Jarabacoa in 48 hours: ribs, coffee and river

Jarabacoa has always been that destination coastal hoteliers look at with envy: cool climate, deep green scenery and food that steals your heart. The Ministry of Tourism published a feature that tours the so-called "city of eternal spring" in 48 hours, and the title says it all: you leave hungry for its wood-fired ribs, high-altitude coffee and river.

The MITUR feature drops you at the entrance of town and doesn't let go. It proposes an itinerary starting with a country-style breakfast, followed by a dip in a cold-water jump (Baiguate or Jimenoa, depending on the day), and ending with ribs cooked over wood fire right in front of you. Yes, Jarabacoa coffee sneaks into every stop.

My take: this is exactly what we need to break the Sun and Beach monopoly. MITUR focusing on mountain destinations proves Dominican tourism is more than Punta Cana. Here the traveler looks for authenticity, cool air on the neck and a plate of food that tastes like tradition. Jarabacoa has it all. The 48-hour route is designed for both domestic and international travelers who already know the beach and want something different. Kudos to MITUR, kudos to the local entrepreneurs who keep the wood-fired ribs flame alive. Now all we need is for domestic airlines to add a direct flight from Punta Cana. That would be a true win-win.