Punta Cana Excursion
Los Haitises National Park
A testament to the Dominican Republic’s natural beauty, Los Haitises National Park is a unique experience that will take you worlds away from your resort. Visit areas seldom seen by tourists as you come in closer contact with Dominican culture and the country’s amazing natural contrasts.
Approx 12 Hours
Duration
Hotel pickup
Included
Small & large groups
Shared tour
English & Español
Live guide
Free
cancellation
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confirmation
Pay
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Here's What You Get
Do you want to visit an area of the Dominican Republic seldom seen by tourists?
If so, our trek to Los Haitises National Park is a true contrast with the all-inclusive resorts and tourist laden beaches of Punta Cana.
If you're looking for intimacy and authenticity then carry on and read our description of the natural wonder that is Los Haitises...
The Park
Haitises means "highlands" or "mountain range" in Arawak (the Taino Indian language). Tucked in a remote corner of the Dominican Republic's northeast region, the park is a 1,600 square kilometer humid forest with vast stretches of untouched mangrove forests, secluded beaches, ancient caves and the Dominican Republic's most diverse collection of endemic flora and fauna. What was once a sacred, safe haven for the Tainos (the country's original inhabitants) is now a mysterious and awe-inspiring draw for tourists willing to leave the beaten track.
And how do you get there?...
The Drive
From Punta Cana / Bavaro you head north into the eastern Oriental Mountain Range. Welcoming us is a windy, paved road that snakes through rolling green highlands and country villages, along the southern shores of Samana Bay. Your guide, meanwhile, brings the outside world to life explaining the daily routines of everyday Dominicans and highlighting some of the country's natural produce as you pass countless agricultural and cattle farms. Our highlight stop, during the ride, is an adventurous ascent of the 1,000 foot peak - Montana Redonda. Known for its amazing vistas, Montana Redonda offers unforgettable views of Samana to the Northern horizon and the Oriental Mountain Range to the Southern horizon.
Once we arrive at Los Haitises...
The Tour
- Catamaran - Aboard our catamaran we'll maneuver through the meandering canals of the park's majestic mangrove forests which act as an ideal home for hundreds of species of birds, fish, reptiles and crustaceans. Leaving the mangroves, the scenery opens up into the San Lorenzo Bay with photo-inspiring views of the park's lush outcroppings.
- Cueva de la Arena - Located on a secluded beach, the cave's several waterfront caverns hold Taino carvings (petroglyphs) in the rock and sleepy bats in their natural habitat.
- Cueva de la linea - Found deeper in the forest, this vast cave is filled with Taino drawings (pictoglyphs), giving us a better sense of Taino religion and culture before their society's ultimate demise with the arrival of Europeans over 500 years ago.
It's been a long day so you deserve...
Lunch at the Waterfalls
Paraiso Cano Hondo is a cozy eco-lodge at Los Haitises National Park. Transversing the property is a natural river landscaped into numerous waterfalls. You'll be treated to a typical Dominican lunch of meat, fish, rice, beans, vegetables, salad and fruit. After lunch, swim in the river's cool, refreshing waters born deep in Los Haitises; and after your swim wind down with some hot chocolate or coffee made at the eco-lodge.
Join us by booking now...
Only a certain numbers of individuals are permitted on the Los Haitises Tour and it's only available 2 days a week. To secure availability bookings should be made in advance.
For a genuine contact with the Dominican Republic's history, culture and natural beauty, join us on this unique adventure to Los Haitises National Park.
What's Included
- Round trip transport
- Catamaran tour of Los Haitises
- Professional guide
- Lunch
- Non alcoholic drinks
What to Bring
- Comfortable clothing
- Bathing suit
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Towel
- Sneakers or flip flops
- Camera
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Cash
- The normal, non-stop, transfer time between Punta Cana and Los Haitises National Park is approx. 2 1/2 hours. The ride is part of the excursion as the tour guide discusses a great deal of Dominican culture and the everyday scenes taking place outside the bus. The stop at Montana Redonda can be on the way to the park or on the way back, depending on weather, and may be cancelled due to poor visibility.
