Where We Travel

Dominican Republic

About The Dominican Republic

La República Dominicana es un país vibrante y acogedor donde su rica historia y cultura caribeña cobran vida a través de la música, el baile, la comida, el arte y hermosos paisajes naturales. In this safe and supportive setting, students deepen their global citizenship and explore the complex dynamics of Dominican-Haitian relations through themes of immigration. They also participate in service-learning projects that support both local communities and personal growth, giving them firsthand experience of the Dominican Republic’s strengths and challenges. Sample Itinerary Highlights:

  • Dive into Dominican culture through bachata and merengue dance classes and Carnaval mask-making.
  • Engage with local communities on Community Action Projects like building a clean water system or new school vegetable garden.
  • Explore the Dominican Republic’s natural beauty, from white sand beaches to breathtaking mountains.
  • Experience a day in the life of a local family, understanding their daily routines through cooking and storytelling.
  • Begin to understand the challenges of immigration and global food production through firsthand experiences with Haitian sugarcane workers.

Dominican Republic Program By the Numbers

DR Program Details

Our programs in the DR take place in two safe, vibrant locations that provide our students with genuine, authentic experiences and immersion in daily life beyond the beaten path.

About Constanza

Locally known as the Switzerland of the Caribbean, Constanza feels more like the Alps than a Caribbean island. At 4,000 feet above sea level, it is the city with the highest elevation in the country, and it uses this temperate climate to cultivate 80% of the agriculture (mainly strawberries, potatoes, apples, lettuce, and garlic) and 75% of the flowers produced in the Dominican Republic. The small town is also famous for organizing a rebel attack against the dictator Rafael Trujillo in 1959 along one of its winding mountain roads. Constanza’s remote location has deterred most tourism, although the locals believe that the breathtaking views, impressive waterfalls, and ecological reserves will soon turn Constanza into the next hub for national and international ecotourism. Students will enjoy exclusive use of a small family-run hotel at the entrance to town with an on-site restaurant serving some of the best food in Constanza.

Culture

Constanza is a cozy, intimate mountain community where everybody knows and interacts with everyone. Local softball games are the daily social activity, along with playing dominoes at the local colmado. Be prepared to adjust to the slower pace of life and revel in the beauty, charm but also the gritty realities of living and working in the capital of industrialized agriculture.

2025 Trip Dates

All trips are 11 days long.
Constanza 1A: June 5 – June 15
San Francisco Bay Area
Constanza 2A: June 17 – June 27
San Francisco Bay Area
Constanza 1B: June 26 – July 6
Massachusetts
Constanza 2B: July 3 – July 13
Chicago
Constanza 1C: July 11 – July 21
New York
Constanza 2C: July 18 – July 28
San Francisco
Constanza 1D: July 28 – August 7
Chicago
Constanza 2D: August 11 – August 21
New York

Our 11-day international trips are open to motivated high school juniors who want to learn more about their world.

Sample DR Itinerary

Each of our programs is a unique experience that is built on a carefully considered set of program components. Because each country and city has its own unique cultural and physical landscape, the emphasis of each component varies. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary for our Constanza, Dominican Republic program.

Day 1

Arrival to the Dominican Republic

Students are met by Global Glimpse staff at the airport in Santiago de los Caballeros and then travel by private bus up through the mountainside to Constanza. They arrive at their group accommodation, get settled, and attend our Hotel Orientation where they are introduced to our dedicated accommodations provider and staff before enjoying their first Dominican “cena.” Before bed, they have their first nightly meeting to discuss the day’s events and prepare for the next day!
Day 2

History / City Tour

Students begin the day with a Culture and Safety Orientation and team-building activities. They get to know their Global Glimpse Program Coordinators and together take a walking tour around the city, learning the history of Constanza through a photo scavenger hunt. The tour begins at the “Plazoleta” where students are introduced to statues of the founders of the Dominican Republic in front of an active military base and ends at the local baseball diamond, where they share a snack with local community members. Students close the day with a discussion about how history impacts the present and prepare for the next day.
Day 3

