Ecotourism in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is not only a sunny destination where people come to tan in the sun. It also has incredible potential for ecotourism and natural resources to develop ecotourism, mountain tourism, adventure tourism while respecting the environment.
Ecological tourism in the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic has several national parks spread throughout its territory, scientific reserves, protected areas that allow the conservation and observation of local flora and fauna, including endemic species.
Each park has its peculiarities and its own richness for adventure and ecotourism. The Dominican Republic has significant biodiversity thanks to climatic and geographic variations from one region to another. Each region has its own climatic characteristics and its own biodiversity.
The island has the highest mountain in the Caribbean, Pico Duarte (over 3000 meters), which is an ideal place for mountain hikes, Lake Enriquillo, the largest salt lake in the Caribbean where crocodiles and red flamingos live, Los Haïtises park, numerous rivers, waterfalls, forests, mangroves...
The country covers 48,442 km2 or about two thirds of the island of Hispaniola. The relief is very varied with mountain ranges, plateaus, fertile valleys, numerous rivers, lakes, tropical forests, magroves, lagoons, dry and arid regions and tens of kilometers of beaches. This great variety of landscapes offers many possibilities for excursions in very different places.
The country is relatively large, 375 kilometers from east to west and 265 kilometers from north to south as the crow flies. It takes several days to tour the country and much longer to discover all of its ecotourisic treasures.
Each region of the Dominican Republic has one or more ecotourisks sites but some provinces are better endowed than others. The provinces of the center of the country like La Vega, San Juan, Santiago, those of the south-west like Barahona
and Pedernales or the Samana Peninsula and the province of Hato Mayor.
For mountain and adventure tourism enthusiasts there are many activities to practice such as hiking (with different levels of difficulty), mountaineering, paragliding, parasailing, canyoning, rafting... without forgetting the diving.
In conclusion, the Dominican Republic has paradisiacal beaches, and what the travel agencies sell, but also a very great ecological wealth, extraordinary preserved and protected places and a unique flora and fauna in the Caribbean.
Some of the many adventure and ecotourism activities
- Excursions in national parks.
- Kayaking and rafting in the many rivers of the country especially towards jarabacoa.
- Kayak trips in the mangroves and lagoons.
- Horse riding.
- Hiking.
- Whale watching in Samana bay.
- Diving.
- Paragliding for the bravest.
- Water sports such as kitesurfing, surfing, windsurfing.
- VTT
- Visit of the many waterfalls.
- Visit of the caves.
There are many agencies specializing in ecotourism and ecological tourism in the Dominican Republic which will make you discover the other face of this island.
