Sierra de Bahoruco National Park

Sierra de Bahoruco National Park is a protected area in southwestern Dominican Republic featuring limestone mountains, tropical forests, and rugged terrain. The landscape consists of multiple valleys, plateaus, and densely forested slopes that support different wildlife and plant communities.

The park takes its name from a Taino word recorded by Spanish chroniclers like Bartolomé de las Casas in early colonial accounts of the island. The region became important to Spanish colonists for settlement and resource extraction in the centuries that followed.

Local people practice traditional hunting and gathering in the park's forests, skills passed down through generations. These ways of life remain visible in how communities interact with the land today.

The main entrance near Pedernales provides access to marked hiking trails leading to various viewpoints and natural features throughout the park. It is wise to arrive early so you can explore the paths in good light and have time for breaks along the way.

The park contains El Hoyo de Pelempito, a massive sinkhole dropping about 360 meters deep that stretches for several kilometers through limestone formations. This geological feature formed over millennia as limestone dissolved, revealing how underground water systems have shaped the landscape.