DK Travel : Dominican Republic : The Central Highlands

Entirely different in temperature and atmosphere from the low-level capital and seaside resorts, the country’s interior is dominated by the rugged mountain range known as the Cordillera Central, which arcs down from the Haitian border towards San Cristóbal. The highest point of the range is the Pico Duarte at 10,128 ft (3,087 m), but there are many other peaks and adjacent valleys, especially in and around the popular tourist bases of Jarabacoa and Constanza. Here, you can even feel the chill of an early morning frost, while a profusion of flowers and vegetables thrive in the temperate climate. Santiago is situated within easy reach of the mountains, separating them from the fertile farmland of the Cibao Valley, and from here it is a fascinating excursion westwards through the Highlands to the hilltop town of San José de las Matas.

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Rancho Luna Steak House

This well-known steak house is a treat for meat-lovers. It has an extensive wine list and a piano bar.
San José de las Matas

Another starting point for a Pico Duarte ascent, this airy and laid-back mountain town provides a fascinating insight into everyday agricultural life. The surrounding countryside is dotted with coffee plantations and small farms, and the town itself acts as a trading center for local farmers. Apart from the fiesta patronal , staged every August, you can go on plenty of pleasant excursions to nearby rivers and swimming spots. The town also offers spectacular views over densely wooded hillsides and valleys, dotted with palm trees.
San Juan de la Maguana

A surprisingly large town lying in a fertile valley to the south of the Cordillera Central, San Juan is a busy agricultural center, surrounded by banana plantations and coffee farms. Its proximity to the Haitian border has brought problems over the centuries as invading armies occupied and destroyed the town. Today’s architecture is modern, but there are also some turn-of-the-19th-century buildings around the Parque Central, where a permanent buzz of outdoor buying and selling makes for an interesting walk.
Santiago

Smaller and slower paced than the capital, Santiago is nonetheless a major metropolis of over 750,000 people, with contrasting elements of wealth and poverty, old and new. The plush modern suburbs to the north are pleasant, but the city’s real atmosphere and interest are concentrated in a relatively small downtown district around the Parque Duarte and the huge Monumento a los Héroes de la Restauracíon, joined by the main shopping street. It’s also worth looking into Santiago’s proud past as a major producer of sugar and tobacco, especially with a visit to a cigar factory or rum distillery.

Santiago’s cathedral
Santo Cerro

Commanding a spectacular view of the valley that Columbus dubbed La Vega Real (Royal Valley), the 19th-century church of Santo Cerro reputedly marks the spot where the Virgin made a miraculous intervention in 1495. The cross that she defended from burning by the Tainos was, according to legend, erected on the hillside by Columbus himself, and the church claims to preserve a fragment of the original crucifix. It’s surrounded by ornate Catholic iconography.
Swimming

This can be enjoyed on the quieter stretches of the Cordillera Central’s rivers as well as in many balnearios or swimming holes.
The Dominican Alps

This is an ideal place for outdoor activities, ranging from hiking and horseback riding to challenging river-based sports, and the resorts of Jarabacoa and Constanza specialize in excursions. The climate and lack of urban spread also contribute to a wide and varied range of fauna and flora, making it a paradise for bird-watchers and botanists (see Constanza & “The Dominican Alps”).
Tubing

The low-budget version of rafting uses a large rubber ring. Swimmers are swept down the river, protected to some degree by the inflated tube.
Vista del Yaque

A Parque Recreacional popular day and night hangout with people bathing in the river and patronizing the bar, restaurant, and disco.
Vistabella Club Bar & Grill

Popular with Dominicans at weekends for its pool, bar, and restaurant, which serves local dishes such as guinea fowl and pigeon.

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Restaurant price categories

For a three-course meal and a beer for one including tax and service.
- under $10
- $10–$20
- $20–$30
- $30–$40
- over $40