| Trips |
Whale
Watching
The best period to observe them is between the 15th of
jaguar and the 15th of mars. It is breathtaking sight. These mammals that
reach 15 meter and can weigh 40 ton, have chosen the bay of Samaná to mate
and to give birth. During this period they don’t eat and use the fat
reserves they accumulated during their stay in the north. Because they come
in such quantities to this protected area and so close to the coast, they
offer watchers an exceptional opportunity: only a small boat trip is needed
to find the first group and see the males courting their beloved by leaping
high out of the water. They surge with such force, that you can see their
bodies completely out of the water. |
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Los
Haitises
This excursion combines cultural, historical and
ecological components. The National Park Los Haitises is a large zone of
rocky hills, mangroves, rivers and small islands, called "mogotes", with a
significant fauna: more than 100 different species of birds (of the 270 in
the country), several lamantines (sea cows), sea turtles, bats, reptiles and
among them the boa… Thanks to a tangle of mangrove roots, green vines, a
mass of undergrowth and an almost inaccessible humid tropical forest, there
exists a favorable ecosystem for the survival of endangered species. You
will also see the many caves (with inside stalagmites and stalactites) with
walls covered with inscriptions, witnesses of the time the Tainos lived
here, hiding for the Spaniards. Only the drawings on the wall stayed, and
some old legends about hidden treasures. One is about Cofresi, one of the
last Caribbean pirates and founder of Sanchez, who hid a treasure that was
never found yet.
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El Limón
Ecoturism
Among the peninsula’s several ecological groups, an
important one is the Ecotourism association of El Limón, which assembles
various Ranchos that organize excursions on horseback to the falls. It wants
to regulate the visits in order to preserve this beautiful spot, because its
success could destroy it easily. The association maintains the roads and
keeps the environment of the cascade clean. These activities provide an
income for many families and this kind of organization is a good example of
integrated development. Another interesting initiative is the organization
the women of El Limón, who make and sell handicraft products, to make a
living in their village.
In the hamlet Palmarito, 6 km from El Limón,
they also work at this type of local development. Here, with help of Andreas
(from Ecotopia), the locals have cleared ancient pathways that lead to the
Rio la Caña and led by the guide Fausto, you can walk through impressive
vegetation. The place is totally out of the way of tourists and the
unhurried 3-hour walk brings you to a refreshing dip in the natural swimming
pools the river hollowed out here. On returning, a typical local meal is
waiting for you in a garden with an incredible view on the hills bordering
the beaches of El Valle and Cayo Morón. Whatever the type of excursion you
make, the welcome of the El Limón people, the little local restaurants and
the beauty of the site will captivate you. |
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