In the province of La Romana there is an amazing Del Este nature reserve. It was founded in 1975 and occupies 792 sq. km. national park consists of the mainland and the small island of Saona, which is also called Bounty Island. The island, discovered by Columbus in 1494, can be reached by pleasure boat. Since this is a protected area, large-scale construction is prohibited here. An exception was made only for residents of the island village of Mano Juan, who sell souvenirs and thus earn their living. Now Saona is multi-meter snow-white beaches, mangrove and relict forests, where more than fifty different plant species grow. The island is also famous for its caves, which in the 16th century served as a refuge for Indians hiding from the Spaniards. For tourists, a sightseeing tour of the city is held, then they can relax on one of the beaches of the island. The sea near the coast of Saona is ideal for diving.
The mainland part of the reserve is no less interesting than the island part. It consists mainly of deciduous forests. In the local dry subtropical forest, the Taino Indians used to live. Now only well-maintained beaches in the western part of the park remind of human activity in these places. 112 species of birds live on the territory of the reserve. To see at least some of them, you need to delve into the jungle. Fans of water walks will be able to look at turtles, bottlenose dolphins and manatees. Yachts with tourists usually ply along the coast, from where the mangroves are clearly visible.
Spending a vacation in the Dominican Republic, it is not at all necessary to lie on the beach all the time or sit in a bar tasting local rum and cigars. Despite the fact that there are practically no architectural and historical sights in the Dominican Republic, there are several magnificent national parks and reserves here. Only 10% of the territory of the republic is given for natural reserves, but, nevertheless, these reserved places literally teem with animals and amaze with the diversity of flora.
Del Este National Park (Parque Nacional del Este)
Perhaps the most popular in the Dominican Republic is the Del Este National Park, located in the southeastern part of the country. It covers an area of about 310 square kilometers and also includes the island of Saona. This park was created for true connoisseurs of wildlife, as more than 112 species of birds live in the forests, some of which, by the way, are endemic, that is, they are found only here and nowhere else. By the way, in this national park there are no roads or paths that would lead to the most remote areas of the park, so determined tourists who want to explore all the protected corners of Del Este will need to rent a boat in the town of Bayahibe near the park. When traveling, you should be especially careful and careful, as the Del Este National Park is home to a lot of tarantulas and wasps that can turn the trip into real torture. That is why, before a walk in the park, it is worth applying repellent liberally to the skin and bypassing the spiders encountered on the way.
The most popular part of this national park of the Dominican Republic is Saona Island near south coast Haiti. At one time, the island was known as an untouched corner of virgin nature, but now the flow of tourists has grown so much that only memories remain of the former idyll. In any case, this place is worth visiting. The beaches of Saona Island allow travelers to feel like Robinson Crusoe for a while, and walking along the white sandy beach in the direction of mangroves and swamps, you can walk to two small fishing villages lost in the forests. The easiest way to get to this island is by boat from the town of Bayahibe, where before the trip it will be useful to take care of the supply of drinking water and food. There is only one restaurant on the island, which is known for its sky-high prices and food of questionable quality.
In the Del Este National Park in the Dominican Republic, tourists will also be interested in looking at the traces of the disappeared Taino Indian community that inhabited the island before Columbus discovered it. During the excavations in La Aleta, many interesting finds were discovered. In addition, it is known that the entire Indian settlement was destroyed, and this terrible story began with the fact that the leader of the Indian tribe was torn to pieces by the dog of the Spanish colonialists. In response, the Indians tripled their mutiny, to which the Spaniards responded by killing 7,000 people.
Los Haitises National Park (Parque Nacional los Haitises)
Another national park of the Dominican Republic called Los Haitises, located on the southern coast of Samana Bay, is known for its magnificent nature. This area can only be explored by boat, as without it you will not be able to get to most parts of the park. Most of the territory is occupied by mangrove swamps, in which dozens of secret Indian caves are safely hidden. Now they serve as magnificent refuges for birds and marine animals. At the moment, only a small part of the park is available for tourists to visit, where they spend organized excursions- you will not be able to explore this reserve on your own. By the way, for those who do not like dampness, it is better to refuse such a walk, since Los Haitises is located in the wettest area of the Dominican Republic.
