We arrived after a hair raising drive through Santiago to the hidden jem that is Jarabacoa. After a week in Sosua this was a refreashing change of scenery. The hotel is pretty hard to find as there are no signs off the main road so make sure you can speak enough spanish to ask for directions. The road leading up to the resort is a bumpy gravel road but once you get to the resort it is worth the effort. We arrived and were the only 4 people at the resort, which is odd considering how amazing the food and service turned out to be. The weather is about 10 degrees colder than the beach so dress warm, and caution booking the spa if it is cold as the wind makes the experience reminicent of an outdoor spa in Canada. The Karaoke bar was rocking, and the staff went above and beyond looking for English speaking music. For 250 pesos you can buy a tourist map from the reception, and I recomend it, we ended up seeing 2 of the most amazing waterfalls in the Caribbean. The view from our suite was amazing, the rapids on the Jimenoa river played in the background as we enjoyed cervesa's on the patio. Overall I recomend this hotel for anyone who wants quite elegance away from the relentless vendors and crowded beaches that are easy to fond on the DR.

The waiter at the restaurant brought three beers to the table and placed four on the bill. He used the 3rd beer to fill both glasses. The were the small beers and we were charged over twice the market price for the beers. Additionally, beans were 75 Rd extra along wtih salad at 165 Rd. The bill was 1600 Rd for lunch. I have nothing good to say about the restaurant.

It's a lovely place to stay and enjoy the views of this region that some call "the Dominican Alps". It's near the small town of Jarabacoa, but one feels completely in the middle of the jungle, next to a scenic mountain river, the Jimenoa.
Not the cheaper hotel for Dominican Republic, at least compared with the prices one pays in the great beach resorts of the country, but I guess that I could have paid much less if I had made a reservation not directly at the hotel.

We were staying at the Pinar Dorado and were pretty disappointed in our choice. We had reservations for 4 days. On the 2nd day, we decided to go to The Gran Jimenoa for dinner after hearing many good things about it. The moment we got there we were upset...........upset that we had not chosen this place instead. And that feeling got worse and worse the more we checked the place out.
The oriental style garden and the landscape was so beautiful. Even at night.
The walkway along the river was stone and tile and really pretty.
The hanging bridge gave us a really great view of the entire river as well as the hotel and restaurant.
Dinner was good. A bit pricey but good.
Room was fantastic. View of the river from the balcony. Nice chairs and little table on the balcony. GREAT bed. Lots of storage space. Not the biggest room ever but it was ok for the 2 of us with one bed. TV mounted on the ceiling/wall was cool.
Pool was really nice.
No hot tub yet, still working on it.
Ping pong and pool were fun at night.
GREAT staff, very helpful. After we ate dinner that night we asked to reserve a room starting that night for the next 2 days and they helped make it happen. As well as getting us taxis whenever we needed it.
A motorcoche to town was only a couple bucks for the two of us. And it was fun. The desk can call for you and the people they called who came and got us were safe, fair, and polite.
There is a building across the river, crossing over on the hanging bridge, that does karaoke and dancing if thats up your alley.
Over all, a really really great place to relax in a clean, friendly, tasty, peaceful, comfortable, and beautiful environment.