Are you dreaming of settling in La Vega but not sure where to start? In this article, you will find valuable tips to help you find accommodation in this Dominican province easily. We know what area is the best and also how to land a contract for the home of your dreams.
The region of La Vega
One of the major Dominican provinces, La Vega, was founded in 1495 by the famous Christopher Columbus himself. Since then, it has been transformed into a developed and dynamic region but still holds its enormous historical and cultural heritage. Note that La Vega's economy is based on different sectors, namely sugar cane cultivation, agriculture, as well as industry, and trade, thus providing numerous career prospects.
If you intend to move there, finding accommodation will be one of your main concerns. Also, make sure to inquire about its different neighborhoods so as to determine which one would suit you best.
La Vega is among the most popular choices of expats. The province stretches over almost 2.300 square kilometers and is nestled in the center of the Dominican Republic. The most significant difference from other favorite regions is that instead of picture-perfect beaches, you will find yourself surrounded by mountains and a lot of greens, which also have their charms! The main cities are Constanzam Jarabacoa and Jima Abajo, and the most well-known and fourth biggest city in the country is La Vega.
It might be set in the mountains of the Dominican Republic. Still, it also offers a range of career opportunities for expats from all over the world, as tourism is one of the main pillars of the economy. You can find out more about how to get a job in our article “Work in La Vega” and also more general info in “Work in the Dominican Republic”.
The economic situation of La Vega
The primary source of income is definitely the agricultural sector in this region. As it is perfect due to its higher position for growing veggies, rice, coffee, horticulture, and all sorts of farming, it has become one of the country's most valuable parts. The soil and climate offer excellent conditions all year round for a diversity of plants, including bananas, citric fruits, cocoas, foreign vegetables (mainly Chinese ones), and also flowers, beans, potatoes, and rice.
Farming mainly consists of beef breeding, poultry, livestock, and pork. Not only do locals consume the meat, but it is also exported. Milk is a valuable export that brings in quite some money.
As to the higher demand for other products due to the ever-growing tourism industry, the manufacturing industry has also increased significantly. Primarily through textiles and unique forms of tourism like eco-tourism, which offers a variety of tour packages to their guests.
Choosing the La Vega region as your main spot can provide you with great job opportunities if you bring enough qualifications.
Neighborhoods of La Vega
Located almost in the middle of the Dominican Republic, La Vega is one of the country's 32 provinces. It is also one of the country's third-biggest cities, 20 minutes from Santiago, one hour from Santo Domingo, and 30 minutes from Jarabacao. La Vega is divided into two regions: the mountainous region and the lower region, as well as four municipalities, namely La Vega, its capital city, Jima Abajo Jarabacoa, Constanza, and provincial Cabecera. Note that La Vega has been nicknamed the Caribbean Alps as mountains surround it.
Being one of the country's most ancient cities, La Vega is a vibrant cultural city as it is visited by tourists in large numbers every year. In fact, the city hosts many places of interest, such as the La Vega Viega, which are ancient colonial ruins. You also have the El Santo Cerro, the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, the Patron of the Dominican Republic, its protected areas, Scientific Ebony Reserves, and Valle Nuevo, among others.
You will find many clubs, bars, and restaurants in the city center. Cultural events are regularly hosted, such as the Carnival, which is celebrated every year in April. As you may have noted, there is so much to do in La Vega during your leisure time that you will definitely not get bored!
Finally, the city hosts many private local schools, as well as two universities, namely the Universidad Católica Tecnológica del Cibao (UCATECI) and the UNPHU, Recinto La Vega. These might probably influence your choice in terms of accommodation.
Finding accommodation in La Vega
Once you are accustomed to the different neighborhoods, you can start looking for accommodation. Note, however, that it is best to be on the spot so that you can visit the housing unit and negotiate with the owner in case you choose not to go through a real estate agency, but ideally, real estate agencies will handle all related formalities on your behalf, especially if you do not master Spanish.
In general, you are required to have a sufficient budget to pay the security deposit as well as the requested advance, which is equal to a month's rent, or three months in some cases. The conditions mentioned in the lease contract apply to all regions across the country.
Good to know:
La Vega is ideal for foreigners seeking nature and modernity. Most expatriates have settled in nearby tourist areas, mainly due to the beaches and warm temperatures.
Pros and cons of living in La Vega
Like any other place in the world, La Vega also has its ups and downs that you should consider before committing.