Cultural Fun Day

Students start the morning with a Mental warm-up to learn some background on the artists they will meet and generate questions for them. The morning is dedicated to a mask-making workshop with a local Carnaval leader. Students explore how Carnaval represents Dominican culture while creating their own masks with clay and paper maché to take back home. For lunch, students eat their first “Bandera,” a delicious typical Dominican staple composed of white rice, beans, salad, and meat. In the afternoon, they are joined by a renowned dance instructor to learn typical dance styles of the country, bachata, merengue, and salsa. The day closes with a discussion on how societies are impacted by culture and explore their own cultural roots.
Day 4

Aid & Development

Students are introduced to the partner organization that they will be working with on their service-learning project and spend the day understanding the mission of the organization and the needs they are addressing. The students then participate in a workshop to discuss how they will design and deliver their project in partnership with the local organization. They are then introduced to a community partner whose work supports social and economic sustainability rural communities. Through their discussion, students gain insight into the key factors of sustainable community development. In the afternoon, they break up into small focus groups to interview community members to identify community needs and resources to support the Community Action Project (CAP).
Day 5

Working in Community/Global Business

Students wake up early and take a trip to a local greenhouse where they learn hands-on what it takes to harvest cucumbers by spending time with workers and learning about their stories and aspirations. In the afternoon, they follow the cucumbers they harvested to an international exporting company where they see how cucumbers are inspected, cleaned, and sorted by quality. Soon after, they go into their “Design” seminar where they discuss and choose the most sustainable CAP project based on their interviews the day before and develop a panel presentation for their CAP partners. At the end of the day, students reflect on globalization, fair trade, and the impacts of corporations on the lives of workers.
Day 6

Adventure Fun Day

Students head to “El Arroyazo” a natural reserve nestled into the mountain near Constanza where students enjoy nature, relax, have a picnic lunch, and enjoy cool waters in a natural spring river. In the evening, they head to the famous “Divino Niño” an iconic statue at the peak of the mountain to take in the breathtaking landscape. Students finish the day with their nightly meetings in preparation for the next day’s events.
Day 7

Community Day

On this day students experience and share a full day in the life of a family in the Cañada de las Palmas community. They experience what it is like to live as the majority of the world does; no running water or electricity. Their food portions and menu throughout the day reflect that of the families with whom they share the day. Through partaking in daily household chores, they build powerful relationships with local families who open their homes to small groups of students, each with a student interpreter to guide the conversation. In the evening students reflect as a group on the question of inequality and the larger concept of global poverty. This experience helps students clarify their thoughts on service and prepares them for their community action project.
Day 8

Immigration Day

Students spend the morning at a Bateye (a small town where sugar cane workers live) sharing stories and learning of the endeavors Haitian families endure when immigrating to the Dominican Republic and how political and national situations have influenced their decision to leave their country for a new life. They also learn how to make bracelets that are sold as a means of income. In the afternoon, students share stories, laughs, and lots of dancing moments with leaders in the Haitian community of Colonia Kennedy, a neighborhood of Constanza. They end their days with discussions during nightly meetings reflecting on current immigration policies in the US and how they relate to immigration politics in the DR.
Day 9

Community Action Project Planning

Students prepare and facilitate a panel presentation to the key community members and technical experts of the Community Action Project. Projects range from construction to marketing to event planning and more, but a focus on providing our students with a model for sustainable development and community ownership of the project is our primary concern. The students present how their unique skills can be assets for the project and the community provides feedback on timeline, tools, and materials needed for a successful execution.
Day 10

Community Action Project Delivery

During the final week of the program, students have to work together to deliver their Community Action Project. They learn to delegate roles and responsibilities, manage a budget, and set goals. Students work alongside locals to deliver their community action project.
Day 11

Closing Reflection

Students have a chance to enjoy their last day in Constanza and purchase souvenirs for family and friends. Students participate in a structured closing reflection workshop where they reflect on all they have learned and experienced during their GG journey. They have an opportunity to appreciate others for their contributions (GG Leaders, Coordinators, and their peers.) They spend time evaluating the program and identifying how they will keep the GG spirit alive back home as Alumni Ambassadors.

DR Program FAQs

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