You haven’t really been to the Dominican Republic until you have been up through the mountains of the central province of La Vega, a two hour drive from the North Coast beach destinations. Such an opportunity will appeal to those seeking the challenges provided by hiking, mountain biking, four-wheel adventure excursions, horseback riding, tubing, cascading, rapelling, canyoning and parapenting. It is also recommended for those simply yearning the peace and quiet that comes with being atop the Caribbean, looking down on creation.

The island is endowed with the greatest mountain chain in the Caribbean and the highest peaks there, including Duarte Peak at 3,087 meters (10,128 feet). At the center of it all is the thriving rural town of Constanza, nestled in the fertile valley of the same name. Once there, you may need to do a double-take to ensure you really are in the Caribbean and not Switzerland, perhaps due to the Swiss-like pine forests and the sloped architecture of the vacation homes and many small local hotels.

Besides the alpine scenery, those who flock to the mountains also enjoy natural air-conditioning all year round. The yearly average temperature is 18°C (64°F), which also makes the area popular with domestic tourists in search of relief from the stress of daily life and the hotter climes of the coastal areas. Temperatures in the area can drop below 0°C (32°F) several times a year at the nearby Valle Nuevo campsite, which, at 2,200 meters above sea level, serves as the Caribbean’s highest plateau. In 1999, a record temperature of –8°C (18°F) was set.

The journey to Constanza from Duarte Highway brings you up 1,200 meters (3,937 feet). It can be both a feast for the eyes and a jolt to the heart. The view as you travel the highway bordering the mountains constantly dares you to look. The 50-km road inland is narrow and both drivers and passengers alike will find themselves torn between keeping their eyes on the zigzagging and constantly ascending road ahead and peeking to the side to absorb the unusual natural diversity of the Caribbean at higher altitudes.

The tropical vegetation changes with the elevation, as do the sweeping views of this natural extravaganza. The curtains open to a biodiversity unseen anywhere else in the Caribbean. Along the way is Ebano Verde, a scientific observation area with protected status where the green ebony trees that are unique to this part of the world are conserved. This is also an important post for bird watching.

Constanza makes a great base for the many outings available in the area, such as visits to the nearby picturesque town of Tireo or the river sites of Arroyazo and La Palma. Hotels help their guests plan excursions to the Salto de Aguas Blancas, the highest free waterfall in the Caribbean, with two cascades of water that tumble down at two stages from an impressive height of 83 meters (272 feet), at approximately 1,800 meters (5,905 feet) above sea level.

Constanza is one of the starting points for a trek to Valle del Tetero, the wide, expansive valley at the foot of the moun- tains of Pico Duarte, La Pelona and La Rusilla, which are known collectively to hikers as the Caribbean Alps. The trail