Depart
At 6:45 in the morning, I double-checked my checklist to ensure I had everything we needed: a cooler, water, cola, Sprite, orange juice, sandwiches, yogurt, cookies, plates, cups, napkins, spoons, and the souvenirs. I believed I had everything except ice for the cooler, but we planned to purchase it from a Colmado.
By 7:00 am, we departed in a minibus headed to Amber Cove to collect our five guests from the Horizon Carnival Cruise. We had to wait outside the port on the main road because only the major companies with exclusive contracts with Carnival had access to pick up passengers closer to the cruise ship. Those tours could be booked through Carnival at a significantly higher price than the local tour sellers (who offered the same tour with the same insurance for a lower cost). To locate us, tourists had to walk for about 10 to 15 minutes to reach the port’s entrance.
At Amber Cove Cruise Terminal
Nancy was the first to arrive at the bus; she waited for the others in the comfortable bus with a cold drink. Around 8:45 am, we had Nancy, Sandra, Kathi, and Sara. Unfortunately, Melissa wasn’t feeling well and decided to remain on board the ship. With cold drinks in hand, we set off for Luperon. The road offered breathtaking panoramic views, and we passed through some typical Dominican villages. Just before reaching Coconut Haven, we encountered some cows that stopped us in our tracks, as they were blocking the road and didn’t seem inclined to move.
Coconut Haven
Kim from Coconut Haven was there to welcome us. The tour began with a visit to the quarantine area, where we met some dogs. Kim then took us to the surgery room, where she explained the procedures they perform for abandoned and injured dogs and cats found on the streets. There were two adorable kittens, approximately 8 weeks old, waiting for adoption, and a dog with three tiny puppies. The mother dog was incredibly sweet and allowed us to cuddle with her puppies. The tour continued to the main building, where they had about 8 units, all filled with dogs. In two of the units, we had the opportunity to cuddle with mother dogs and their puppies. They were all so playful that I felt like adopting every one of them.
Leaving the puppies and going for lunch was a tough decision, but after lunch, we took some of the dogs for a walk. At 2:00 pm, it was time to bid farewell as we had to return to Amber Cove. It was a fantastic day, and our four guests thoroughly enjoyed it.
Written by Bianca
For more information for this tour:
https://elbiatourspuertoplata.com/coconut-hound-haven-charity-tour/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlJBeSB-cNk
