These pictures are taken from a trip to the Dominican Republic I recently took on a medical mission to Guayabal, a small town located in the mountains approximatley 4 hours northwest of Santo Domingo. The roads were generally OK, although the last stretch into Guayabal was not paved, and would be treacherous in a rainstorm. The people were friendly and willing to show us their surroundings. There are many opportunities for hiking and exploring in the mountains. The beach at Biyeya, which is about 30 miles west of Santo Domingo, was gorgeous and uncrowded. Our group were the only people there on a Sunday around noon. The little restaurant there was simple, but provided showers, food, and drink. Am not sure about availability of lodging, but if you are interested in 2 or 3 day excursion outside of Santo Domingo and seeing how most of the people live in this area, I would recommend going west from Santo Domingo and then heading north to the area around San Juan.