Unspoilt
– The National Parks of the Dominican Republic
Cabarete
is the perfect place for a beach based holiday, whether
that be bathing in the sun or enjoying world class water
sports. However, if you want a really varied vacation, there
is also the opportunity to spread your legs amongst some
beautiful unspoilt tropical scenery in one of the many protected
National Parks.
The Parque Nacional El Choco is easily accessible from Cabarete.
The Parque Nacional El Choco contains two lagoons, Laguna
Cabarete, and Laguna Goleta, which range 8km from the Cordillera
Septentrional hills to the Atlantic Ocean. The Park boasts
impressive caves and subterranean water systems, many of
which have been developed for tourism – some of the
underwater pools are as big as football pitches. The Park
is covered in lush green vegetation thanks to the plentiful
rainfall that the area enjoys. The Park can be accessed
from the West of Cabarete (this is the main entrance), or
from a few hundred yards away from Islabon, about 5km east
of Cabarete.
The Parque Nacional Loma Isabel de Torres is named after
Isabel de Torres, an 800m high mountain that is the highest
peak behind Puerta Plata. Despite being one of the smallest
protected areas in the Dominican Republic, at around only
15 square kilometres in size, it is one of the most popular
National Park areas with visitors and tourists. At the summit
of Isabel de Torres stands the Cristo Redentor, a statue
of Christ with welcoming arms spread wide – very similar
to the huge statue that stands over Rio De Janeiro. Other
attractions include a fort from which the Dominican Republic
declared war on Germany in 1942, and a botanical garden.
For those with an interest in history, pay a visit to the
Parque Histórico La Isabela, and have a look at the
ruins of what is reputed to be Christopher Columbus’s
house – and as such part of the first European settlement
in the New World. Nearby is a church where the first Christian
Mass in the New World is said to have been held.
Whether you are travelling from the New World or the Old,
try cheapflights.com when you are looking for flights and
airline
tickets. If it is indeed Europe that you are travelling
from, you’ll find lots of cheap
flights to Puerta Plata International Airport on cheapflights.co.uk.
