puerto Rico's mountainous beauty. Our journey takes us from San Juan into the heart of Puerto Rico's mountainous center region. Experience the awe-inspiring landscapes that unveil curving mountain passes and majestic peaks, a side of Puerto Rico that often remains hidden. These fertile lands hold immense potential to become the source of locally produced staples, adding to Puerto Rico's resilience. Our tranquil haven for the night is a comfy mountain lodge, offering shared rooms surrounded by serene natural beauty.

Lodging: Hacienda Gripiñas or Posada Jayuya, Jayuya

Day 4| Resiliency

Puerto Rico has faced a series of natural disasters, prompting a critical reassessment of priorities with a strong focus on enhancing resilience. A central component of this effort is food resilience, through a movement aimed at reconnecting with the land and achieving self-sufficiency in food production. We invite you to join us in this vital mission by dedicating the next two days to volunteer at a local farm, known as Amasar.

Amasar is a farm born from a mother's commitment to providing her family with nourishing food. Founded by Marisol Villalobos, the farm focuses on the nutritional richness of breadfruit, a beloved component of Puerto Rican cuisine. Located in Jayuya's Mameyes neighborhood, the farm is a testament to the values of family, health, and the joy of eating well.

We will spend the day volunteering on the farm with whatever they may need that day such as weeding, planting, harvesting or moving manure.

Lodging: Hacienda Gripiñas or Posada Jayuya, Jayuya

Day 5: Ferry to Dominican Republic

After a satisfying breakfast, get ready to pack your essentials and make your way to the dock, where you'll embark on an exciting overnight ferry journey from San Juan to Santo Domingo. During this ferry ride, you'll enjoy the comfort of cozy cabins for a restful sleep, delightful meals, and entertaining activities, all while surrounded by the breathtaking vistas of the Caribbean Sea. This unique experience promises not just transportation but a memorable adventure that adds an extra layer of excitement to your journey.

Lodging: Bunks, Ferry

Day 6: Biggest City in the Caribbean

Arrive in Santo Domingo, a city steeped in history and charm, as it proudly holds the title of the oldest colonial city in the Americas. Spend some time in the heart of the vibrant historic district, where every corner tells a story of the past. Immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere as you embark on a captivating walking tour through the colonial city's cobbled streets and architectural wonders. Discover the hidden gems of Santo Domingo, such as the fascinating Los Tres Ojos caves, offering a glimpse into the natural wonders beneath the city's surface.

Have lunch in La Zona Colonial before heading to ASCALA to settle in and take your first trip into the bateyes.

Lodging: Volunteer Center, San Pedro de Macoris

Day 7 - 10: Diving into Critical Issues

Working in the Bateyes is an intense service and learning experience. Students will contribute to the ongoing community development project in San Pedro de Macoris. Our work here consists of infrastructure rehabilitation, agricultural work with local farmers, health initiatives, and education projects with local children. When not working hard on service projects, you will have the opportunity to relax on white sand beaches, catch the beat of Dominican daily life, and enjoy this Caribbean paradise.

Los bateyes are traditionally communities of sugar cane workers and their families, and are among the most impoverished areas of the country. Many people in these regions lack access to some of the most basic human rights, including access to clean water, adequate nutrition, decent housing, basic education, electricity and other infrastructure -- issues which are exacerbated by unfair wages and systemic racism. Most people living in bateyes are Haitian or of Haitian descent, and there is currently a heated debate surrounding immigration and immigrant rights in the Dominican Republic. In 2013, the Dominican courts ruled in favor of a retroactive law that would effectively strip an estimated 250,000 Haitian-Dominicans of their Dominican citizenship. Since then, due partly to international pressure, the government has passed naturalization and regularization plans to allow for documentation of many people affected by the 2013 ruling. You will learn more about the effects of documentation on human rights throughout the course of this program.

Working within this context, our projects in the bateyes include home improvement, infrastructure projects, and education projects where we work with local elementary schools to provide supplemental education. Our primary project in our partner community is home improvements. Offbeat Travel began working with these communities in 2012 through our partnership with ASCALA, a local human rights non-profit. The community has stated that home improvements and latrine construction are the top priority, for both safety and health reasons.

Explore the ongoing challenges facing the bateyes, barracks originally built for migrant sugar cane workers, and now settled as permanent housing for families and entire communities, typically with substandard living conditions. Get to know the community and contribute to ongoing infrastructure service projects such as building and repairing homes or supporting local agriculture and education initiatives. Take a break from service and enjoy the beautiful beaches of Bayahibe where you’ll get to swim and relax.

Lodging: Volunteer Center, San Pedro de Macoris

Day 11:

It's time to bid farewell to the communities you've been a part of for the past few days. As you prepare to depart, take a moment to say goodbye to the friends you've made in these vibrant bateyes. Share a warm cafecito, engage in a friendly pick-up game of baseball, and put the finishing touches on the project that you've worked on together.

Afterward, it's off to Juan Dolio for some well-deserved beach time and a final dinner. Enjoy the sun, sand, and sea as you reflect on the meaningful work you've accomplished and the memories you've created. This last day is a reminder of the impact you've had and the connections you've formed during your time here

Lodging: Volunteer Center, San Pedro de Macoris

Day 12: ¡Buen Viaje!

After breakfast, we’ll say goodbye to this Island paradise and head to the airport to fly home. We hope you enjoyed your stay in the Dominican Republic!

In San Juan students will Hotel Dreams Miramar y rooms of 2-4 students. These are typical hotel rooms, with a few having a bunk bed.

In Jayuya students still stay in bunk style rooms in a rustic cabin.

On the Ferry to Santo Domingo students will private cabins with 2-4 students per room.

In the Bateyes students will stay at the ASCALA volunteer facility near the town of Consuelo. Rooming will be bunk style shared lodging with 2-6 people per room. The rooms all have fans we a nice common area and a lot of outdoor space.

• 11 nights of accommodation

• All meals all days

• All transportation including Ferry between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic

• Offbeat Travel full-time international and local guides

• All activities as detailed in your itinerary

• Single point of contact from Offbeat Travel for support leading up to the program

• Offbeat Travel 24-hour emergency support throughout program

• All airport taxes and departure fees

• All fees, community service donations, and guide tips

Ground Cost: $2,695

Flight Cost: $1,000 (subject to change)

Total: $3,695

Payment Plan:

• $500 deposit - click below to book

• $500 due Jan. 15th 2024

• $500 due February 15th 2024

• $500 due March 15th 2024

• $500 due April 15 2024

• $500 due May 15 2024

• $695 due June 15 2024

All payments after the initial deposit will be invoiced via email.