Pico Duarte (Multi -Day)
Climb the highest peak in the Caribbean. (3 days / 2 nights)
Before booking online please contact us for available trip dates. A minimum of 2 people are required to operate this tour.
From start to finish, a trek through the Dominican Alps is a challenging and exhilarating adventure! Pico Darte (3,087m), the highest peak in the Caribbean, is protected within the Armando Bermudez National Park. The four highest mountains in the Antilles are found within the boundaries of the park, three of them over 3000m.
Truly the jewel of the Caribbean, nature lovers should not miss this Dominican Adventure. You will see a variety of different birds throughout the trip. Accompanied by local guides and pack mules, we will ford clear mountain rivers and traverse through two subtropical mountainous life zones: humid forest and rainforest. The cool alpine temperatures, so rarely offered by the Caribbean, will energize you as we climb steeply along the path to the Zona Fria amongst serenades from Mourning Doves and the rhythmic wings of Zumbador Hummingbirds. Breathtaking views await, as we journey to the "Roof of the Caribbean".
Pico Duarte, located in the uninhabited Bermudez National Park, is a challenge that less than 200 foreigners take a year. This is a 46km hike on demanding terrain. With two nights camping. In addition to our scheduled three day Mule Treks, private groups can arrange custom trips from 2-5 days trekking in the Dominican Alps.
Before booking online please contact us for available trip dates. A minimum of 2 people are required to operate this tour.
From start to finish, a trek through the Dominican Alps is a challenging and exhilarating adventure! Pico Darte (3,087m), the highest peak in the Caribbean, is protected within the Armando Bermudez National Park. The four highest mountains in the Antilles are found within the boundaries of the park, three of them over 3000m.
Truly the jewel of the Caribbean, nature lovers should not miss this Dominican Adventure. You will see a variety of different birds throughout the trip. Accompanied by local guides and pack mules, we will ford clear mountain rivers and traverse through two subtropical mountainous life zones: humid forest and rainforest. The cool alpine temperatures, so rarely offered by the Caribbean, will energize you as we climb steeply along the path to the Zona Fria amongst serenades from Mourning Doves and the rhythmic wings of Zumbador Hummingbirds. Breathtaking views await, as we journey to the "Roof of the Caribbean".
Pico Duarte, located in the uninhabited Bermudez National Park, is a challenge that less than 200 foreigners take a year. This is a 46km hike on demanding terrain. With two nights camping. In addition to our scheduled three day Mule Treks, private groups can arrange custom trips from 2-5 days trekking in the Dominican Alps.
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Tour runs: Mon. | Tues. | Wed. | Thurs. | Fri. | Sat. | Sun.
Rated: Intermediate/Advanced Hikers - The hike is not super technical but very good fitness is needed. Included: all equipment, hotel night before, guides, mules and park entry. Prices: Tour Price (Adult) $450 (USD) Tour Price (Youth) $425 (USD) Tour Price (Child) Not suitable for this age group. All taxes included. Descriptive Tour Itinerary Arrival Day - Please note that transport to/from Jarabacoa is not included in the price. Late pm arrival at Jarabacoa River Club. Arrival time is flexible and we can arrange pick up from the Caribe Tours bus station in Jarabacoa if we know your arrival time. The hotel address is Carretera Jarabacoa-Manabao Km 4, Pinar Quemado, Jarabacoa, La Vega, República Dominicana. Tel. 809-574-2456 / 4095 Cel. 849-863-9615. Accomodation, evening meal and breakfast are included in the tour price. In the evening your guide will pass by to go over the details of the hike. Hike Day 1 Transport from Jarabacoa River Club to La Cienega de Manabao [1hr 20 approx] - Here we meet up with the local guide and mule driver before heading over to the park office to aquire the permits. Following a quick bite to eat we begin the hike at approx. 