After a incredibly relaxing day at the beach and the poolside bars at the Riu Republica, it was time to explore some of the nearby activities.
We set off on our dune buggy adventure organized by Signature Vacations. On vacation, I like simple and easy and our friendly driver Jose took us directly to our awaiting adventure. We arrived and I was excited by the Polaris dune buggies. These appeared to have some serious "get up & go", and I was right!
We arrived at a small village where we stopped for some refreshments. They also had an amazing shop selling local goods including: coffee, cacao, vanilla, cinnamon, green tea, oregano and Mamajuana. No, read carefully! Not the green stuff, but a locally produced alcohol that reportedly has aphrodisiac-like powers. Curious, I asked what was in it. It consists of 2 parts honey, 3 parts wine and 5 parts alcohol. Where I come from wine = alcohol, so that would make it 8 parts by my math, but they count alcohol differently here apparently.
And if you are a coffee lover, it is paradise times 2! Fresh roasted coffee beans prepared in front of your eyes. The smell was heavenly and the taste was too! Somehow, the authenticity of this experience cheapened my Starbucks addiction (although that ain’t a cheap addiction by any stretch).
The next stop was cave swimming. With the Caribbean sun warming up, the fresh waters were a welcome way to cool off and relax. Afterwards, one of the local boys offered me a photo with his pet iguana. Somehow his laughter and charming smile allowed him to perch his amphibian on my head. I still am surprised, but I laugh everytime I see the photo. Several small restaurants provided home made meals and a cold cerveza perfectly capped of the swim break.
With that, we completed the dune buggy trip and headed back to the Riu Republica for the afternoon. Now the big decision was a siesta or a margarita at Aquamar, the swim up bar? Life is tough. :)
Check out the rest of our journey with Signature Vacations in the three-part series:
Part One | Part Two | Part Three
RIU Republica & Signature Vacations: Part Two
A Dune Buggy Excursion with Signature Vacations
Trend Themes
1. Dune Buggy Adventures - Opportunity to develop innovative and exciting dune buggy tours in different destinations, incorporating cultural and gastronomic experiences along the way.
2. Local Goods and Beverages - Promoting local goods and beverages like coffee, cacao, vanilla, cinnamon, and Mamajuana as unique travel experiences in different parts of the world.
3. Swim and Cave Adventures - Opportunity to develop swim and cave adventure packages that cater to tourists who want to experience outdoor activities and explore natural attractions.
Industry Implications
1. Tourism - The tourism industry can develop unique and exciting packages that combine cultural, gastronomic, and outdoor activities to attract new tourists.
2. Beverage - The beverage industry can cater to the growing demand for locally produced and authentic drinks, like Mamajuana, that offer unique and exotic flavors.
3. Retail - Retail industries can leverage the popularity of locally produced goods and handcrafted items as travel souvenirs, offering something unique and authentic to customers.