Los Haitises Park Samana

Los Haitises Park Samana

Los Haitises Park, Samana, Dominican Republic Los Haitises National Park is well worth a visit if you are in the Samana area or able to travel to it.

As part of the largest estuary in the Caribbean, the 208 km2 Los Haitises National Park is a protected area and is located south of the Samana Peninsula in the northeast Dominican republic.

The park has no roads and few trails into its dense interior. Quite simply it is best explored by boat and the unusual combination of viewing a park make it one of the most visited national parks in the country.

Los Haitises Park Samana

It offers a rich variety of natural wonders to explore, including large expanses of mangrove, humid subtropical forest, seagrass beds, and pristine keys scattered along the length of the coast. [cont left]

To access the park you will need to take a short boat/ferry ride to get to Los Haitises [most visitors are day trippers] and you can only enter with a certified tour guide. Guided tours of the park leave from Sabana de la Mar [just to the east of the park] on the south coast of Samana Bay, and Samana on the north coast. The cost is likely to be around $45.

Ferries from Samana leave directly across the road from Banco Popular on the Malecon at 7 am, 9 am and 1:30 pm the tour lasts about 2.5 hours.

The irregular topography of small, vegetation covered hills so characteristic of Los Haitises is the result of erosion subsequent to uplifting of the underlying limestone bedrock, formed over millions of years by marine organisms.

Bird and animal life

Hispaniolan parrot, Los Haitises, Dominican Republic, Samana You will see plenty of bird life including blue herons, pelicans, cormorants, grebes, roseate terns, flamingos [see below], frigate birds, egrets, Hispaniolan parrots, parakeets and even an occasional falcon.

Los Haitises Park Samana

Two endemic species, solenodons (ratlike mammals) and hutias (foot-long rodents) are also said to occupy the swamps. These are both endangered or facing extinction.

The park is home to birds, some manatees, marine tortoises,bats and reptiles.

Left:Hispaniolan Parrot

Cultural interest

Many Taino caves are situated within this area complete with their covered walls of inscriptions. Legends include those regarding Cofresi, one of the last pirates of the Caribbean and founder of Sanchez.

The park blends cultural, historical and ecological interest. Los Haitises Park Samana

Pink Flamingos, Los Haitises Park, Samana

There are a number of particular areas of interest within the park. First up is Cueva Arena, a large grotto that has numerous Taino drawings of families, men hunting, supernatural beings, whales and sharks. Pirate, Los Haitises, Samana, Dominican Republic

Some boat tours will stop for a half-hour at the beach cove, from which you can see Cayo Willy Simons. This infamous pirate used to use the island as a a hideout.

Other `celebrated` pirates such as John Rackham [hung in Jamaica in 1720] and Jack Banister also used to shelter in this area.

Los Haitises, Samana, Dominican Republic Another area of interest are the grottoes San Gabriel and Remington, both with Taino faces carved into their walls.

You may then pass the ruins of a 100-year-old banana wharf, with pelicans perching on the remaining wooden supports, to reach Cueva de la Linea. This was once intended to hold a railroad station for the sugar cane that was grown in the area. Los Haitises Park Samana

Andy Ashcroft has been lucky enough to have flown over Los Haitises in a helicopter and he describes it as `specacular`.

In summary well worth a visit!

Pink Flamingos, Los Haitises Park, Samana

Below: John Rackham -pirate

Below: Playa Bonita