7.00am Trek: La Cienega de Manabao to La Compartición [18.1km, elevation 1110m to 2450m - Full descripton below] La Cienaga - Los Tablones - La Cotorra (7.8km, 1110m-1720m): Awakened by the brisk air we follow the Los Tablones River, forming the boundary of the park, along a flat path frequented by locals who live near the base camp. Towering Wild Cane lines our path and giant broadleaf forests form a canopy overhead. Passing Los Tablones we begin to climb and the surrounding nature gives way to a new zone of vegetation including Lirio, Myrtle Laurel Cherry, Copey, Pasture Fiddlewood, West Indies Laurel Cherry, and Sierra Palm. Our resting-place for a short break, La Cotorra, is aptly named for the Hispaniola Parrots that congregate in the area in the late afternoon. La Cotorra to La Laguna (2.8 Km, 1720m-1980m): Climbing away from the broad views of the La Cienega Valley, the trail follows the natural ridge-line. Once again, new flora greets us as West Indian Sumac, Palo de Viento, Wild Brazilleto, Krug Wild Avocado, and Tree Ferns decorate the thick forest surrounding us. A fresh-water spring is our reward at La Laguna. Time to replensih the water supplies. La Laguna to El Cruce (0.5km, 1980m-2180m): The trail climbs steeply to the intersection where the path to Pico Duarte and picturesque Valle Tetero, featured in our 5-Day Family Vacation Mule Trek, separates. The northern slope is blanketed with green ferns. El Cruce to Aguita Fria (3km, 2180m-2650m): Still climbing the ridgeline, the vegetation makes its final Caribbean Alpine change before reaching the barren-rock top of Pico Duarte, here we see Creolean Pine, Lyonia Heptamera, Myrica Picardae, and low-growing bushes, like Garrya Fadyenii,Satureja Alpestris, and Baccharis Myrsinites. Our resting place for a refueling snack at Aguita Fria is adjacent to a simple wet bog. Surprisingly this is in this place that the headwaters of the two longest rivers in the DR, Yaque del Norte and Yaque del Sur, subtly bubble up from the earth. Aguita Fria to La Compartición (4km, 2650m-2450m): The final stetch before a well earned rest. This section climbs and then drops steeply down the ridgeline, after around 2 hours hiking, pine forests welcome us to our base camp at La Compartición. Excellent views and a cold mountain stream await (for brave bathers!). Here your guides will prepare a fire and a hot evening meal. Accommodation: Cabin or Tent camping at La Compartición. Cabins are shared and are available on a first come first served basis. Tents will be also be available. There are latrines and basic cold water washing facilities on site. Hike Day 2 Trek: La Compartición - Pico Duarte - La Compartición [5km, 2450m-3087m-2450m, 5km] La Compartición to Pico Duarte and back (10km round trip): Beginning with a steady climb 2 hours before dawn, we follow a switchback trail through pine forests along the wide ridgeline to an open meadow at Vallecito de Lilis. Here we can catch a breath enjoying the view of La Pelona, the second highest peak in the Caribbean at 3070m, before beginning the final push to the summit. Sparse pine forests give way to rock and boulders at the peak with origins dating back 60 million years to the Cretaceous period. On a clear morning, with the sun rising over our path back down the mountain, there is truly no doubt that you have made it to the Roof of the Caribbean! After spending some time at the chilly and usually windy - it is often close to freezing - summit we make our way back to La Compartición for a hot meal followed by some R&R time preparing ourselves for the following days descent to La Cienega. Accommodation: Cabin or Tent camping at La Compartición. Hike Day 3 Trek: La Compartición to La Cienega de Manabao [18.1km, 2450m-1110m] Transport: La Cienega de Manabao to Jarabacoa Given reasonable weather, a 6.30am start time and a good pace, we should be back at the National Park Headquarters in La Cienega de Manabao by 2:00pm and Jarabacoa by 3.30pm. Photo credit: Gabriel Harding / Travel Bloggers IMPORTANT TRANSPORT INFORMATION Please note that transport to/from Jarabacoa is not included in the price. If you need information or advice on getting to Jarabacoa please contact us. It takes approx. 2.5 hours by bus from Santo Domingo. |
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