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Isla Catalinita
This tiny uninhabited island on the eastern edge of the park is a common stop on snorkeling and diving tours. Arriving on the island’s western (leeward) side, it’s about a half-hour hike to the other side, where a lookout affords dramatic views of the powerful open-ocean waves cras
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El Morro
Part of the 1100-sq-km Parque Nacional Monte Cristi that surrounds Monte Cristi on all sides, El Morro (The Hill) sits 5km northeast of town – follow Av San Fernando north to the beach and continue to your right until the road dead-ends. Opposite the ranger station, 585 wooden stai
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Hostal Nicolás de Ovando
A handsome building with a Gothic facade built in 1509, this was originally the residence of Governor Nicolás de Ovando, who is famous for ordering Santo Domingo rebuilt on the west bank of the Río Ozama following a hurricane that leveled most of the colony. Today it houses the pos
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Plaza España
The large, open area in front of the Alcázar de Colón has been made over many times, most recently during the early 1990s in honor of the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ ‘discovery’ of the New World. Running along its northwest side is Calle la Atarazana , fronted by a h
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Paraíso
About 35km south of Barahona is the aptly named town of Paraíso (population 13,500), with a spectacular beach and mesmerizing ocean – who knew there could be so many shades of blue? Paraíso is a good budget alternative to Barahona, and is walking distance (or motoconcho distance) t
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Reservo Cientifica Valle Nuevo
Also known as Parque Nacional Juan Pérez Rancier, this remote park begins around 17km southeast of Constanza. Las Pirámides , a monument marking the geographic center of DR, is 46km away. The area records the coldest temperatures in the country, sometimes reaching -8°C during the n
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Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes
Constructed during the first half of the 16th century, the church was sacked by Drake and his men and reconstructed on numerous occasions following earthquakes and hurricanes. The church is remarkable for its pulpit, which is sustained by a support in the shape of a serpent demon.
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Convento de la Orden de los Predicadores
Built in 1510 by Charles V, this is the first convent of the Dominican order founded in the Americas. It also is where Father Bartolomé de las Casas – the famous chronicler of Spanish atrocities committed against indigenous peoples – did most of his writing. The vault of the chapel
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Museo de la Familia Dominicana
This museum is located in the Casa de Tostado – the beautifully restored 16th-century home of writer Francisco Tostado. The museum is interesting as much for its architectural features (it has a double Gothic window over the front door – the only one of its kind in the Americas) as
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Museo del Hombre Dominicano
The most extensive of the museums highlights are the impressive collection of Taíno artifacts, including stone axes and intriguing urns and carvings and an interesting section on Carnival. Other exhibits focus on slavery and the colonial period, African influences in the DR (includ
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Casa Ponce de León
Outside the small town of San Rafael de Yuma, just east of the two-lane highway linking Higüey to Boca de Yuma, is a fine rural Dominican town surrounded by fields in all directions, with dirt roads. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León had a second residence built in the countrysid
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Parque Nacional Lago Enriquillo & Isla Cabritos
This park is named after the 12km-long desert island in the center of Lago Enriquillo, an enormous saltwater lake 40m below sea level. The lake is the remains of an ancient channel that once united the Bahía de Neyba to the south-east (near Barahona) with Port-au-Prince to the west
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Salto de Baiguate
In a lush canyon, Baiguate is not as visually impressive as the others, but it’s the most accessible for swimming. A lovely 300m trail cut out of the canyon wall leads from the parking lot to the salto – canyoning trips end here with a rappel down the falls. To get there, take Cal
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Ocean World
With an enormous sign at the western end of the beach, it’s impossible to miss Cofresí’s main attraction, Ocean World . The main attractions are the sea lions, dolphins, sharks and manta rays, the aviary, and the tiger pool and show. You can also swim with the dolphins or the shark
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Cueva de Berna
Several kilometers west of town on the way toward the entrance of the Parque Nacional del Este is Cueva de Berna , a large cave with scattered Taíno pictograms (and graffiti) and stalactite and stalagmite formations. A caretaker usually sits outside the entrance and will gladly acc
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Salto de Jimenoa Dos
Generally just referred to as Salto Jimenoa, come here for the views only since access to bathing pools at the foot of this 40m cascade is fenced off. From the parking area, its a 500m walk over a series of suspension bridges and trails flanked by densely forested canyon walls. The
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Casa Museo General Gregorio Luperón
The life and times of native-born son and independence leader, Gregorio Luperón are impressively fleshed out inside this beautifully restored pale-green Victorian-era building. Photographs and period artifacts trace Luperóns life, from humble beginnings to his role as provisional p
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Panteón Nacional
Originally constructed in 1747 as a Jesuit church, this was also a tobacco warehouse and a theater before dictator Trujillo restored the building in 1958 for its current use as a mausoleum. Today many of the country’s most illustrious persons are honored here, their remains sealed
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Los Tres Ojos
Consisting of three very humid caverns with still, dark lagoons inside and connected by stalactite-filled passages, this is a mildly interesting site frequented by organized tours. The caves are limestone sinkholes, carved by water erosion over thousands of years. Unfortunately, th
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Parque Nacional Los Haitises
Eight kilometers west of Sabana de la Mar, Parque Nacional Los Haitises is certainly the best reason to visit this small bayside town. Its name meaning ‘land of the mountains,’ this 1375-sq-km park at the southwestern end of the Bahía de Samaná contains scores of lush hills jutting
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