Los Haitises National Park

19° 0.4′ N · 69° 38.5′ W

A drowned karst landscape of jungle-covered limestone haystacks (mogotes), mangrove channels and bird-covered islets along the south shore of Samaná Bay, with caves holding the DR's richest collection of Taíno pictographs and petroglyphs.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

Coordinates from Wikipedia (park centroid, inland). Park created in 1976 and expanded to 826 km² in 1996; visitor numbers are limited. Wildlife: frigatebirds and pelicans nest on the islets, and you may see the endangered Ridgway's hawk, Hispaniolan woodpecker, herons and egrets. Explore by dinghy and kayak among the mangroves, staying clear of nesting colonies. You need a despacho to Los Haitises from the Samaná comandancia, and park fees are payable to rangers (see the San Lorenzo anchorage entry).

Best for

Wild karst scenery, birds and Taíno cave art

Practical

Best for

Nearby