Barahona

Taking the route of the setting sun, about 200 kilometers from the Dominican capital, you reach the Province of Barahona, located on the peninsula of the same name. It is the first site of interest of a tour of the tourist destination in the southwestern region, blessed with a coast of stunning beauty, made up of underwater reefs, ideal for fishing. The region’s surrounding beaches offer visitors the charm of their bright colors.

A singular attraction in this region is the mysterious Magnetic Pole, a source of admiration for visitors with its rebellious movement that defies the laws of physics.

Another source of interest is Laguna de Rincón, a scientific reserve that is ideal for bird watching. The cold water springs, as well as the thermal and sulfurous water spring in Canoa, are some of the attractions that visitors can enjoy in this idyllic place.

Barahona has beautiful beaches, some of them, such as the Los Patos beach, are suitable for windsurfing. The San Rafael beach, with its extraordinary panoramic views, is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. Also, just a few kilometers from Barahona, is the Bahoruco beach, an ideal place for lovers of adventure and water sports. Playa Paraíso, El Quemaito and La Ciénaga stand out for their uncommon beauty.

From the architectural standpoint, the city has an invaluable heritage. The Arc de Triumph, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Municipal Palace and Barahona’s Central Park are the most representative features.

Hotel choices in Barahona are very diverse. There are beautiful accommodations, such as the imposing Hotel Casa Bonita, where you can combine the beach experience with mountain biking, canopies, and trails. In turn, Hotel Rancho Platón offers a variety of options, including trails, slides and swimming pools with a play area for children. Hotel Rancho Don Cesar has beautiful orchard trails, as well as a natural swimming pool in the middle of the river, which is a unique experience for those who visit the place. In the village, you can also find a diversity of options, among which the Palito Seco Regatta annual events, as well as surfing tournaments (Barahona is one of the best beaches in our country to practice this sport).

The Tourism Cluster of the Barahona Province promotes the following trails:

1. Sendero de la Virgen. The estimated total trail between the parking lot and the first waterfall is 3.0 km long x 1.0 meters wide. Travel time is estimated at 1.5 to 2 hours, considering the distance, stops along the way and walking trails. The tour includes visiting a primary forest that produces a unique sensory experience, going across its bathing places, streams and thick vegetation. You can also appreciate a variety of birds and endemic species of fauna and flora, and get in touch with the community and surrounding villages.
2. Sendero Cafeto Madre, in Polo. There is a 5 kilometers drive, and the travel time is estimated at 45 minutes from Polo to the farm. Once inside the farm, the walking time is estimated at 20 minutes. By bike, 2 hours from Polo to the farm… El Sendero and its surroundings offer the option of visiting producing coffee and banana plantations and making contact with their communities at “La Lanza” and “Finca de Café Los Lirios” coffee farms.
3. Sendero del Café La Factoría, in Polo, Barahona, is situated at 900 mts. The entrance to the coffee farms is 15 to 20 kilometers long and the travel time is estimated at 1 to 2 hours. A bilingual tour is offered to producing coffee plantations while making contact with the communities at “La Lanza” and “Finca de Café Los Lirios” coffee farms.
4. Sendero Bici-Ruta (Cachote – Plato- Casa Bonita) is 9.8 kilometers long. The extended route is from 10 to 26 kms long and the complete circuit lasts from 2 to 2.5 hours. It is ideal for mountain biking and bird watching. The levels of difficulty vary according to the section of the trail you choose.

More details and interactive maps of these trails that the Barahona Ecotourism Cluster has recommended can be found here: http://www.gobarahona.com/es/senderos

Did you know? Barahona is the only place in the world where the only two blue pectolite mines exist, specifically at the end of Sierra de Bahoruco, 10 kilometers from the town of Barahona. It is a rare variety of pectolite or endemic semiprecious rock, which in 2011 was designated as the national stone. Its color varies in a range of white, light blue, blue-green and deep blue. Although it was first discovered in 1916, it was only in 1974 when Miguel Méndez and Norman Rilling – the latter a Peace Corps volunteer – “rediscovered” it on a beach of the Barahona coast. Popular folklore says that the stone received its current name because the Méndez’s daughter was named Larissa and its color reminded him of the sea, hence the name larimar. Dominicans have been able to take advantage of the beauty and uniqueness of the larimar stone to make jewelry and handicrafts that are sold at hundreds of gift shops for tourists and local people.

Enjoy the video “Larimar: from the mine to the jewelry store” at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-juQnxjfrP8

The Barahona Ecotourism Cluster offers more information on the gastronomic, cultural, historical and hotel choices in the area.

Links of interest:
Barahona Ecotourism Cluster: http://www.gobarahona.com