The Southwest

Driving through this part of the country, your eyes are met with a spectacular panoply of change: cactus-dotted deserts, lush plantations, towering mountains and cliffs, thriving crops, white-pebbled beaches, and serene lakes. Not many tourists choose to come to this region because it doesn’t offer the conventional beach vacation idyll or must-see sights. The majority of the southwest’s beaches are carpeted with smooth white rocks along a rough-water, deep shoreline instead of white sand and calm waters. And the closer you get to Haiti, the hotter the climate gets and the more impoverished the towns are. But what is attractive about the southwest is its uniqueness. It is a perfect destination for visitors seeking an off-the-beaten-path experience where you’ll encounter gorgeous coastline vistas, a surreal desert terrain, remote and private beaches, flamingo colonies and crocodiles lazing on a river bank, and an extra strong welcome from people who are glad to have tourism come knocking at their door.

The southwest’s history, while venerated and celebrated, is not memorialized with museums and grandeur here, but rather, through silent remembrance of its people. It was once the home of the great Taíno cacique Guarokuiá (or Enriquillo, as he was renamed by the Spaniards and is historically referred to), who fought off the Spanish conquistadors through a series of battles for 14 years. Freedom fighter Máximo Gómez, who went on to liberate the republic’s sister nation, Cuba, also hailed from here. The black shadow of self-indulgent opulence and egoism of brutal dictator General Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina, who killed thousands of people throughout his regime, has stained the otherwise lovely town where he was born, San Cristóbal.

There is a feeling of remoteness from the rest of the Dominican Republic here. It is unlike the rest of the country in geography and most definitely in number of tourism dollars. The southwestern region is a destination for the adventurous visitor, the ecoconscious tourist, and those who want to immerse themselves in the Dominican culture without being separated by the guarded walls of resort complexes.

Reserva Antropológica El Pomier: This anthropological reserve holds one of the most significant collections of rupestrian art found in the Caribbean. A series of caves features about 4,000 paintings and 5,000 rock drawings by the Taíno, Ingeri, and Carib people. (read more)

San Rafael: Take a dip in the cold and refreshing waters of the balnearios San Rafael, then enjoy the breathtaking and photo-perfect views along this highway stretch of the Península de Pedernales, where cliff-top vistas with flowers bloom against the backdrop of white-stone beaches and the azure Caribbean Sea. (read more)

Parque Nacional Jaragua: Take a boat trip to watch the flamingos and 130 other species of birds in their natural habitat of this protected lagoon. (read more)

Bahía de las Águilas: Charter a boat from the fishermen at the Las Cuevas village to one of the most pristine and definitely the most remote beach in the Domincian Republic. (read more)

Parque Nacional Isla Cabritos: Visit the crocodiles and endangered iguanas at Lago Enriquillo, four times saltier than the sea and the lowest point in the Caribbean. (read more)