Los Haitises, Montana Redonda, and Paraiso Cano Hondo Tour

r way to the main destination of the day, the beautiful National Park of Los Haitises, located in the province of Hato Mayor. Thanks to the new Miches Highway, the driving time will be around 2 hours, and on the way, you will have the chance to enjoy beautiful views of the Dominican countryside. Rice, coffee, cocoa, and tropical fruit plantations will catch your attention, while our guide will provide a lot of interesting information regarding the Dominican culture and traditions. During our journey, we will have an intermediate stop in a souvenir shop to have a light breakfast and use the toilet before continuing our trip. We'll pass through the town of Sabana de la Mar and after around half an hour, we'll finally reach the remote National Park of Los Haitises (bear in mind that after passing the town of Sabana de la Mar, we'll continue on a dirt road to reach the park).

In their language “Haitises” translates to "Highlands” or Hills. From the main port, called Caño Hondo (Deep Creek), we’ll leave on a small boat. Wearing life jackets we will enjoy the red mangrove forest path until we arrive in San Lorenzo Bay, a collection of huge limestone mountain islands called Mogotes. On top of them you can find more than 700 species of plants and many wetlands birds flying around. Look also to the water to spot manatees, crustaceans, and dolphins. We’ll adventure deeper into the park to explore caves such as the Cueva de la Arena and Cueva de la Linea. Caves in the reserve were used as shelter by the Taino Indians and, later, by hiding pirates. Look for drawings made by Indians 750 years ago that decorate some of the walls. After visiting Los Haitises National Park we will go back to the port where our trip started.

Tuck into a delicious Dominican lunch served at the gorgeous location of Paraiso Caño Hondo. Located at the outskirts of Los Haitises National Park, Paraíso Caño Hondo is an unique Eco-lodge, ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the 10 best ecological destinations in the world. The complex features a number of pools built into and around natural stones that naturally form with water from the park. Lunch is served in an open buffet with a great variety of typical Dominican food and cocktails. After lunch you can take a refreshing dip in the natural pools and relax for a while before getting back to the bus to start our return trip.

Once we reach the town of Miches we will stop again to enjoy and discover the 3rd and last destination of the day: the beautiful Montaña Redonda and its breathtaking views! This place is a must-see in the Dominican Republic. An isolated 1,000 ft mountain nestled almost on the shoreline, Montaña Redonda provides spectacular panoramic views for miles and miles around. We’ll climb the mountain in open-air trucks, safari style. Once on top, nature lovers will definitely enjoy the luscious green of surroundings that stand in great contrast with the turquoise blue water of the ocean. You’ll have hammocks and seats and there are photographers that offer their services to take fun memories back home, from riding a broom like a witch to sitting on a swing with the feeling of touching the sky!