A striking white beach lining turquoise waters, Paraíso offers cool breezes at sunrise, when fishers take off from its shores for the day, and at sunset. Its currents aren’t for the average swimmer–stick to beach walks–but its waves are ideal for experienced surfers.
The city of Barahona is ideally located near beaches, cold rivers for swims, and is less than an hour away from an array of biodiverse parks, lakes, and mountains.
Barahona Enriquillo Coastal Highway
The drive down the Barahona Enriquillo Coastal Highway shows off a sparkling turquoise Caribbean Sea on your left, while the mountains of Barahona tower on the not-so-distant right.
Cachote is a stunning protected cloud forest area, with a tiny community living at 1,097 meters (3,600 feet) above sea level. There are winding paths along which you can observe tropical flora, including bromeliads and wild orchids, as well as a series of hiking trails for excellent bird-watching.
Hop on Café Toral’s coffee trail, a comprehensive hour-long tour of this popular coffee plantation located in the mountains of Polo. Learn about the various stages of coffee production from tree to cup.
Cafeto Madre is another option for a coffee trail in the mountains of Polo. Local guides will take you hiking across multiple trails leading to the coffee plantation. You could also combine an excursion to the nearby cloud forest of Cachote while you’re there.
This short but scenic zipline adventure takes you right over a pristine river as you glide through tropical forests. The Canopy Tour ends at an onsite spa, the perfect way to cool you down.
Corporativa Simona Esmeralda Feliz
This locally run cooperative in Polo produces their own coffee on site; tour their small factory and process during the months of November through January.
Tucked in the lush forests below the Bahoruco mountain range, a thirty-minute hike through a lush rainforest leads to this huge cavern and its emerald-colored pools.
A charming coastal fishing village, La Ciénaga offers the opportunity to experience an artisan marmalade making workshop, using fresh fruits collected from the Sierra de Bahoruco, and hiking trips to surrounding caves and rivers.
Lago Enriquillo is the largest and deepest lake below sea level in the Caribbean, ideal for wildlife watching and nature exploration. Boat trips along the lake’s waters and onto Isla Cabritos reveal a large population of American crocodiles, and flamingos.
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