Let's focus on the good things first. So, obviously, if you are a fan of mountainous terrain and waking up amidst lush green hills and forests, this region might be exactly what you are looking for.
Also, its capital, La Vega, seems to be quite a modern and well-infrastructured city that offers some perks. Not only is the market for rental flats way more prominent, but you can also enjoy the positive aspects of having a lot more choice of restaurants, cultural opportunities, etc., than elsewhere. If you still do not know many people, you can easily connect with someone as it is a major expat hub with a big community. The people mostly speak English due to it being one of the most touristy parts of the country. Nevertheless, if you are looking to find a job here, you will definitely have to learn Spanish.
One downside is that even if you live on a paradisiac island, you are not exactly close to the ocean. So, if your goal is to spend your life by the beach, this could be troublesome in La Vega. It does come with caves and waterfalls, but this might still not be exactly what you are looking for. With the big city life comes a lot of noise, traffic, and many people. So, for fans of quiet nature and lonesome valleys, you should look for something outside of the city of La Vega. Prices will also be increased compared to more remote areas of the country, also due to the higher demand being a major tourist hot spot.
Healthcare in La Vega
La Vega offers six different hospitals from which you can choose in case of an emergency. The good thing is that some of them are even among the best hospitals in the entire country, so you can be sure you're in the best hands!
The first one is Centro de Salud Integral y Desarollo, located on Calle Concepción Taveras Esq. Joaquín Gómez (phone number 809-573-2521). Another really good one is Hospital Municipal Dr Juan Antonio Castillo on Wilson Valdez (phone number 809-691-6178).
The two last ones that made it to our list are Hospital Municipal Jima Abajo on C/ La Frontera, Los Cerros, Jima Abajo (phone number 849-365-2832) and Hospital Municipal Octavia Gautier de Vidal on Mario Nelson Galan #01, Jarabacoa (phone number 809-574-2866).
All of these hospitals have only received the best patient ratings and are all multispeciality hospitals, meaning they cover many different health areas. They accept many types of insurance, but it is always best to check in with them before admitting yourself to see if your insurance is on their list as well. Whatever outstanding balance you might have to pay out of your pocket can usually be paid with credit cards, debit cards, or cash. Although this might differ from one hospital to another, ask beforehand to avoid surprises.
Schooling and kindergarten in La Vega
Children might also be involved if you bring your entire family to live with you in La Vega, whether they are already born or maybe join you in a not-so-distant future.
So when choosing a place to live, of course, it is also imperative to know about the options for your little ones.
One thing you will notice right from the start when browsing through the lists of schools is that many of them are Christian or Catholic schools, some of them private, others supported by an NGO and also public ones.
If you are looking for something more alternative for your kids, sending them to a Montessori School could be a good option. In La Vega, there is one that is called Escuela de Maria Montessori, located on Carr. Terrero. For more info, you can call them at 1 809-573-5024.
One of the private schools that we have found to be very popular is the Colegio Augustiniano La Vega R.D. on Av. Prof. Juan Bosch 100. They have a pretty good website to give you insights about the school, the system, their sports team, etc.
Kids have to pass an admission exam in order to establish their level of knowledge, and the price for it is 500 Dominican Pesos per child.
You have four different options to pay the tuition fee:
- annual payment (which gives you a special discount between 3% and 6%);
- per semester;
- every trimester;
- on a monthly basis.
If you have three kids that want to attend this school, your youngest will get a 50% discount. Starting from four children, the youngest enjoys free education.
If you want to get in touch with them, you can visit their website, call them (809-573-2468), or send them an e-mail via info@agustinianolavega.edu.do.
The Colegio Augustiniano La Vega even comes with its own Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.
A high school that seems to be pretty good, according to the ratings, is the James Davis Christian High School. It is located on Carlos Maria Sanchez Street, just a bit outside of the center of La Vega. You can give them a call (1 809-242-3382) or directly see them and ask your questions.
Kindergarten or preschool is usually called “guarderia”, “estancia infantil”, or simply “Colegio Prescolar”, but they are pretty much all the same.
One of them that has caught our attention is the Guarderia las 3 YYY on Av. Alfredo Peralta Michel. Unfortunately, most of the kindergartens in La Vega do not seem to operate their own website, but you can directly visit them or call them (1 809-512-0471).
Whichever school type you are choosing in the end, make sure that you also ask around. Maybe someone you know can also point you in the right direction. Also, it is essential to ask the school if they offer orientation days for your kids so they can experience what their school day would look like firsthand.
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