DK Travel : Dominican Republic : The Southwest

The Southwest : Overview & Top 10

A large swathe of territory extends down from the western outskirts of Santo Domingo to the Haitian border, incorporating some of the country’s most diverse and dramatic landscapes. The coastline contains a variety of beaches, ranging from remote and undeveloped coves to crowded weekend favorites. Inland, lush, irrigated farmland stands in stark contrast to some of the country’s driest desert terrain. Historic towns and cities dot this corner of the Dominican Republic, but its real appeal lies in its natural grandeur. The Sierra de Baoruco is an almost untouched wilderness of mountain rainforest; the Lago Enriquillo, famous for its crocodiles, is better known, but is isolated enough to inspire awe. Tourism has yet to change the character of this region, where the proximity of Haiti is keenly felt, but it’s only a matter of time.

At Parque Nacional de Isla Cabritos, it may be worth waiting to see if anyone else wants a boat trip in order to share the cost

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Sierra de Baoruco

A wild and rugged range of mountains that march westwards over the Haitian border, these impressive peaks make up the Dominican Republic’s second highest sierra. It was in this impenetrable tangle of mountains, valleys, and forests that the Taino leader Enriquillo (see Enriquillo (1498–1535)) assembled his rebel forces and held out for 14 years against the Spanish. Now designated a national park, the range is covered in dense pine forests and subtropical rainforest. There are few passable roads, but it’s theoretically possible, with a sturdy jeep, to drive along the rough track from Pedernales to Aguacate.