Trade the resort strip for one of the Dominican Republic's wildest corners. Los Haitises National Park is a maze of mangrove canals, hidden Taíno caves, and jungle waterfalls in the remote northeast — a side of the country few tourists ever see, and one you'll never forget.
The Wild Side of the Dominican Republic
Want to see a corner of the Dominican Republic that almost no tourist gets to? Then trade the all-inclusive buffets and crowded beaches of Punta Cana for a day in Los Haitises National Park.
If you're after something intimate and genuinely authentic, keep reading — this is one of the most remarkable places in the country.
The Park
Haitises means "highlands" or "mountain range" in Arawak, the language of the Taíno. Hidden away in the remote northeast, the park sprawls across 1,600 square kilometers of humid forest — endless untouched mangroves, secluded beaches, ancient caves, and the richest collection of endemic plants and wildlife in the whole country. Once a sacred refuge for the Taíno, the island's first inhabitants, it's now a mysterious, awe-inspiring reward for anyone willing to leave the beaten path.
So how do you get there?
The Drive
From Punta Cana and Bávaro you head north into the Cordillera Oriental. A winding paved road carries you through rolling green highlands and small country villages, tracing the southern shore of Samaná Bay. Along the way, your guide brings it all to life — the rhythms of everyday Dominican life, the crops and cattle farms rolling past your window. The showstopper is the climb up Montaña Redonda, a 1,000-foot peak famous for its views: Samaná stretching to the north, the Cordillera Oriental to the south.
Then you reach Los Haitises itself…
The Tour
- By catamaran — you'll thread through the winding canals of the park's towering mangroves, home to hundreds of species of birds, fish, reptiles and crustaceans, before the scenery opens up into San Lorenzo Bay and its dramatic limestone outcrops.
- Cueva de la Arena — tucked on a secluded beach, this cave's waterfront chambers hold Taíno petroglyphs carved into the rock, and bats dozing in the dark.
- Cueva de la Línea — deeper in the forest, a vast cavern covered in Taíno pictographs that offer a rare window into their beliefs and way of life, before European arrival more than 500 years ago.
After a big day, you've earned this…
Lunch at the Waterfalls
Paraíso Caño Hondo is a cozy eco-lodge inside the park, threaded by a natural river that spills over a series of waterfalls. You'll sit down to a classic Dominican spread — meat, fish, rice, beans, vegetables, salad and fruit — then cool off with a swim in the river's fresh water, born deep in Los Haitises. Wrap up with a hot chocolate or coffee brewed right at the lodge.
Ready to go?
Only a limited number of guests are allowed on the Los Haitises tour, and it runs on select days only, so book ahead to lock in your spot.
For a real connection to the Dominican Republic's history, culture and raw natural beauty, come with us to Los Haitises National Park.
What's Included
- Round-trip transport
- Catamaran tour of Los Haitises
- Professional guide
- Lunch
- Non-alcoholic drinks
What to Bring
- Comfortable clothing
- Bathing suit
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Towel
- Sneakers or flip-flops
- Camera
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Cash
Good to know
- The non-stop transfer between Punta Cana and Los Haitises runs about 2½ hours each way. The drive is genuinely part of the experience — your guide fills it with Dominican culture and the everyday scenes rolling past outside.
- The Montaña Redonda stop may happen on the way there or the way back depending on weather, and can be cancelled if visibility is poor.
