Los Haitises National Park in the northwest of the Dominican Republic is one of the country’s most visited places. It has the most incredible natural wonders ranging from ancient caves with pre-Hispanic paintings to one of the largest forests with an extensive biodiversity.
Organise your travel itinerary with Passporter, completely free to use, easy and practical. Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that interest you most by adding them to your route map. You can also keep important documents such as travel tickets or hotel reservations all in one place, among many other features.
Things to see on your trip to Los Haitises National Park
Cave of San Gabriel
The cave of San Gabriel is the largest cave in Los Haitises National Park. Here you will find different spaces and an abundance of archaeological remains that draw in thousands of travellers and hikers.
If you want to learn more about the great historical and cultural diversity of the Dominican Republic, you should not miss this incredible cavern.
Paraíso Caño Hondo
This rural and rustic ecological hotel, divided into 3 buildings surrounded by the jungle of Los Haitises National Park, is one of the most popular places in this exotic paradise. With nearby hotels at low prices, open-air swimming pools and its individual style, what are you waiting for?
The Taino Tropical Rainforest
This is one of the most interesting places you can find in the National Park. Its immense vegetation attracts people to the range of biodiversity found there. It is certainly an excellent option if you want to see the great Dominican Republic’s varied wildlife.
The Cave of Time
The Cueva del Tiempo is one of the smallest caves in Los Haitises National Park. However it is steeped in history thanks to its cave paintings. On the outskirts of this cave you can find the remains of old train works dating back to the 19th century, which, along with its interior, makes it rich in culture and history. You can get to this cave by boat making the trip a real adventure.
Sand Cave
Inside Los Haitises National Park, you can find the Cueva de Arena (Sand Cave). It is one of the most famous and oldest caves that have been studied in the Dominican Republic. It’s important to note that this cave can only be reached by boat, and that inside you can find different pre-Hispanic paintings which detail the deep history of the Dominican Republic.
Right next to the cave is a beach, another of the natural wonders of the park. It is a place that has been well taken care of for the benefit of visitors. Here you can book guided tours that detail each pictograph in the cave and ends on the stunning beach.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see around Los Haitises National Park
Cayo Levantado
Popularly known as Bacardi Island, the Levantado cay is one of the most visited places in this Caribbean country. In fact, it is home to some of the best beaches in the world, attracting many visitors and boasting glistening white sand and palm-fringed beaches.
Every day, small taxi boats leave from the port of Samaná, on Avenida Marina, taking visitors to this small island. You can spend the day swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, and enjoying fresh fish on this intoxicating beach.
Salto de Socoa Natural Monument
Located just a forty minute drive from Santo Domingo, the Socoa waterfall is on the route to Los Haitises National Park, and is considered one of the most environmentally rich areas in the Dominican Republic.
This spa has a 20 metre high waterfall that falls into a natural pool of cold, crystal clear water, in which you can take a rich bath. It makes this spot one of the exciting natural places of this region. A large number of people come to admire the beauty of its waters and the stunning tropical rainforest that surrounds it. Are you brave enough to go?
The Mangrove Forest
The Mangroves are one of the most remarkable aspects of the Dominican Republic. They are found in the middle of the water, forming a marine-coastal system and are a true example of the natural beauty of this country. The abundance of a varied biodiversity is one of the things that make it so interesting. It is without a doubt a place you cannot miss if you love marine life.
San Lorenzo Bay
San Lorenzo Bay is one of the most popular places in the Dominican Republic, because the biodiversity here will make you fall in love as soon as you lay eyes on it. If that were not enough, you can also do bird watching, as on top of fish and aquatic animals, in San Lorenzo Bay there are multiple bird species that add a magical touch of colour to the bay, making it the perfect place for photography and filming.
What to see in Los Haitises National Park in 1 day?
Taking into account the size of Los Haitises National Park offers, it will not be possible to visit it in just one day, so check out the following itinerary:
- San Gabriel Cave
- Taino Tropical Rain Forest
- Paraíso Caño Hondo
What to see in Los Haitises National Park in 2 days?
Continue to explore the wonderful places that Los Haitises National Park has to offer, some of the most enchanting and hard to find places.
- The Cave of Time
- Sand Cave
- Salto de Socoa Natural Monument
What to see in Los Haitises National Park in 3 days?
Finish your tour of Los Haitises National Park by making the most of its proximity to other paradisiacal places. Why not:
- Visit cayo Levantado
- Go to the Mangrove Forest
- Discover San Lorenzo Bay
Tips for your trip to Los Haitises National Park
In order to have an unforgettable experience during your visit to Los Haitises National Park, here are some important tips:
- Bring comfortable clothes, swimwear, sunglasses, a hat and trainers so you can explore and enjoy the National Park properly.
- Don’t forget to bring sunscreen and mosquito repellent, remember the Park has many forests and bays.
- Plan ahead and choose the places to explore in advance so that you don’t miss any important spot.
- Don’t forget to take your camera with you to capture the best green landscapes in the Dominican Republic.
How to plan your tour of Los Haitises National Park?
Plan your itinerary quickly and easily with the Passporter App.
On the app you can:
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app so you can inspire other users.
If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
Frequently asked questions about a trip to Los Haitises National Park
It is located in the northeast of the Dominican Republic, specifically in the bay of Samaná, near the provinces of Hato Mayor, Monte Plata and Samaná.
You can go from Punta Cana by car or bus and then take a ferry to Sabana del Mar where boats go tothe National Park.
If you are in Santo Domingo you can get to the National Park by bus, which takes 2 hours and 35 minutes and costs 3 to 7 USD.
The cost to tour the various sites in the National Park is approximately US$70-90 per person.
Finding somewhere to rest after a long and energetic journey through the National Park Los Haitises is not something you need to worry about, because we have made you a list of the closest hotels to this wonderful park.
The Hotel Altos de Caño Hondo is just a stones throw away from the Los Haitises National Park, where you can find different services and many activities to do at the hotel. The price for one night is 68 USD.
Another option is the Nuevo Amanecer Hotel and Restaurant which has a swimming pool, laundry and internet services, and much more. It is close to Los Haitises National Park but also close to beaches such as Playa Bonita, Playa Cosón and Cayos las Ballenas. The price for one night is approximately 35 USD.
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