Parque Nacional Nalga de Maco
Untouched wilderness in the remote northwest
Parque Nacional Nalga de Maco
One of the most remote and pristine national parks in the Dominican Republic, protecting dense mountain forests and the headwaters of the Artibonito River.
Parque Nacional Nalga de Maco is one of the Dominican Republic's most remote and least-visited national parks. Located in the northwestern Cordillera Central near the Haitian border, the park encompasses 278 square kilometers of dense montane forest, including some of the last undisturbed broadleaf forests on Hispaniola.
The park protects the headwaters of the Artibonito River, the longest river on the island of Hispaniola (which flows into Haiti). The terrain is extremely rugged, with deep valleys and ridges covered in virgin forest. The isolation has preserved habitat for the Hispaniolan solenodon, one of the world's most endangered mammals, as well as hutias, the Hispaniolan boa, and numerous endemic bird species. There is virtually no tourist infrastructure, and visits require significant planning, local guides, and camping equipment. This is a destination for serious wilderness enthusiasts and researchers only.