Monkey Jungle Dominican Republic — Attraction in Puerto Plata

After conducting my own investigation...Under previous ownership I could see this place getting five stars. Under new current owners, management by 'windbag’ Rob, I give this one star. Rob is more interested in talking about himself and his whole life story, which no one is interested in hearing! We all came and paid to hear about the monkeys and how they are helping them and everything there is to learn about these monkeys and other wildlife at the sanctuary. Rob is only interested in talking about himself. We could care less how many multiple times Rob has been married or that he was an alcoholic and then he found God and then he’s trying to help us all and the church. He bragged about being in desert storm, he bragged about being exposed to anthrax and he and his current wife (number 4,5,6? I lost track) is now expecting a baby as if this is some kind miracle. 😆 (goggle anthrax, it’s not that bad Ron and it does not make you sterile! Rob is very overweight, and needs to stick with talking about the reason people come here... It’s about the monkeys! This would be highly disrespectful speaking Christianity to people of different faiths. I don’t think Rob has ever thought about that. Rob boasted about becoming a pastor, also, the sanctuary providing health and dental to the locals. We didn’t see ANY doctors there, ANY medical people and no one receiving any treatment. Our guide with the monkeys spoke very poor English, knew very little about these monkeys and we ended up asking the questions, most of which he did not know the answers . The whole 'tour’ took about 1/2 hr.

We decided to zip line. Now here I give these zip line guys 5-stars! They were polite, completely professional and kept safety #1. Great group of men! When we stopped for ice water, the cooler was nearly empty. Rob was not doing his job. We avoided Rob as much as possible. Unfortunately, Rob spotted us and came rushing over. We tried to ignore him. He just HAD to be the center of attention and insisted on taking photos of us with our phones.🙄 Our guides did a terrific job taking pics with our cell phones. We didn’t need or want him there... he just barged in. When I went to collect my items from behind the counter, Rob had separated my money from my things. 🤨 He gave me my items, I waited. Then had to ask for my money. I honestly felt this 'pastor’ was hoping I’d forget, or he’s just not very bright.

I decided afterwards to conduct my own investigation with locals and here’s what I was told. The previous owners used to have a huge sponsor that brought in loads of visitors & profit. No more. The new owners cut the guides pay. They mainly rely on tips while Rob is living in a luxury condo. I was told he and the owners are using a lot of the sanctuary money on themselves. No money goes to aid the locals. Under new ownership, Volunteer doctors, dentist and medical staff quit The new manager knows nothing about primates, refused to listen to warnings, monkeys started dying. Monkeys started inbreeding Money that should’ve gone to the monkeys health was used to build churches and 2 have already failed and are now closed.

Rob needs to be replaced with a professional primate specialist who...

The zip line employees nearly killed me on the zip line. I told them my shoulder was hurting from doing my own breaking above and behind my head and I needed to go back and wait at the monkey Village pavilion after the first zip line run. The zip line Guy said I’ll go with you, behind you, and hold onto you and do the breaking for you so he and I went together. I thought he hooked himself to me somehow, but apparently not b/c somehow I went faster than him and we completely separated, me not realizing it and slamming into the other side probably 20 or 25 miles an hour, when I hit the other side the thing ragdolled me around slung me way upside down banged my head and face, I thought it tore my ear off and was bleeding, knocked off my helmet and my glasses, and slung me back off the platform onto the zip line, n left me Hanging there with no help, since the other employee hadn’t gone across first, I had to pull myself with both my hands somewhat uphill to get back onto the platform with no help from the guy that was supposed to be with me, he wasn’t even near me at that point Because he saw what was happening and breaked on the zip line about halfway across. These two zip line guys probably weighed about 75 pounds each, barely understand English we didn’t understand their language, they seem to be joking around too much and not being careful enough from the get go when they were getting our gear on I had to question a couple of things loosen and tighten a couple of things before we even left the building to go towards the zip line. Oddly They called them selves movie actor’s names from the United States so I don’t even know what their real names were and they wouldn’t tell us their real names but believe me you if you go you are not in safe hands zip lining at this Monkee Pavilion, and they have NO business letting these guys handle people on a zip line!!! So I finally was taken back to the pavilion to nurse my wounds and gather my nerves right before the cave drop, thank goodness because my mates told me that the cave was full of large cockroaches!!! I would’ve lost my mind inside there!!! Between The long ride on a very poor bumpy ruddy red dirt road to the middle of nowhere for probably an hour, the monkeys were cute but no telling how long it would take for police or medical help out there had I been hurt worse on the zip line or in any other way, therefor I do not recommend this tour, for...

We really enjoyed being up close with the monkeys, it was a great experience. However, I don’t know if the owner was having a bad day or slept wrong the night before because he was super rude. A poor example of customer service. After staying in the DR for a month, we have been ripped off and taken advantage of by many businesses here so toward the end of our trip we had our guards up when it came to paying for things. When they said it was $28 per person I was surprised and said “oh I thought it said $22 on your website” and the owner very rudely said “Well it doesn’t. I don’t know what website YOU were on.” To which I said “uh... I was on your website.” And he goes “Well I own the website and write the info myself so I can guarantee you it does not say that.”

Like, there wasn’t any other way you could’ve handled that situation? I have worked in customer service for several years and would never treat a customer like that. I could understand if I came into pointing fingers and throwing a fit about the $6 increase in price... but I didn’t? I just simply stated that I thought it said $22 on the website. All he would have had to say is “Oh I’m sorry, it is actually $28 per adult. But I’ll look into it to make sure our website reflects that price.” End of conversation.

But I guess his ego got the...