Travel Guide Parque Nacional José Del Carmen Ramírez

An excursion to Pico Duarte is an extraordinary experience! The climb to the highest peak in the Caribbean, at 3,098 m, is demanding but unforgettable (if you're well equipped). The variations in altitude and temperature, as well as the difficulty of the ascent along steep, barely-tracked paths, require excellent physical condition and an iron will. The 46-kilometer round-trip hike takes two to three days, through a majestic, ever-changing landscape, at times arid, at others shrouded in a mystical mist. The first day covers the La Cienega-La Comparticion route (2,450 m), where the visitors' center serves as a stopover, and the following day takes a few hours to reach the night peak.In the village of La Cienega, 1,100 m above sea level and 55 km from Jarabacoa via Constanza, you can buy a permit to enter the national park for the modest sum of 100 pesos. To make the trek in good conditions, it's essential to hire a local guide, the only ones qualified for this kind of hike (daily budget: 200 pesos per person, plus 300 pesos for a transport mule, 350 pesos for a saddle mule, and 400 pesos for the guide). Hikers wishing to save their strength can make part of the journey on mule-back - negotiate with local farmers, who offer mules accustomed to this type of ascent.