La Vega Carnaval – Dominican Republic

It’s that time of year again!

Carnaval de La Vega 2013

La Vega Carnaval 2013 – Dominican Republic

For all of February and much of March, the entire Dominican Republic enjoys numerous festivities, including celebration of it’s Independence Day or “Día de la Independencia”. You won’t be able to miss the bizarrely beautiful, and wildly colorful masks that line streets and stores during these months. It’s a must, to celebrate CARNAVAL in La Vega where shows and surprises come out every Sunday in a spectacle of colors, dances, drinks, and other festivities to unite the community.

La Vega’s Carnaval is recognized internationally for its celebrations each Sunday in February when groups of people from all over the country come to see the performers in handmade masks and costumes performing dances that have been practiced all year.These hand-made masks and costumes are incomparable and, people travel from all over the world to experience these wonders for themselves while participating in Carnaval.

carnival-mask-from-la-vegaIn addition to the regularly performing Carnaval groups, live performers are brought in to support the festivities, and many local brands like Brugal and Presidente are big supporters of these events along with many others.

If you’re wondering when might be the best time to see the Dominican Republic at its liveliest, this is it… But watch out, those masked beings are just waiting to include you in their happy celebration!

Program of the La Vega Carnaval (in Spanish)

Sabine Mertes
Sabine Mertes offers real estate services with a focus on villas, farms, land and condos for sale on the north coast of the Dominican Republic

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New Dominican Republic Real Estate Website for Select Caribbean Properties

SELECT CARIBBEAN PROPERTIES LAUNCHES NEW DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REAL ESTATE WEBSITE AS THE FIRST BABY BOOMERS TURN 65 IN 2011.

As the economic market stabilizes, Baby Boomers are looking again for retirement properties, Select Caribbean Properties launched their new interactive real estate website this week providing, a complete resource for buyers and sellers with comprehensive access to the Luxury Dominican Republic Real Estate market.

The site’s launch comes at an optimal time,  with the North American housing market  currently showing signs of stabilizing. “We hope buyers, sellers and even current homeowners will find the site to be a handy guide to the  market and the properties available,” says owner Sabine Mertes-Urbahn. The site has been designed with a streamlined user interface and features a wide variety of real estate tools, property listings, community information and other resources.

“It’s good that the site was launched just as the real estate market here is regaining its equilibrium,” says Select Caribbean Properties. “As a whole, the market in Cabarete and Sosua saw heightened activity during the first quarter of this year, with home prices and the number of home sales greatly improved as compared to the same period last year.

This year the first  Baby Boomers turn 65 and many are looking for lifestyle changes, they are retiring from careers and shifting to part-time employment, volunteer activities or finding full-time work they enjoy. They are “in it” for the joy of the job, fulfillment , the activity and the social interaction.  They start to imagine that it is possible to sit and look at the beach and use the advanced communication tools available to all of us today for doing business.

They are also turning  to the hobbies and activities they love, but had little time to indulge in during full time careers.   Boomers are younger in spirit, healthier and more physically active than previous generations of retirees. They are redefining what retirement is. With the numerous variety of activities available on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic and the easy access with many direct flights from the USA, Canada or Europe, the Boomers desires can take them to an ocean view Condo in the Dominican Republic‘s lush mountainous regions or to a beach front home on the North Coast.

Retirement is a 20th century trend and an evolving 21st century lifestyle and Select Caribbean Properties and their new website can help find this for all Baby Boomers.

Sabine Mertes
Sabine Mertes offers real estate services with a focus on villas, farms, land and condos for sale on the north coast of the Dominican Republic

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Dominican Republic North Coast Rentals

Have you travelled to the Dominican Republic a few times and liked it enough to possibly live here, but remain unsure whether a purchase of property is right for you at the moment? All kinds of Dominican Republic rental properties are available and may afford the prospective buyer or those seeking long-or-short-term vacation rentals a viable alternative to hotels.

Affordable Sosua Villa RentalVacation rentals in the Dominican Republic are offered for every budget. House rentals in major towns such as Sosua or Cabarete are popular, as are condo rentals, particularly on the beachfront in Cabarete and Sosua. Stunning villas are also available, some fully staffed, offering fabulous amenities such as horseback riding, private beaches and mini-spas. A villa rental in the Dominican Republic will create memories that will last a lifetime.