Reviews
4.6
Based on 15 verified reviews from travelers who booked this tour.
Menglin Lin · Saint-Laurent, QC
"I booked a tour with Punta Cana Tours to Los Haitises national park and I'm willing to share my experience. Be very careful with the souvenir/jewelry stops included in this tour. Overall, despite the long hours of journey, we enjoyed our excursion, but unfortunately we had a very concerning experience at the first souvenir shop where the tour stopped almost one hour for breakfast, coffee and shopping. None of the jewelry had visible price tags. I was initially quoted prices in USD, but at checkout the salesperson rapidly switched to Dominican pesos and used a calculator while both the salesperson and our guide were urging me to finish because the group was leaving. I ended up paying DOP 20,000 for two pairs of earrings and one bracelet, with no receipt or itemized invoice provided. More importantly, the jewelry had been represented to me as high-quality genuine Larimar made with pure silver. After the purchase, I showed the pieces to employees at three independent jewelry shops. They consistently advised that the metal did not appear to be silver, and I was also advised that the blue material did not appear to be genuine Larimar. I contacted Punta Cana Tours after returning home and asked them to help contact the merchant and arrange a refund. The owner replied that the souvenir shops are third-party vendors chosen by their providers and said he would contact the provider to see what remedy could be found. As of ten days after my trip, I have received no further response or resolution. I am sharing this so that other travellers can make an informed decision. My advice to other travellers is simple: enjoy the excursion, but be extremely cautious about buying jewelry at the souvenir stops included in the tour, especially when there were no visible price tags, no written description of the materials, no itemized invoice or receipt, and the sales process became extremely rushed while prices switched between USD and Dominican pesos. I would personally avoid making jewelry purchases at these stops."
Alana Norquay · Port Saint Lucie, FL
"I and my group had an amazing day with Punta Cana Tours. We did the Los Haitises National Park Tour. The guides are knowledgeable, personable and lots of fun. The only reason this review is 4 star is because we had to join the tour bus very early in the morning but then had to wait about an hour before the bus actually left as we were waiting for more people to join. I would also add that the description is not very detailed. Things to know are; there was a small breakfast provided about half way along the bus journey to the National Park, which was helpful. There is also a long time between lunch and arriving back to Punta Cana so having snacks to hold you over until arrival is a good idea. This is a long day but worth every yawn."
Aram A. · Raleigh, NC
"Visiting Los Haitises National Park was an absolute highlight of our trip! The natural beauty of the park is breathtaking, but what truly made the experience incredible was our guide, Miguel. Miguel was super helpful and incredibly thorough from start to finish. He shared so many fascinating fun facts and deep history about the park, the caves, and the local ecosystem that we never would have discovered on our own. It’s clear he is passionate about what he does, and it made the entire tour engaging and amazing. I’d recommend this tour to anyone looking for a perfect blend of adventure and history!"
Good to know
Why is Los Haitises National Park famous?
Los Haitises is one of the Dominican Republic's most renowned and beautiful national parks. The park is 1,600 square kilometers of humid forest, mangrove forests, secluded beaches and ancient caves with Taino Indian drawings that attracts tourists from around the world.
Is Los Haitises National Park free?
There is an entrance fee for Los Haitises National Park but any tour into the park will include the nominal fee. Los Haitises is really only accessible by boat, via the parks many mangrove canals, so visiting the park will require a guided tour.
How do you get to Los Haitises National Park?
Los Haitises National Park is located about a 2 1/2 hour drive north from Punta Cana along the brand new Miches/Punta Cana highway. The easiest way to see the park is with a guided excursion from Punta Cana that included transport and entrance to the national park.
When was Los Haitises National Park established?
Los Haitises was given National Park status in 1968, by the Dominican government, and continues to be a protected safe haven for the Dominican Republic's most diverse collection of endemic flora and fauna.
What does los haitises mean in english?
Haitises means “highlands” or “mountain range” in Arawak. This was the language of the Taino Indians who were the original inhabitants of a land they called Quisqueya; today, known as the Dominican Republic.
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