Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco

Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco is the Caribbean's premier destination for birdwatching and one of the most biologically diverse protected areas in the entire West Indies. Rising from near sea level on its southern flanks to 2,367 meters at Loma del Toro, this 800 square kilometer park encompasses an extraordinary vertical gradient of ecosystems — from arid thorn scrub through subtropical dry and humid forests to Hispaniolan pine forest and elfin cloud forest at the highest elevations.

The park was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve as part of the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve, recognizing its exceptional biodiversity value. For birders, Sierra de Bahoruco is the single most important site on Hispaniola, hosting nearly all of the island's endemic bird species in one location. The park's remoteness and rugged terrain have preserved habitats that have been destroyed elsewhere, making it a last refuge for some of the Caribbean's rarest species.

Sierra de Bahoruco supports an extraordinary concentration of endemic and rare species:

• Birds (30+ endemics): Bay-breasted Cuckoo, White-winged Warbler, La Selle Thrush, Hispaniolan Crossbill, Chat Tanager, Hispaniolan Trogon, Narrow-billed Tody, and the critically important wintering population of Bicknell's Thrush. This is the only place on Hispaniola where birders can see virtually all the island's endemics in a single location.
• Mammals: The critically endangered Hispaniolan solenodon — a primitive venomous insectivore that has existed since the age of dinosaurs — survives in the park's forests. The Hispaniolan hutia is also present.
• Orchids: Over 160 species of orchids have been recorded, many found nowhere else on Earth. The cloud forest is particularly rich in epiphytic orchids.
• Reptiles: Numerous endemic anole species, the Hispaniolan boa, and the rhinoceros iguana at lower elevations.

The best birding areas are the Rabo de Gato road and the Las Mercedes cloud forest trail. A knowledgeable local birding guide is essential to maximize sightings.