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Once an isolated agricultural village, this small town has become a popular summer retreat and a base for walkers and sports enthusiasts. The Río Yaque del Norte runs close to town, tempting swimmers and rafters.

Jarabacoa’s own natural swimming pool was formed where the Yaque del Norte meets the Jimenoa just outside town. The water can be quite fast-moving when the rivers are high, and there is also a shady wooded park.

The best-organized adventure center in the area, this rustic complex is set in attractive riverside grounds and offers a range of outings and activities as well as accommodation, a swimming pool, and a Dominican art gallery. Day visitors are welcome.

This 131-ft (40-m) waterfall is reached via a hair-raisingly narrow suspension bridge. The cold water of the Río Yaque del Norte cascades noisily into an inviting pool, with lush vegetation surrounding the rocky canyon. At weekends a snack bar is open for visitors.

A scenic walk around a path cut into the edge of a ravine leads down to the valley floor where a torrent of water crashes into a swimming hole, which is best reached on horseback.

Set in a fertile valley ringed by mountains, the larger town of Constanza is an excellent starting point for hikes. The heart of the region’s agricultural economy, it has a busy farmer’s market.

The 289 sq-mile (750 sqkm) reserve in the Cordillera Central is home to a stunning array of flora and fauna. The ranger station at La Ciénaga is the starting point for organized treks.

The pot-holed and vertiginous mountain road from Constanza to San José de Ocoa traverses this remote protected zone, where impenetrable pine forests offer protection to countless species of birds.

A long trek through rough mountainous terrain is amply rewarded by this spectacular 492-ft (150-m) waterfall, whose white water drops straight down into a pool. Ferns and other vegetation cling onto the sheer rock faces of the canyon.

Not officially climbed until 1944 and named after the father of independence, the peak is often shrouded in cloud. Visitors can also admire the mountain from a distance.