Los Haitises, Yanigua Waterfall and Montana Redonda Day Trip

Los Haitises National Park

Los Haitises National Park protects a remarkable karst landscape on the southern shore of Samaná Bay, in the north-east of the Dominican Republic. Hundreds of steep, rounded limestone hills covered in rainforest rise from the land and the water, and the coast is fringed by one of the largest mangrove forests in the Caribbean. Brown pelicans, frigatebirds and herons nest on the rocky islets, and the whole area feels untouched.

The park is best explored by boat, and this is the heart of the Los Haitises tour. From the small port near Sabana de la Mar, your boat follows mangrove channels, passes islets such as the bird colonies near Cayo de los Pájaros and stops at caves like La Arena and San Gabriel. Inside, Taíno pictographs and carved faces recall the island's first inhabitants. Walking inside the caves involves a few steps and uneven ground, so wear closed shoes.

Yanigua Waterfall Ranch

Deep in the green hills inland from Sabana de la Mar, the Yanigua river drops into a broad natural pool surrounded by tropical forest. The ranch around the waterfall has been turned into a nature stop with walking paths, changing rooms and a large open-sided restaurant, and the water is fresh and clear after the heat of the road. Swimming here is the most relaxing moment of the day.

Before or after the swim, guests can cover themselves in the fine natural clay from the riverbanks, let it dry in the sun and rinse off in the pool, a simple spa treatment included in the visit. The buffet lunch is served here: rice, beans, grilled and stewed meats, salads, fruit and Dominican desserts, with unlimited soft drinks and bottled water. Bring a towel and swimwear; mosquito repellent is useful too.

Cocoa, Coffee and Blue Amber at Yanigua

The ranch also showcases three Dominican treasures. Cocoa trees grow along the paths, and a guide shows how the pods are opened and how the beans become cocoa paste and chocolate. Coffee from the surrounding hills is roasted and brewed for tasting, giving you a sense of why Dominican coffee is so loved locally.

The third treasure is amber. The Dominican Republic is one of the few places in the world where amber is mined, and its rare blue amber, which glows blue under sunlight or ultraviolet light, is found almost nowhere else. Polished pieces, some holding tiny insects or plant fragments trapped millions of years ago, are displayed and explained. You can buy jewellery or chocolate if you wish, but there is no obligation, and the demonstration itself is part of the trip.

Montaña Redonda near Miches

Montaña Redonda is a round, grassy hill rising close to the coast near Miches, on the eastern side of Samaná Bay. From the top the view takes in two lagoons, Laguna Redonda and Laguna Limón, the green coastal plain, the mountains of the Cordillera Oriental and the blue Caribbean horizon. It has become one of the most photographed viewpoints in the country thanks to its giant wooden swings, hammocks and broom-stick photo props.

Getting there is part of the fun: the last stretch is too steep for normal buses, so the group transfers to an open safari truck for the ride up the hillside. At the summit there is time to sit on the swings, take photos over the lagoons and enjoy the breeze. Go in clear weather for the best views; clouds can roll over the top in the afternoon, which only adds to the drama.

Miches and Sabana de la Mar

Between the viewpoint and the national park, the route follows the quiet north-east coast of the Dominican Republic through Miches and Sabana de la Mar. Miches is a fishing and farming town backed by long empty beaches and green hills, and it is one of the least developed coasts in the country. Cattle pastures, coconut groves and small roadside stalls line the road.

Sabana de la Mar is the gateway to Los Haitises and the base for boats into the park. As you pass through, your guide talks about life on this coast, local farming and the history of the region. The drive is long, so this stretch is also a chance to rest between stops. It shows a side of the Dominican Republic that most visitors to Punta Cana never see, and it makes the day trip feel like a real journey across the east of the island.