If one is considering living in the Dominican Republic, it is advisable to rent in the area in Hill top ocean view rental villawhich one believes they will eventually settle. Selecting the type of residence, whether condo, small house or substantial villa, is important as it will provide a more realistic living experience. Select Caribbean Properties lists many long-term rentals in Cabarete, Sosua and Cabrera….and everywhere in between.

Many clients prefer to rent in established projects either on the beach, in town or in the hills behind Sosua, Cabarete or Cabrera. Selected country projects offer rentals of smaller condos, houses or villas for very reasonable rates. Many offer pools and community amenities such as tennis courts and shady kiosks for gathering with friends.

The Beachfront condo projects of Cabarete and Sosua offer magnificent groupings of Beachfront condo rental Cabarete
contemporary buildings placed around common areas, all with stunning ocean views. Your Dominican Republic vacation, whether for a week or a few months, will pass pleasurably and without stress. And the water-sports activities such as kiteboarding, windsurfing, dinghy sailing and long-or-short board surfing will fill your days with healthy fun.

 

Cabrera luxury villa rental

The pinnacle of the Dominican Republic vacation rental market is occupied by some of the most breathtaking villas in all the Caribbean. One, a 15,000 square-foot masterpiece, occupies an oceanfront cliff top near Cabrera. From this fabulous vacation villa, one wanders down a winding path to a private sandy beach. The lighted clay tennis court will have you running in the cooler hours while half a dozen horses stand ready to take you on a mountain excursion. The trained staff of ten will pamper you. It will be just as you envisioned your Dominican Republic rental villa would be…and more!

Sabine Mertes
Sabine Mertes offers real estate services with a focus on villas, farms, land and condos for sale on the north coast of the Dominican Republic

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Buying real estate in Jarabacoa

Buying real estate in Jarabacoa—there will never be a time when you wonder what you will do besides garden and play golf, though the area is excellent for both.

Dominicans call Jarabacoa (the J pronounced as an H) the city of eternal spring. It is the popular destination among the Dominican wealthy class during the summer because of its agreeable weather with annual temperatures ranging from 61 to 72 ° F (16 to 22 ° C). It is also where the Dominican Republic’s eco-tourism started.

Ferns along Pico Duarte trail

Ferns along Pico Duarte trail

An excellent area to own a vacation, retirement or rental home, it is smack dab in the middle of the country in the Cordillera Central mountain range, called by the locals, the Dominican Alps. The highest is Pico Duarte at 10, 127 feet (3,087 meters), the tallest mountain in the Caribbean and the tallest east of the Mississippi. An adventurous day or two-day trip is trekking the trails to the top. The Dominican Ministry of Environment has even built several lodges along the trail to stop and enjoy the views or to overnight.

A variety of mountain sports in the Jarabacoa area include hang gliding, hiking, dirt biking, canyoning, rappelling, and horseback riding over hill and dale and across streams.

Jarabacoa is a pre-Columbian Taino Indian name that means “land where the water flows,” a direct reference to the 20 rivers and streams that run through the area’s mountainous terrain. The largest are the Baiguate, Jimenoa and the Yaque del Norte replete with waterfalls. The rivers are excellent for white water rafting, canoeing, floating in tubes or panning for gold.

Yup, there is gold in them thar hills. Panning for gold is an adventurous day trip to take visiting family and friends.

Panning for gold in Jarabacoa

Panning for gold in Jarabacoa

Not only is it fun, it gets people outdoors into beautiful scenery. Kids love it, because it gives them a souvenir no one has back at home—gold they caught themselves. Priceless. At the current price of $1800 per ounce, it’s darn near so. Or they can cash it in to buy an iPad.

Three golf courses are nearby. Built among pine groves, the Jarabacoa Golf Club is the only course in the country in the mountains so your game will be distracted by spectacular views.

The Bonao Golf Club was originally built for the executives of a large gold mining company. It was designed by an assistant to Robert Trent Jones, Sr. who designed the Playa Dorada golf course on the north coast.

Las Aromas Santiago Golf Club (The Aromas) is about an hour’s drive to Santiago.
It has beautiful views of the city, Cibao Valley and the Yaque del Norte River. It was designed by Pete Dye during the same period when he built Teeth of the Dog on the south shore.

Jarabacoa’s social life revolves around the Parque Central with its church, casino and restaurants.

For more evening attractions, Santiago, the nation’s second largest city is not far. It has a variety of fine restaurants and the best night life in the country as well as major shopping chains such as PriceSmart.

