The Amazing Race 36 — Live Recap: Episode in the Dominican Republic
A new episode of The Amazing Race 36 aired tonight on CBS. Below is a complete live recap of the leg that took place in the Dominican Republic, tracking each team’s progress, the challenges they faced, and the eventual elimination.
Opening and Roadblock Overview
The leg began with Ricky & Cesar and Juan & Shane departing first. Their clue revealed an immediate Roadblock: one team member must navigate a series of waterfalls, memorize ten Taíno petroglyph symbols, and then arrange those symbols in chronological order to receive the next clue. Teams voiced their motivations on the way out — Juan & Shane wanted to make their families proud; Ricky & Cesar hoped to improve their racing with Juan & Shane breathing down their necks; Rod & Leticia compared the pressure to a Super Bowl; Amber & Vinny aimed to improve communication; and Yvonne & Melissa sought to be the next all-female winners of The Amazing Race.
Waterfalls and Memory Challenge
Juan was the first to attempt the membrane of waterfalls and the memory task, followed closely by Cesar. The challenge proved difficult: Juan’s first attempt yielded only three correct symbols and even after multiple tries he only improved slowly. Cesar also struggled at first and chose to return to the waterfall sequence to reset his recall — that strategy paid off. After retracing his steps Cesar became the first to correctly reconstruct the symbols and grabbed the next clue with Ricky.
Meanwhile, Rod, Melissa, and Amber were making their way to the waterfalls. Rod moved quickly ahead with Melissa close behind and Amber trailing but within reach. Juan eventually realized the rocks were two-sided, a key insight that momentarily helped but still left him and Rod stymied. Cesar took the lead by solving the memory sequence first; he offered Melissa a few pointers before departing, and Melissa nearly solved it herself — she got nine of ten symbols correct but had one symbol misplaced.
After a series of repeated attempts, Juan finally completed the Roadblock on his fifth try and departed with Shane. Rod and Amber completed the memory task next, and Melissa persisted until she succeeded. Melissa later estimated they had fallen about ten minutes behind the leading teams.
Cacao Harvest Task
At Don Manuel’s Finca de Cacao, teams arriving after the Roadblock faced a harvest task: work together to gather cacao pods, remove the seeds, and spread those seeds across a tarp. Ricky & Cesar finished this task first and were cleared to move on to Estadio Bartolo Colón. Rod & Leticia and Juan & Shane completed the harvest shortly after, while Amber & Vinny and Yvonne & Melissa lagged behind.
Baseball Roadblock at Estadio Bartolo Colón
At the stadium teams encountered another Roadblock that required a trio of baseball skills: field a ground ball and make the throw to first base, catch a fly ball in center field, and strike a bottle cap with a broomstick from 25 feet away. Ricky took on the Roadblock for his team and completed it before the other teams arrived, securing a quick lead. Rod struggled with the throwing drill and needed multiple attempts but eventually succeeded, then cleared the final hit. Juan & Shane arrived while Rod was still finishing and Shane chose to do the Roadblock, completing the sequence soon after.
Amber & Vinny reached the stadium with Vinny taking the Roadblock despite Amber’s background in softball; Vinny completed it before Yvonne & Melissa arrived. Yvonne then took her turn and completed the baseball Roadblock, allowing her and Melissa to continue.
Paseo de Doña Blanca and the Pit Stop
Ricky & Cesar found the clue box at Paseo de Doña Blanca pointing them to the Pit Stop: Anfiteatro de Puerto Plata, where teams would then race on foot to the mat. Ricky & Cesar reached the Pit Stop first and were declared Team #1, winning Expedia OneKeyCash points toward a trip to Seoul, South Korea. Rod & Leticia and Juan & Shane arrived nearly simultaneously at Paseo de Doña Blanca and proceeded to the Pit Stop, finishing as Team #2 and Team #3 respectively.
Amber & Vinny experienced taxi troubles but managed to reach the location before Yvonne & Melissa, earning Team #4. Yvonne & Melissa arrived shortly after and, despite a strong effort together, were eliminated.
Elimination and Aftermath
Phil Keoghan informed Yvonne & Melissa that they were the last team to check in at the Pit Stop. The pair expressed gratitude for the experience and excitement for the future. The recap notes that after the show concluded, Yvonne & Melissa moved in together and have since welcomed a baby.
Episode Summary
- 1st place: Ricky & Cesar
- 2nd place: Rod & Leticia
- 3rd place: Juan & Shane
- 4th place: Amber & Vinny
- Eliminated: Yvonne & Melissa
That concludes tonight’s episode recap of The Amazing Race. Thanks for reading — check back next week for another full recap of the race as teams continue their journey.