Hi Love,

I haven't stayed here you might want to take a look at:

www.villaiguana.de/bayahibe_village.htm

The Villa Iguana in Bayahibe, I think our member Kaki has stayed there and enjoyed it if I remember correctly.

Happy Travels,

bb/mt

Love...

Also the Casa Daniel Dive School has guest accomodations:

http://casadaniel.tripod.com/guesthouse.htm

Hope this is helpful,

bb/mt

I've stayed at Villa Iguana a few times, the most recent being one night, Saturday, July 5! I was there for 10 days in January though and have a pretty full album of pictures of my time at the guesthouse and in Bayahibe posted at travel.webshots.com/album/563221847ytecdr

My favourite accommodation is the one bedroom suite shown in those pictures. "My" room is on the third floor which allows more air to move through the windows than the similar suite on the 2nd floor. Both have a small but accommodating balcony with a view over the street to the east and south and out to sea. The ceiling fan and strategic blind and window opening has had me comfortable in that room, but on July 5 I had a nice smaller room with air conditioning. After the day I was having, it was appreciated but I didn't really need it. That room was quieter and darker than the apartment for a late lie in. I didn't really hear the dogs and roosters at all, and facing west there was no morning sun creeping in.

My friend booked the rooftop penthouse in January and you'll see pictures of it in the album too. It is just the bedroom but has a really large bathroom, and then you have the entire floor to yourself including terrace and a small pool. A really grand situation. It can accommodate 2 plus 1 people as my friend had (with roll away bed).

The owners of Villa Iguana have some ideas for the future so the guesthouse will continue to get better. When were you considering your stay?

There are other options in Bayahibe, like Hotel Bayahibe which will offer you a fine stay in a more traditional motel style, but I like the character of Villa Iguana and since you describe a desire for "quaint", Villa Iguana is perfect for that where Hotel Bayahibe is lacking. You're given keys to the main gate at Villa Iguana and come and go like it's your home and not a hotel. There is a fruit/vegetable/egg and cerveza stand across the street and the main colmado is around the corner. The gua gua which can take you to Dominicus or La Romana is across from the colmado.

Depending on season and room you want, the prices at Villa Iguana run from $25 a night for a simple room (private bathroom and hot water, which isn't a given at all accommodations in Bayahibe) to $100 a night for the penthouse. All rooms are well decorated and immaculately clean, and breakfast comes with most rooms or is an option. You can speak to Martina if you'd like to have breakfast. I think the price is about $5 extra if it's not included in the room you booked (it's not included when you have the apartment, which has a stove, coffee maker, fridge, oven, and dishes so it's easy to take care of your own needs if you choose to do so, as I did).

I may be returning to the guesthouse in October since I can't afford my Dominican habit and have to alternate a stay at Casa del Mar with a less expensive option. I booked my flight using frequent flyer miles and will have to see what I can afford for a room!! I look forward to another very homey stay at Villa Iguana, feeling like a true Bayahibe citizen roaming the streets like a local, greeting the regulars along the unpaved roads and at the beach.

Let me know if you have any questions about this very special village. There are a bunch of Bayahibe pictures tossed into the middle of my Casa del Mar album from April, including the neighborhood of Villa Iguana.

Kaki

Thanks so much oncse again, I don't know what I would do without your knowledge!

Just a few more questions,

How far is the beach and how is the snorkeling?

Are there good restaurants close by (I love food!)

What is the typical fare served?

I love how thee Village Iquana looks, ( although personally when I go to the Caribbean, I like to be pampered and my heart is in CDM, but it is my once a ear trip with my daughter and now that she is 19 mand on the other side of the coast, I want her to be happy.

She will love what you said about being part of the Culture, so as long as there is really good food (esp. seafood forme & I actually have her talked into eating fish again! and a great beach, I will be happy.

We are going the 1st week in Sept. (Iam last minute in booking my vacations)

Have a wonderful day,

L

>>How far is the beach and how is the snorkeling?<<

L, there is this small very unused beach about 2 blocks from the Villa: …webshots.com/photo/2056950360064234328duzTbS I can easily give you directions or show you on a map-like picture I have how you would get there. There is this water access which can allow you to easily get into the water: …webshots.com/photo/2916774810064234328oYXrxU You can see that it's small and narrow, but if you're the only ones on the beach, it'll be great! …webshots.com/photo/2515803010064234328ISwFPv The sunset from this area is very romantic!