Nearby La Vega has the most popular carnival on the island. It lasts for many weekends to the end of February on the 27th, when the country celebrates its independence from Haiti in 1844.

Las Vegas Carnaval

Ready-to-move-in real estate in Jarabacoa—this mountain home in Jarabacoa. Built in 2009, this luxury, two-story, 5382 ft² (500 m²) villa is 3000 feet above sea level. You get dynamic views of the Cordillera Central mountain range from three terraces and six bedrooms. It has a living room, dining area and den. A basement for a wine cellar complements the villa’s luxury along with the fully-equipped, professionally appointed, modern kitchen with granite counter tops. In the garden are coffee, banana, black berry and plantain plants. There is 24-hour security in the gated community within which it is located. For more information and photos please visit the page of this property for sale in Jarabacoa.

Sabine Mertes
Sabine Mertes offers real estate services with a focus on villas, farms, land and condos for sale on the north coast of the Dominican Republic

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Dominican Republic Farmland

The purchase of farmland by foreigners in the Dominican Republic, where ownership and operation of agricultural property is not only possible but encouraged, is a growing trend. There are many beautiful farms for sale on this Caribbean Island. Emerald green mountain ranges wind throughout many areas of the country. These highlands support dozens of varieties of tropical palms as well as the most delicate of orchids, bromeliads and other “air-plants”.

In valleys, rivers and streams abound. These waterways are limpid turquoise in the depths and crystal clear in the shallows. A dozen or more varieties fish and plump sweet water shrimp inhabit the island’s inland waters. Some Dominican north coast farms even touch or embrace a section of river and many of these feature white sand beaches that rival any ocean shore, giving one a lovely choice.

The soil is well-drained and rich, of volcanic origin. A wide variety of crops flourish on Dominican farms. These include bulk crops like sugarcane and rice in the lowlands and various tubers, bananas, plantains, avocadoes, citrus, melons and pineapples on hillier farms. Luxurious dark cocoa and world-class Arabica coffees grow at higher altitudes, warmed by the tropical sun and benefiting from abundant rainfall in many areas.

That same rich earth may also support farms dedicated to the raising and nurturing of animals. Beef cattle ranching is widespread in the country as is dairy farming. Other properties specialize in equestrian breeding and training, some producing world renowned Paso Fino horses. Other farm raised animals seen in the Dominican Republic include goats, sheep, poultry of all kinds and pork that is the talk of the Caribbean! At the root of successes in animal husbandry here is the fine soil and the rapid growth of all plants, including the grasses necessary for grazing animals.

An unusual but increasingly popular form of farming today involves the raising of edible fish, such as Tilapia, or sweet-water shrimp which can grow to half a pound (250g). All that is needed is an area that will hold water and support a means to control its flow. Wells, streams and rivers are constantly fed by rains at high altitudes, ensuring a steady supply of clean water.

With almost 30% of the total land area of the country suitable for crop production and about 17% of the labor force engaged in farming, agriculture remains the primary occupation of the Dominican population. For a person or group considering a farm, the Dominican Republic is a natural choice, being blessed by nature’s abundance and populated by a friendly, eager people skilled in most aspects of land use. Select Caribbean Properties is well equipped to assist you in finding your dream property.

Sabine Mertes
Sabine Mertes offers real estate services with a focus on villas, farms, land and condos for sale on the north coast of the Dominican Republic

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Dominican Republic’s North Coast Jazz Festival | Dominican Republic Real Estate

It’s the time of year, the 15th edition of the North Coast Jazz Festival in the Dominican Republic is coming up. Experience a taste of deep African and North American rhythms with an added spice that is Latino beats. Special guests will be Gem Slide from Cuba, Ismael Miranda, Jerry Medina and La Banda from Puerto Rico and Turtti Druyan from Isarael. On the 9th of November, the event will take place in Sosua’s well known Parque El Mirador, on the 10th the vibe will flow into Casa Marina located also in Sosua. The fun does not stop there. Enjoy more Jazz tunes on the 11th and 12th on Cabarete’s golden stage, the beach. Local and international artists are coming together and that makes Cabarete so unique, vibrant gem of the North Coast.

Jazz Festival  on the north coast of the Dominican Republic

Jazz Festival on the north coast of the Dominican Republic

Sabine Mertes
Sabine Mertes offers real estate services with a focus on villas, farms, land and condos for sale on the north coast of the Dominican Republic

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