Discovering Paradise
Discovering Paradise
Mountain forests named for a Taino queen
Type
National Park
Entry Fee
RD$100 (approximately US$2)
Difficulty
Moderate
Duration
Full day
Guide
Required
Area
340 km²
Best Time
November through April for driest conditions
Hours
Daylight hours; no formal visitor center
Elevation
400-1800m
Parque Nacional Anacaona is named after the legendary Taino queen who ruled the Xaragua kingdom in southwestern Hispaniola and famously resisted Spanish colonial domination in the early 16th century. The park protects 340 square kilometers of mountainous terrain in the southwestern highlands, with landscapes ranging from dry valleys to pine-forested ridges.
The park encompasses portions of the southern Cordillera Central and adjacent foothills, protecting watersheds important for the agricultural communities of the San Juan de la Maguana valley. The vegetation includes Hispaniolan pine forests at higher elevations and dry broadleaf forest in the valleys. While less visited than the major national parks, Anacaona offers quiet hiking through scenic mountain landscapes with cultural significance rooted in Taino history. The park connects ecologically with the larger Jose del Carmen Ramirez park to the north.
Entry Fee
RD$100 (approximately US$2)
Opening Hours
Daylight hours; no formal visitor center
Difficulty
Moderate
Guide Required
Yes
Recommended Duration
Full day
Best Time to Visit
November through April for driest conditions
Elevation
400-1800m
Area
340 km²
Nearest Town
San Juan de la Maguana