Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco
This
national park
(admission RD$100; 8am-5pm)
directly west of Barahona covers 800 sq
km of mostly mountainous terrain and is notable for the rich variety of vegetation that
thrives in its many different climates, from lowland desert to cloud forest. Valleys are
home to vast areas of broad-leafed plants, which give way to healthy pine forests at higher
elevations. In the mountains the average temperature is 18°C, and annual rainfall is
between 1000mm and 2500mm. Together with Parque Nacional Jaragua and Lago En-
riquillo, Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco forms the Jaragua-Bahoruca- Enriquillo Bio-
sphere Reserve, the first Unesco Biosphere Reserve in the country.
Within the national park there are 166 orchid species, representing 52% of the country's
total. Around 32% of those species are endemic to the park. Flitting about among the
park's pine, cherry and mahogany trees are over 75 species of bird, including the white-
necked crow and 28 others of the 32 endemic species found on Hispaniola. The high
mountain habitat is home to the la Selle's thrush, white-winged warbler, Hispaniolan spin-
dalis, emerald hummingbird, Hispaniolan trogons, narrow-billed todies, western chat-tan-
ager and Hispaniolan parrots. At lower elevations, you'll see white-necked crows, flat-
billed vireos and the elusive bay-breasted cuckoo.
Tody Tours (
Click here
)
runs a birdwatching camp near Puerto Escondido on the border
of the park and a remote birdwatching camp within the Biosphere Reserve called
Villa Bar-
rancoli
( 809-686-0882;
www.todytours.com
; cabins per person US$10, food per day per person US$3)
.
When the camp is not otherwise in use independent travelers are welcome - be sure to
email ahead for reservations several days in advance. You'll want a good 4WD, and some
experience of driving one. To get there from Barahona, head to the town of Duvergé along
the southern side of Lago Enriquillo. In town, look for the mural of the cuckoo and the
parrot on the left hand side a few blocks past the gas station. Turn left here and drive
ahead for about half an hour to Puerto Escondido. You'll see the park office on your right
as you enter. Continue to a T intersection, then turn left, following the sign to Rabo de
Gato. Turn right and cross the canal. At the next fork turn right again and follow the signs
to Rabo de Gato until you come to the campsite.
Hoyo de Pelempito
Part of Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco, the 'hole' at Pelempito is actually a deep
gorge formed when the Península de Pedernales jammed itself up into Hispaniola umpteen