The standard tour that is offered in this park is called Ruta Litoral, and its route includes most of the attractions. During such a walk, tourists will visit a large cave, where rock carvings of the Taino Indians have been preserved, the former refuge of the legendary filibuster Willie Simons, Remington and San Gabriel caves, on the walls of which you can see images of Indian faces. By the way, they say that at one time pirates and the infamous John Rackham lived here. The journey through this park ends with a stop near the Cueva de la Linea cave. Once upon a time, they wanted to build a railway station here in order to send sugar cane, which grew here in myriad quantities, to other regions of the country. However, the station was never built, and reed has not been growing here for a long time.
You can arrange a trip to the Los Haitises National Park in the town of Sabana de la Mar. As a rule, the boat is ready to take on board no more than six people, and such a trip will cost about 800 pesos (about 630 rubles). Another 50 pesos (about 40 rubles) will cost a visit to the park, and the services of a guide will cost 300 pesos (about 235 rubles). Tourists can agree on the services of a guide at the park administration, which is located in the city port.
Armando Bermudez and Jose del Carmen Ramirez National Parks
These two Dominican national parks are usually referred to together as they are so close to each other. The parks were founded in the middle of the last century in order to save the rainforests from massive deforestation, as happened in Haiti. These national parks are home to the highest mountain peaks in the Caribbean and have become a favorite destination for hikers, climbers and the like.
The parks of Armando Bermudez and José Ramirez are at a considerable height, so the weather in this part of the Dominican Republic is quite unpredictable. In summer it is quite comfortable here (about + 20 degrees Celsius), while in the winter months the temperature drops to minus values. In addition, there are almost all year round it rains, so when going here, tourists should definitely take raincoats and waterproof shoes with them.
You can get to the popular Mount Duarte, located in protected areas, along one of five trails, while the most famous and easiest is La Cienega. Each trail starts in a small town or village at the foot of the mountain, where hikers will need to buy a park permit and arrange for a guide. In no case should you try to explore the parks on your own - even the most experienced hikers can get lost in these forests. In addition, I am going to conquer Mount Duarte, it should be remembered that, despite the small height, the ascent to the top is a rather serious test. The reason for this is the terrible quality of the path - fallen trees and boulders are usually removed from it, but deep potholes and ruts are quite a standard phenomenon. That is why, to go to the top of Duarte, you only need to wear well-fitted hiking boots, which will not only save you from bruises and dislocations, but also allow you to feel more stable on loose ground and slippery roads. As a rule, the ascent takes two days and another half day is spent on preparation, so it is better to come to La Cienega in the afternoon in order to have time to resolve all paper issues for a visit to the park, and start climbing early in the morning. Before arrival, tourists also need to take care of the supply of water and food for the duration of the trip - there is no market or necessary shops in the village.
During the ascent to the top of the mountain, tourists will pass such curious places as the huge Lake Enriquillo with a length of more than 40 kilometers. It is known for the fact that the water in it is three times saltier than the sea due to constant evaporation, which is why swimming in it is not particularly pleasant, but it will be interesting to see. Moreover, this lake is the lowest point in the entire Dominican Republic. one more interesting place on the territory of national parks is the secret refuge of the Indian leader. It is located in one of the caves near Poster Rio. Noteworthy is the island of Cabritos ("goat island") - the largest of the islands on the lake. Here you can see crocodiles, huge iguanas and colonies of magnificent pink flamingos. Every day at 07.30, 08.30 and 13.00 boats with excursion groups sail to this island. Travel time is about 45 minutes, and the cost of travel depends on the number of tourists.
Jaragua National Park (Parque Nacional Jaragua)
Finally, the largest in the entire Dominican Republic and the most attractive for lovers of deserted beaches is the Jaragua National Park. It is located in the southern part of the Baoruco peninsula and also includes the two islets of Beata and Alto Velo. The peculiarity of this place, among other things, is that it is possible to visit the park only with a guide, and permission to visit can only be obtained from the General Directorate of National Parks in Santo Domingo. Jaragua National Park will be a true paradise for wildlife lovers. Here, cacti, palm trees grow in abundance, rare turtles and many beautiful endemic birds are found.
Most often, excursions in the park start in the city of Pedernales, where you can also take a boat to the nearest islands, a trip to which, by the way, will cost a substantial amount. However, once on the islands, tourists will realize that the money was well spent. Beata only at first glance seems to be an uninhabited island, but, having landed on the south coast, travelers will be able to explore the numerous caves, the walls of which are decorated with ancient drawings of the Indians. Alto Velo Island, in turn, is known for the fact that it was here that scientists discovered the smallest lizard in the world - a pygmy gecko one and a half centimeters in size.
