Simply fantastic - National Park Jaragua

Hola mis Steemians

After I told you about the Parque National "Los Haitises" yesterday, today we change to the southwest of the Dominican Republic and visit the Jaragua National Park together.

The Parque Nacional Jaragua,

is the largest biosphere reserve of the country with about 1.400 sqm (900 sqm water area). The gigantic area is located in the southwest near the border to Haiti and about 200 kilometers west of the capital Santo Domingo. Here you can look forward to an impressive animal world, an absolute dream beach and historical sites. For me this is a huge paradise for nature lovers and adventurers.

The National Park Jaragua was founded around the year 1983 and is still considered as an "insider tip" for the nature fans among the vacationers of the Dominican Republic. As already mentioned several times in my article, hardly any tourists get lost to the south of the island. There are also no big resorts and hotels in this area and I am rarely here to visit. Too bad, because the nature is unique.

The Jaragua National Park includes the lagoon de Manel Matos and Oviedo, the Bahia de las Aguilas, the sand islands Los Frailes and Piedra Negra, the Isla Beata as well as the caves Cueva La Poza, El Guanal and Cueve Mongo. In these caves there are still the Taino painters to dam up. Therefore these places are worth seeing especially for historically interested people.

The plant growth

is rather sparse in view of the dry climate in this region. But it offers ideal conditions for cacti. A unique desert landscape that later merges seamlessly into tropical rainforest. For me a special and unique contrast of this national park.

The animal world is also impressive,

which can be seen here. More than 130 different bird species can be found here. Especially worth seeing are the large colonies of red flamingos that live in the picturesque lagoon Oviedo. There are also a number of other birds such as frigate birds, herons and pelicans. Many species of sea turtles come to spawn in the protected park.

Huge colonies of flamingo in picturesque surroundings on the banks of the Oviedo River

Boat tour and unique dream beach

Looking like me, a lagoon trip is the best way to enjoy the grandiose nature here, to visit the impressive coastal landscape and to discover the numerous bird species in the park. The boat trips lasting several hours can be booked in advance. But it is most authentic if you ask one of the numerous fishermen directly in the cave village La Cueva for an excursion.

La Cueva is also the starting point to get to the fantastic beach Playa de Aguilas. This is considered by locals and many tourists as the most beautiful beach of the Dominican Republic. You shouldn't miss that at all.

Conclusion:

The Parque National Jaragua rewards its visitors with an unforgettable experience: the incomparable nature with more than 130 bird species, iguanas and sea turtles, tropical forests and savannah-like landscapes, saltwater lakes and one of the most beautiful beaches of the Dominican Republic and fascinating caves - all this awaits you in the National Park Jaragua.

Here you find the articles about the other national parks: