PARQUE NACIONAL LOS HAITISES

Taking its name from the Taino word Haiti (mountainous area) due to its particular topography, Los Haitises Park is a maze of hills and immense limestone spires approaching 500 meters in height. The protected area stretches over 208 km² from the south/southwest of Samaná Bay to San Lorenzo Bay. The formation of this unique natural area, once under water, dates back some 40 million years (Miocene) and has gradually emerged as a result of various tectonic movements. Thanks to its high humidity and frequent rainfall, the park has developed subtropical vegetation: between mangroves and fjords, tree ferns and bamboo mingle wildly with lichens and orchids.

The interior is criss-crossed by a network of narrow, shallow inlets where no boat can venture. A multitude of plump islets covered with lush green vegetation dot the calm waters bordering the park. These karst domes and towers are the result of the erosion of limestone formations millions of years old, creating an area with an original relief, a veritable Caribbean version of Ha Long Bay.

Numerous caverns and caves interconnect, forming an extraordinary underground network that remains unexplored and little-known. Specialists have counted over a thousand caves, some with petroglyphs dating back to pre-Columbian times. You can visit the Angel cave, the cathedral-like San Gabriel cave, and the Linea and Arena caves, which contain works created by the Taino Indians, who did not live in caves, but used them as hideaways and depots during fishing or hunting campaigns.

Among the park's islands, it's on Bird Island that, between a mahogany tree and a cedar, you can watch pelicans, parrots, roosters and frigate birds, among others. Virtually deserted, the park is untouched by agriculture or forestry. Only the coastal fringe is open to tourists, as the interior quickly becomes impenetrable.

Visits are mainly by water (from Sabana de la Mar, Samaná or Sánchez), but also by land from Sabana de la Mar, at the cost of several hours or even days of trekking. Several agencies offer personalized or group excursions. For further information.