Tubagua | Ocean View - Located in Exquisite Norte/Cibao with Concierge Services

About Property

About Us

Tim Hall first came to the D.R. in 1983 as a journalist to write a feature for the Toronto Star about Playa Dorada, the new tourist destination in Puerto Plata. He was a young Canadian lad, who, like so many who have chosen the expat life, came back again and again until he finally stayed.
Tim began by writing for the country’s only English-language newspaper, Santo Domingo News. He went on to publish a local Spanish-language newspaper and to produce a tourism-related TV show. Although his talents as a scribe are still sought after, Tim has learned the lesson of the Caribbean: survival depends on wearing more than one hat. His restaurant, Cafe Cito gained renown during its time as a fun, funky expat hangout. In 2008, he opened the doors of the Tubagua Plantation Eco-Village in the mountains behind Puerto Plata. He is also the North Coast’s Canadian Honorary Consul, explaining, “I was appointed in 1988, after a phone call that woke me up on my 30th birthday. It’s been two decades now and there’s lots of stories to tell.”
Sitting over dinner, he reminisces. “In 1982, charter flights started bringing planeloads of tourists to Playa Dorada, to this virgin region where they built the country’s first all-inclusive resorts. During that first tidal wave of tourists, local fishermen were getting pulled off their boats to wait on tables, delivering dinners like surf ‘n’ turf, and getting raked over coals by some fancy tourist when a steak wasn’t medium-rare. At the time, nobody knew about medium-rare. Yet Dominicans have amazing resilience, and the ability to smile whether the tip is 10 pesos or 10 dollars.”
Today, interesting new things are happening in the region, he says. “People are learning this isn’t just a beach resort destination; there is a growing interest in eco-tourism, and people are discovering the real Dominican Republic. They’re also realizing that there’s a real sense of community for visitors on the North Coast.” Tax and cost of living benefits are attracting more expat retirees, including a strong contingent of boomers. As Canada’s Honorary Consul and as host at his mountain lodge, Tim is a central figure.
“One of the things I enjoy most is sharing the things I’ve discovered living here… the best local rums and the hand-rolled cigars that are among the top in the world… the fresh foods and local recipes… the hidden-away places that most tourists don’t get to see.” For example, his standing offer at his Tubagua Ecolodge is that if you spend your first two days there, Tim will use his insider’s knowledge to help custom-plan the rest of your trip.
Tim lives with his Dominican wife, Beatriz, and their four children at their 12-acre, mountaintop eco-village that looks out over the coast featuring what he calls “Robinson Crusoe-style” thatch-roof cabanas and panoramic vistas.  Thinking over the life he has built for himself,  he says, “Living in the islands doesn’t provide typical financial security, such as a pension to look forward to. And I haven’t afforded a BMW… but, my life pretty much belongs to me.” And his future plans? “This eco-village is turning out to be as funky and fun as Café Cito—but with a spa and cabanas and a knock-out view. Now that it’s up and running I might take off a few hats.”

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