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The Southwest & Península de Pedernales
Includes Why Go? Baní...... 205 Talk about criminally undervisited. Few travelers make it to Ázua...... 206 the southwest of the Dominican Republic: it’s remote, and San Juan de its little-known highlights take some effort to uncover – but la Maguana. . . . . 207 that’s exactly the reason to visit. Heading west from Santo Comendador del Rey Domingo takes you not only in the opposite direction to (Elías Piña). . . . . 209 the eastern beach resorts but also to a different DR – one Barahona...... 211 whose landscape isn’t defined by tourism but by scenes of everyday life. You can explore the cloud forests of the Pedernales...... 217 mountains with their soundtrack of birdsong, or the cac- Parque Nacional tus-studded desert that stretches all the way to the Haitian Sierra de Bahoruco . .218 border. Then there’s the stunning coastline of the Península Lago Enriquillo & de Pedernales, which offers miles of pristine, empty sands Isla Cabritos. . . . .219 and clear turquoise sea. When you reach the Bahía de Las Jimaní...... 220 Águilas, a deserted 10km stretch of postcard-perfect beach, you’ll feel as though you’ve hit the traveler’s jackpot.
Best Places When to Go to Eat ¨¨The best time to see the birds and wildlife of the biodiverse Laguna Oviedo is in March and April. ¨¨Rancho Tipico (p221) ¨¨With sunny skies and endless fiestas, December to ¨ ¨Casa Bonita (p215) February is the DR’s busiest time. ¨¨Rincón Mexicano (p207) ¨¨Caffeine fiends should make a beeline for Polo’s organic- ¨¨El Meson Suizo (p206) coffee festival (p219) in October.
Best Places to Sleep ¨¨Casa Bonita (p215) ¨¨Eco del Mar (p221) ¨¨Hotel Casablanca (p214) ¨¨Salinas Hotel (p205) ¨¨Ecoturismo Comunitario Cachóte (p212)
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