Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Parque Nacional La Isabela
This historically significant
national park
(admission RD$100; 8am-5pm)
near the town of
El Castillo marks Columbus' second settlement on Hispaniola. When he arrived at the
first settlement at Cap-Haïtien in Haiti on his second voyage to the New World, he found
it destroyed, so he shifted 110km east and set up a new camp here; the foundations of sev-
eral oceanfront buildings are all that remain. A small, fairly lackluster museum visited fre-
quently by groups of Dominican primary-school students marks the occasion. Exhibits in
Spanish include sociopolitical explanations of the Taíno communities Columbus en-
countered, some old coins, rings, arrowheads and a small-scale replica of Columbus'
house. Across the road from the park is the
Templo de las Américas
, a loose and much larger
replica of La Isabela's original church built as part of the settlement's 500th anniversary
celebrations.
Near the park is
Playa Isabela
, a broad outward-curving beach with coarse sand and calm
water. There are a couple of small beach restaurants and usually at least one knick-knack
stand that rents snorkeling gear (RD$150). When swimming or wading, be alert for sea
urchins lurking in the rock patches in the shallows.
Rancho del Sol
( 809-696-0325; s/d incl breakfast with fan RD$700/1400, with air-con RD$1200/
1900; )
, a rambling, idiosyncratic hotel near the entrance to the national park, might
be open again in the near future.
Getting There & Away
A taxi from Luperón, 11km to the east, will set you back US$60 return (if the driver
waits) and a
motoconcho
around RD$250 one way.
It's possible, but somewhat harder, to get to La Isabela from the main highway between
Santiago and Monte Cristi. Turn off at Cruce de Guayacanes and head north 25km to Villa
Isabella, passing through Los Hidalgos on the way. The signs can be confusing, so ask for
'El Castillo' - the town where the park is located - as you go. The park is 7km from Villa
Isabella.
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