Discovering Paradise
Discovering Paradise
Summit the Caribbean's highest peak
Type
National Park
Entry Fee
RD$100 (approximately US$2)
Difficulty
Challenging
Duration
2-3 days (Pico Duarte trek)
Guide
Required
Area
766 km²
Established
1956
Best Time
December through March for clearest skies and driest trails
Hours
Open 24 hours (multi-day treks); ranger station hours 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Elevation
800-3098m
Cell Coverage
No cell coverage on the trail; limited signal at La Cienaga trailhead
Camping
Allowed
Parque Nacional Armando Bermudez protects the northern slopes of the Cordillera Central, the Dominican Republic's mightiest mountain range. Established in 1956, it was one of the country's first national parks and remains one of its most important, safeguarding 766 square kilometers of mountain wilderness that includes the highest point in the entire Caribbean — Pico Duarte at 3,098 meters (10,164 feet).
The park is named after the Dominican soldier and conservationist Armando Bermudez, and together with its sister park Jose del Carmen Ramirez to the south, forms the core of the Cordillera Central protected area system. The landscape is dominated by extensive stands of Hispaniolan pine (Pinus occidentalis) at higher elevations, with lush broadleaf forests filling the river valleys. The park protects the headwaters of the Yaque del Norte — the Dominican Republic's longest and most economically important river.
The Pico Duarte trek is the park's main attraction and one of the Caribbean's greatest hiking adventures:
The standard La Cienaga route gains approximately 2,300 meters of elevation over 23 km. The trail is non-technical but demanding, with long uphill sections through pine forest and exposed ridgelines. The pre-dawn summit push (starting at 3-4 AM) rewards trekkers with breathtaking sunrise views.
Essential tips for a successful Pico Duarte trek:
Entry Fee
RD$100 (approximately US$2)
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours (multi-day treks); ranger station hours 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Difficulty
Challenging
Guide Required
Yes
Recommended Duration
2-3 days (Pico Duarte trek)
Best Time to Visit
December through March for clearest skies and driest trails
Elevation
800-3098m
Area
766 km²
Nearest Town
Jarabacoa / La Cienaga
This park is in
Jarabacoa →