Land ToursPunta Cana
There are two kinds of beauty in the Dominican Republic. The kind you find at the beach — white sand, turquoise water, rum in a coconut — and the kind that stops you completely silent. Los Haitises is the second kind.
One of the most important and least visited national parks in the Caribbean, Los Haitises is a 1,600 square kilometer humid forest of limestone islands, ancient mangrove channels, sacred Taíno caves and wildlife that exists nowhere else on earth. This is the Dominican Republic that has nothing to do with resorts or all-inclusives. It’s raw, extraordinary and completely unforgettable.
This full-day tour from Punta Cana combines Los Haitises National Park with Montaña Redonda — a 1,000-foot mountain peak with 360-degree panoramic views over the bay and the surrounding countryside. Two of the most dramatic landscapes in the Dominican Republic in one day.
After hotel pickup from Punta Cana or Bavaro in air-conditioned transportation, you head northwest through the Dominican countryside — past sugar cane fields, small villages and the changing landscape of the island — arriving at the port of Sabana de la Mar.
Here you board a boat and enter Los Haitises National Park.
The first thing you notice is the silence. The mangrove channels are narrow, green and completely still — towering red mangroves on both sides, their roots reaching into the water like enormous tangled fingers. Your guide points out frigatebirds, pelicans, herons and tropical fish moving through the roots below the surface. This is one of the most important bird habitats in the Caribbean.
The channels open into San Lorenzo Bay, where dramatic limestone mogotes — ancient rock formations covered in jungle — rise straight up from the water. The scenery is unlike anything else in the Dominican Republic. You visit two sacred Taíno caves: Cueva de Arena and Cueva de la Línea. Inside, the walls are covered in hundreds of pre-Columbian petroglyphs and pictographs painted by the Taíno people centuries before Columbus arrived. Your guide explains the meaning and history of each symbol. It’s one of the most significant archaeological sites in the Caribbean.
After the caves, the boat stops at the Caño Hondo eco-lodge, where you swim in natural freshwater pools fed by rivers flowing from deep inside the park. The water is clear, cool and completely surrounded by tropical forest.
A traditional Dominican lunch is served — rice, beans, meat, salad and fresh tropical fruit — in one of the most peaceful settings you will find anywhere in the country.
In the afternoon, you drive to Montaña Redonda — a rounded mountaintop 1,000 feet above sea level with breathtaking 360-degree views of Samaná Bay, the surrounding countryside and the Caribbean coast. This is one of the most photographed viewpoints in the Dominican Republic, and you’ll understand why the moment you reach the top.
Duration: approximately 12 hours including transportation
Price: from US$ 149 per person
Available daily — early morning departure
Wear comfortable clothes suitable for outdoor activity
Bring a swimsuit for the natural pools
Not recommended for pregnant women or people with mobility issues
Book 2 or more activities and save 10% with promo code BOOK2SAVE10
What makes Los Haitises different from other tours in Punta Cana? Almost everything. While most Punta Cana excursions take you to beaches or adventure parks, Los Haitises takes you deep into one of the most important and biodiverse national parks in the Caribbean. Ancient caves with Taíno art, mangrove channels teeming with wildlife, dramatic limestone formations and natural freshwater pools — this is the Dominican Republic that very few tourists ever see. What are the Taíno petroglyphs? The Taíno were the indigenous people of the Dominican Republic who inhabited the island for centuries before Columbus arrived in 1492. Inside the caves of Los Haitises, they painted hundreds of symbols and figures on the walls using natural pigments. These petroglyphs and pictographs are among the most important pre-Columbian archaeological sites in the Caribbean. What is Montaña Redonda? A rounded mountaintop approximately 1,000 feet above sea level in the Miches region of the Dominican Republic. From the top, you have an unobstructed 360-degree view of Samaná Bay, the national park and the Caribbean coastline. It’s one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the entire country. Is the swimming in the natural pools safe? Yes. The pools at Caño Hondo are freshwater, calm and completely safe. They’re fed by rivers flowing from inside the park and are one of the highlights of the tour. How long is the drive from Punta Cana? Approximately 2 to 2.5 hours each way. The drive through the Dominican countryside is part of the experience — your guide shares stories about the island throughout the journey. Is this tour good for families? Yes, though it is a long and active day. Children who enjoy nature, wildlife and history will love it. The boat ride, the caves and the natural pool are all very kid-friendly.
Tripadvisor Review
08-06-2026
A beautiful nature experience beyond Punta Cana. We booked the los haitises and montaña redonda tour with Adventures Finder and it was a beautiful experience from beginning to end. This tour is perfect for anyone who wants to see a different side of the Dominican Republic beyond the beaches and resorts...
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