Finally made the trip to these lesser visited parts.
Travelled up from Santo Domingo turning off Highway 2 onto Highway 4 to Hato Mayor on a decent road which is being repaved and without white lines. Rolling sugar cane country.
Signage in HM was not perfect....needed a moto concho to guide me back on track to Sabana al la Mar.
Road to Sabana was good initially until we got past the Agrocafe estate and during the very scenic wind through the mountains, the road was in places devoid of tarmac but still decent. Coffee and orange plantations. Repeat it's very scenic and lush.
On entering Sabana the signage to Parque Haitises was there but faded, and a 12 km trip on an unpaved road needing grading took us to our refuge for a few days.......Paraiso Cano Hondo.
The hotel is nothing special....a bit of an oddity as can be seen from photos on line..........but ideal as a base to visit the National Park. Clearly this place gets very busy at weekends and choosing weekdays was a good idea. There is an adjacent hotel called Altos de Cano Hondo.
We took a private boat charter from the hotel to see some of the park. Cost 2500rd for 2 1/2 hours.
Started with a trip down the river with mangroves either side before entering Bahia San Lorenzo and onwards to visit various caves with taino paintings...some home to pirates in the past...those limestone islands...and the site of the old railways dock...bananas.....UK company in past. Kayaking is an option if you want.
Didn't have time to arrange a good horse trek deep into the park so opted for a trip to Miches to see the fine beach there. Didn't count on Oberecht working on most of the 45 km road between Sabana and Miches so the drive was somewhat un-enjoyable and only on the way back did I begin to notice the fine scenery inland.
Seems the road from Bavaro through Miches to Sabana will be in good shape come the end of the year and a good 100km drive doable as a day trip.
Miches beach is just beyond the town with a left turn immediately after crossing the river. Big arching beach several km long which sort of reminds me of Coson. It is untouched. The headland protects the part of the beach nearest the town quite well and the swimming was good. The part away from the town nearer the headland should be even calmer....but 'google earth' showed no obvious access.
Decent place at beach entry to eat and get a cold beer.
Visited dock a Sabana a la Mar too to check on ferry service to Samana........4 times daily...9.00, 11.00, 3.00 and 5.00. Price one way 200rd. Guy wasn't sure of Samana departure times but last boat was 3.00pm. Boat parked at jetty looked decent. No car ferry service exists. Easy to pick up taxis moto conchos at dock....town is low key.
Visiting the park from the Sabana side avoids sharing your trip with a boat load of tourists if that is what you seek to avoid.
Travelled up from Santo Domingo turning off Highway 2 onto Highway 4 to Hato Mayor on a decent road which is being repaved and without white lines. Rolling sugar cane country.
Signage in HM was not perfect....needed a moto concho to guide me back on track to Sabana al la Mar.
Road to Sabana was good initially until we got past the Agrocafe estate and during the very scenic wind through the mountains, the road was in places devoid of tarmac but still decent. Coffee and orange plantations. Repeat it's very scenic and lush.
On entering Sabana the signage to Parque Haitises was there but faded, and a 12 km trip on an unpaved road needing grading took us to our refuge for a few days.......Paraiso Cano Hondo.
The hotel is nothing special....a bit of an oddity as can be seen from photos on line..........but ideal as a base to visit the National Park. Clearly this place gets very busy at weekends and choosing weekdays was a good idea. There is an adjacent hotel called Altos de Cano Hondo.
We took a private boat charter from the hotel to see some of the park. Cost 2500rd for 2 1/2 hours.
Started with a trip down the river with mangroves either side before entering Bahia San Lorenzo and onwards to visit various caves with taino paintings...some home to pirates in the past...those limestone islands...and the site of the old railways dock...bananas.....UK company in past. Kayaking is an option if you want.
Didn't have time to arrange a good horse trek deep into the park so opted for a trip to Miches to see the fine beach there. Didn't count on Oberecht working on most of the 45 km road between Sabana and Miches so the drive was somewhat un-enjoyable and only on the way back did I begin to notice the fine scenery inland.
Seems the road from Bavaro through Miches to Sabana will be in good shape come the end of the year and a good 100km drive doable as a day trip.
Miches beach is just beyond the town with a left turn immediately after crossing the river. Big arching beach several km long which sort of reminds me of Coson. It is untouched. The headland protects the part of the beach nearest the town quite well and the swimming was good. The part away from the town nearer the headland should be even calmer....but 'google earth' showed no obvious access.
Decent place at beach entry to eat and get a cold beer.
Visited dock a Sabana a la Mar too to check on ferry service to Samana........4 times daily...9.00, 11.00, 3.00 and 5.00. Price one way 200rd. Guy wasn't sure of Samana departure times but last boat was 3.00pm. Boat parked at jetty looked decent. No car ferry service exists. Easy to pick up taxis moto conchos at dock....town is low key.
Visiting the park from the Sabana side avoids sharing your trip with a boat load of tourists if that is what you seek to avoid.
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