Punta Cana countryside safari: Tobacco, cigars and a local home

Tobacco fields, cigar masters, a mountaintop lunch and horses in the shade

This guided countryside safari from Punta Cana takes you into the Anamuya mountains by open-air truck to see how tobacco is harvested and cigars are rolled by hand, eat lunch at a pavilion restaurant, visit a local family's home, and ride horses through rural Dominican landscape. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the guide speaks English, Spanish or French.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dominican countryside safari and culture

• Board safari truck from Punta Cana hotel
• Drive through Anamuya mountains countryside
• See horses, donkeys, hens, and bulls grazing
• Learn tobacco harvesting and cigar rolling
• Enjoy buffet lunch with drinks
• Visit Dominican home and meet local family
• Taste tropical fruits, coffee, cacao, and mamajuana
• End day at Anamuya river waters

The experience

You board an open-air safari-style truck at your Punta Cana or Bavaro hotel and head into the Anamuya mountains. The ride itself is part of the day: pastel-colored cottages dot the countryside, and you'll see horses, donkeys, hens and bulls grazing in the shade while your guide talks through what you're passing. The truck stops at a trapiche, where master craftsmen who've learned the trade across generations show you how tobacco is harvested and rolled into cigars by hand, and you get to watch the whole process up close.

Lunch happens at a mountaintop restaurant pavilion with a buffet of Dominican food, beer, rum and non-alcoholic drinks. After eating, you visit a typical Dominican home to meet a local family. They offer fresh tropical fruits just picked, organic coffee brewed that morning, pure cacao, and if you want it, mamajuana. A Dominican drink made with rum, red wine and honey. The visit is genuine. You're a guest in their space, not a photo stop.

The day ends at the Anamuya river, where you get time in the water before heading back. The whole tour runs eight hours from pickup to drop-off, and it moves at a pace that lets you absorb each stop instead of rushing through a checklist. A professional guide travels with you the entire time, and the truck's open-air design means you're not watching the countryside through glass.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Punta Cana or Bavaro.
• professional guide in English, Spanish or French.
• open-air safari-style truck for the full route.
• cigar rolling demonstration at the trapiche.
• buffet lunch with Dominican dishes.
• beer, rum and non-alcoholic drinks.
• visit to a local family home with tropical fruits, organic coffee and cacao.
• horseback riding in the countryside.
• time at the Anamuya river.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 22

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Runners Adventures

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to move beyond the beach and see how rural Dominicans live and work: the cigar workshop, the family home visit and the horseback riding through the countryside are the core of the day, not add-ons. The eight-hour length and open-air truck mean you're spending real time in each place instead of collecting quick stops.

Traveler reviews

4.82★★★★★★★★★★

578 verified traveler reviews

5 ★520

4 ★34

3 ★11

2 ★4

1 ★9

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly do I see at the tobacco plantation and cigar workshop?

At the trapiche, master craftsmen demonstrate how tobacco is harvested from the fields and then rolled into cigars by hand, using methods passed down through generations. You watch the full process and learn why Dominican tobacco is sought after for cigar-making.

Is the lunch included, and what kind of food is served?

Yes, lunch is a buffet at a mountaintop pavilion restaurant with Dominican dishes, plus beer, rum and non-alcoholic drinks included. After the meal, you visit a local family's home where they serve fresh tropical fruits, organic coffee, cacao and optional mamajuana.

Do I need to be an experienced rider to gallop on this tour?

The tour includes a paseo a caballo (horseback riding) in the countryside, but the operator notes the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. If you have spinal injuries, are pregnant, or have cardiovascular concerns, this tour is not recommended.

What's included in the price, and do I need to arrange my own transport?

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Punta Cana or Bavaro are included, along with the guide, lunch, all beverages, the cigar workshop visit, the family home visit and the horseback riding. You don't arrange transport yourself.

How long is the whole tour, and what time does it start?

The tour runs eight hours total. Your guide will speak English, Spanish or French depending on which you choose at booking.

What is the Anamuya river like at the end of the day?

The Anamuya river is where the tour concludes, giving you time to swim or wade in the water after the morning and midday activities. It's a natural finish to the day in the mountains.