Trails and Trail Systems

The countryside around La Romana is lined with trails. Most of the trails are located within the National Parks System and require permits in order to travel them. Some trails also request that a certified guide accompanies any hikers. Guides can usually be hired at the entrances of the national parks.The most popular trails can be found at Jarabacoa, Parque Nacional del Este, Constanza, Parque Nacional Monte Cristi, Pico Isabel del Torres, Punta Bonita, San Rafael and Parque Nacional Bahoruco.

Horseback riding tours can also provide travellers with an opportunity to view out-of-the-way places and are less strenuous. Mountain biking is also another way of reaching places that are "off the beaten track". Check with your resort, as most hotels have bike rentals on the property.

Another way of discovering and exploring these trails is by Jeep safaris and expeditions. Visitors to the island are then given the opportunity to discover these less visited areas and explore and learn about the diverse Dominican culture while being surrounded by lush vegetation. Who knows....you may even happen upon a secluded sandy beach!

Perhaps the most famous of all the Dominican trails is the one to Pico Duarte, the highest mountain in the Caribbean at 10,417 ft. The climb to the top is strenuous. It is possible to rent a guide, complete with a pack mule to make the journey less arduous. Hikers to Pico Duarte usually embark from the village of La Cienaga just outside the Armando Bermudez National Park, however Boca de Yuma is also an official park entrance. The journey to the top and back usually takes three days to complete. If climbing a mountain is more than you had in mind, then there are many shorter trails to choose from, that take you to caves, lakes, waterfalls and rivers.