DK Travel : Dominican Republic : Outdoor

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Pico Duarte

The biggest challenge of them all, the mountain can be reached from several trails, the most popular setting off from La Ciénega. The round trip takes at least three days, and an official guide must accompany walkers. You’ll pass through pine forests, meadows, and rocky terrain.
Pico Duarte

This peak offers excellent views, though only the toughest hikers can undertake the expedition to the top of the Caribbean’s highest mountain. On a clear day, the Caribbean Sea can be seen to the south and huge Lago Enriquillo to the west (see Pico Duarte).
Pico Isabel de Torres

If you don’t want to take the cable car to the top of the mountain, you can always choose the four-hour hike up a steep rainforest-clad slope. Guides are recommended, as it’s easy to stray off the paths and get lost. The lush vegetation is home to parakeets and many other birds (see Pico Isabel de Torres, Puerto Plata).
Pico Isabel de Torres, Puerto Plata

Watched over by a 54-ft (16-m) statue of Christ, the long Atlantic coastline stretches to the horizon. You can find hotel clusters and other modern developments lined along the white beaches. The town of Puerto Plata lies beneath, the cathedral clearly visible, and inland the mountains of the Cordillera Septentrional.
Playa Baoruco

Harboring one of the many small and undeveloped beaches on the coastline south of Barahona, Baoruco is more a fishing village than a tourist resort, although an all-inclusive hotel has recently opened nearby. The pretty beach has rather rough white sand, but the views into the wooded mountains are stunning.
Playa Bávaro

Another well-equipped stretch of beach, where independent dive operators compete with the all-inclusive amenities.
Playa Bonita

This is probably the nearest thing to the classic image of tropical paradise. White sand meets calm turquoise sea, watched over by a stretch of coconut palms. Even the nearby hotels and guesthouses fail to intrude on the peaceful beach heaven.
Playa Cabo Rojo

Lying on the coastline of Parque Nacional Jaragua, Red Cape is named for the rich red seams of bauxite that once fed a now-derelict processing plant. The wildness is certainly a draw for the penguins and other birds.
Playa Corbanito

The gray sand may not be the finest in the Dominican Republic, but the view over the Bahía de Ocoa towards the distant sierra is breathtaking. The bay’s water is calm and inviting, and the beach itself, untroubled by tourists and home only to a few fishermen, is attractive and extremely relaxing.
Playa del Morro

A rocky track cuts through a gap in the landmark mountain of El Morro, leading to a deserted white-sand beach. The beach is walled in by sheet cliffs, but the water is calm and protected in this spectacular cove. Sunsets are superb.