If you lap around the bay, you'll come to the main boat embarkation beach pictured here: …webshots.com/photo/2009831820064234328fNwcng It's rocky and pretty active and not one I'm suggesting you use for your relaxation, but rather as a landmark. If you then continue in that loop up the coast, you'll get to the boat beach pictured here: …webshots.com/photo/2581374820064234328ulfHCd Having been to Casa del Mar, you're familiar with all of this but I'd suggest that the local beach you'd get the most flexibility from would be the one beside CDM. The walk from Villa Iguana to the public beach takes no more than 10 minutes. You can also catch the gua gua and take the 10 minute drive to the stop in front of the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace in Dominicus and use the public beach there, between the Viva and the Iberostar. You can see it here: …webshots.com/photo/2316204460064234328Eqnxma The beach isn't very large and there isn't as much shade as at the CDM public beach, and the vendors are much closer, but the sand is unbelievable and the beach is beautiful for a change.

I think the snorkeling is best from the CDM public beach and better at the reefs in Bayahibe than in Dominicus but lots of people have a good snorkeling experience there so I'd definitely try both areas. You will have access to lots of snorkeling excursions while in the village though, and I'd definitely recommend you head to Catalinita Island in the Catuana Straight. Seavis Bayahibe took me and I'd recommend that outing.

>>Are there good restaurants close by (I love food!) What is the typical fare served?<<

There are LOTS of dining options in Bayahibe, most specializing in seafood, and pico pollo--fried chicken! I haven't tried them all by any means but I've had some food at some and I've stopped for a cerveza in others. Ringing the beach, and pictured in most of the shots linked above, are Barco Bar Cafe, La Bahia, Mare Nostrum, Bamboo Beach Bar Restaurant Grill, La Punta, Leidy on the public beach, Cafecito Cubana, and the snacks next door to the lawyers and notary publics at Calasin. If you go down the main road you will find some great (what I call) street food. I can point you to one that I recommended for the fried chicken/plaintain chip staples, but also more Dominican fare like pig's feet and rice. It's worth walking by and seeing what they have in their chafing dishes on the day. You get your food and can eat at the tables under the big tree, or can take it back to your room at the guesthouse or eat at the beach. Picture: …webshots.com/photo/2223406840064234328udXXLP

Of the list, Mare Nostrum is what I'd call the finest dining but where you can get a good deal on some of the other places, it won't be really cheap there. A beer runs about $6 and entrees are between $10 and $15. The view is spectacular though, and you should be able to find something on the menu that would make it a memorable evening. These shots were taken from the 2nd floor balcony of Mare Nostrum: …webshots.com/photo/2122029530064234328CFQQcl

I also recommend a read through the menu at Casino Dominicus. They have an Asian restaurant there, Fujiyama, and an Italian restaurant (much of the Dominican southeast is Italian!) called Vesuvio. The Bayahibe portion of their website isn't up yet, but you can take a look at the info on their Santo Domingo restaurant which has been open for over 50 years. http://www.vesuvio.com.do/web/ The pictures of the food give you a glimpse into what you might be served. You can also opt for the simpler fare at the Casino Sports Bar. I recommend the Sancocho soup, thick and rich and full of meat and potatoes that fortify and satisfy. It's served with a side of rice which some like to put into the soup, but I have adopted the manner of my friend who takes spoonfuls of soup and pours it over the rice instead. You can catch a free shuttle to the Casino about every half hour through the evening into the early morning hours. It collects people in front of the Hotel Bayahibe. …webshots.com/photo/2448461440064234328IQNPop

>>I love how thee Village Iquana looks, ( although personally when I go to the Caribbean, I like to be pampered and my heart is in CDM, but it is my once a ear trip with my daughter and now that she is 19 mand on the other side of the coast, I want her to be happy.<<

You well know that my heart is firmly at Casa del Mar, but I really love having the experience of being in the area and to get to know the way of life like you don't when on a resort for a week. The drive from the airport and going on a half-day excursion is a start, but I want more! Being off the resort hones your Spanish too which I really like. I enjoy going to the fruit/veg stand and asking for an "aguacate maduro" (avocado) and it's very amazing when they actually understand me! Some are happy with resort life and travel for years staying at the hotel or going on only hotel sponsored excursions to pre-determined tourist sites. I'm not a real adventurer and backpacker, but I love the option of having Villa Iguana pampering while pretending I'm one of the people.

You may also want to do what I did in January, and get a day pass for CDM during your week in Bayahibe. You can have a bit of pampering and some wonderful blender drinks and take a water aerobics class, before heading back to Bayahibe in time for the sunset. You can leave your daughter to her own devices and head over when you feel you need what only CDM can offer.

I look forward to hearing more about your plans as time passes between now and September!

Kaki