By the way, it should be borne in mind that those who suffer from seasickness should avoid traveling through this national park. The fact is that the journey can take from three to five hours and even hardy travelers will find it quite exhausting. In addition, just in case, you should personally make sure that the captain of the ship filled up enough fuel, otherwise there is a real chance to stay in this paradise for a long time. As for obtaining permits, they are issued by the National Parks Directorate. It is necessary to allocate at least one day to receive the necessary papers, since paperwork in Dominican institutions is a completely normal phenomenon. In the same administration, you can also agree on the services of a guide, without which access to the park is prohibited and dangerous.
Del Este National Park in the extreme point of the southeast of the Dominican Republic. The park is the main natural attraction of the country. The territory of the park is quite large - it captures a large peninsula and the island of Saona adjacent to it. Here, lovers of travel and adventure, as well as true connoisseurs of relaxation in the bosom of pristine nature, will get the greatest pleasure.
A small number of limestone terraces, completely covered with forests of the subtropics, represent the mainland of the reserve. Local soils are very porous and easily absorb moisture, as there are practically no lakes and rivers here. Therefore, mainly deciduous trees grow in this part of the park. Animal world in the Dominican Republic it is not very diverse, but in the Del Este park there are all the native species of mammals, and among them there are rare, endangered species.
The coast of the park is a rare example of the diversity of Dominican landscapes. Here, mangroves and sheer cliffs alternate with each other. Near the shore, with sufficient luck, you can meet bottlenose dolphins and very rare Caribbean manatees. The western coast of the park is occupied by beaches with clear water and very beautiful coral reefs - a dream for diving enthusiasts. 
Del Este- a national park in the Dominican Republic, located in the very southeast of the island of Saona. Here you will find the most unusual species of plants and animals, as well as historical sights. Del Este Park includes the beautiful island of Saona, which is visible from the south coast. The park is accessible on foot or by boat, but is not at all suitable for other vehicles. The park is home to endangered animal species such as West Indian manatees, sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, as well as rhinos, iguanas and hedgehog rats. On the territory of Del Este there are places of Taino settlements.
For bird lovers, this is simply a paradise: 112 species of birds are found in the vast territory of the park. Some of them are unique, such as white-headed gulls and lizard cuckoos. In the surrounding waters, whales can be seen migrating in January and February, and there are also manatees, large gray aquatic mammals also called sea cows. The closest land relative of the manatee is the elephant.
Del Este Park (Parque Nacional del Este) is located in the east of the Dominican Republic, and covers an area of 430 km2. The Del Este National Park includes part of the water area caribbean and the mainland, including the famous island of Saona. From the village of Bayahibe (Bayahibe) boats and boats sail to the island of Saona, if you decide to go on a sightseeing tour of the island on your own. The mainland of the park is of great interest for tourists to explore, as it contains a large number of limestone caves, hills and hollows-wells, formed from rains over millions of years in soft limestone rocks. These are entire cave complexes that keep traces of the culture of the indigenous people. On the walls of many caves, drawings and pictograms made by the hand of the Taino Indians have survived to this day. Since the soil of the park is very porous (limestone), you will not see any rivers, streams or lakes on the territory. For this, deciduous trees grow in large numbers, including wild olives, mahogany and guaiac trees. Natural zones are pronounced in the park: dry subtropical selva and dry forests
The fauna of the park zone, in comparison with a wide variety of birds and plants, is unusually poor. Here you can meet all kinds of mammals, including the tenacious hutia (a rodent the size of a cat), the sand tooth (a small animal with a narrow muzzle that secretes poisonous saliva).
The coastline of the park is heterogeneous: sheer cliffs menacingly hanging on the eastern side of the peninsula pass in the south into the mangrove thickets of Calderas Bay. The western side of the park pleases tourists and divers with its quiet beaches, coral reefs and clear waters of the Caribbean Sea.
The water area of the park is rich in populations of manati and dolphins. Manati, very similar to manatees, have thick skin covered with bristly hair and extremely developed lungs. They do not live at great depths, they are found even in large rivers and lakes, they penetrate there through the mouth of the rivers. The main food of the manati is freshwater and marine plants. Fishermen often hunt for manati, as their meat has good taste and fat is valuable.
The eastern entrance to the park is located at the village of Boca del Yuma: the trail runs along the coast and ends at the mangrove swamps. The western entrance and local park office are located in the village of Bayahibe.
