Coffee roastery 

Carr Belarminio Ramirez, Jarabacoa 

The roastery Cafe de Monte Alto offers a comprehensive tour of its facilities and organic coffee production. Experience the entire processing process of the bean from the tree to the coffee cup. 

The tour ends with a tasting of freshly made coffees in the factory cafe. The coffee Cafe de Monte Alto has been made by a local family since the 1940s. 

It is grown in the high mountains of the Cibao Valley. The Cafe de Monte Alto roastery is just a few minutes outside of Jarabacoa city center. 

Provincial capital La Vega

La Vega is known for the largest, oldest and most colorful carnival celebrations in the country, but also for two popular summit tours in the regions of Jarabacoa and Constanza. The city was the first gold rush settlement, it emerged in the time of Columbus.  

El Mogote, Jarabacoa 

Getting there is a bit difficult, for a little over 20 km you need just under 1 hour, not on foot, but actually by car. 

The climb to the summit of El Mogote, a mountain very close to Jarabacoa, is strenuous, but worth it. The three-hour hike to the 1163 m high mountain first leads steeply uphill through dense pine forests and lush vegetation, then it continues on a steep, rocky path to the summit. On the way you pass coffee trees and bushes with berries before you reach the mountain warden’s hut at the summit. When you have climbed the steps of the observation tower, all efforts and exertions are forgotten: there is an incomparably beautiful view of the green valleys and mountains from Jarabacoa to Constanza. You can stay here overnight and then watch the sunrise in the morning.

Cathedrale la Inmaculada Concepciòn

Calle Don Antonio Guzmán, La Vega 

This modern Roman Catholic church took 15 years to build and was completed in 1992. The cathedral is one of the few in the world in which Christ is already risen and not depicted dying on the cross. This modern Roman Catholic church with its impressive design in gray stone towers over the main square of La Vega and Parque Duarte. The outer walls are kept gray, which is symbolic of the limited ability of people to reflect divine enlightenment. Look out for the 5-meter statue above the altar. The cathedral is one of the largest in the Dominican Republic and can accommodate over 1,000 people.

La Cortina

Road between Jarabacoa and Manabao

When you see the waterfalls falling from the mountain slopes to the left of the road, you know: you have reached the freshwater pool La Cortina. Across the street you will find the pool and a restaurant. 

La Vega Vieja

Carr. Prof. Juan Bosch

Discover the archaeological site of the settlement founded by Christopher Columbus in 1494 near Santo Cerro. In this area, which has now been declared a national park, archaeologists are still investigating the foundations of this ancient city, which experienced its golden age between 1505 and 1510. Near Santo Cerro, before the exit to La Vega, you turn to the archaeological remains of the city founded by Christopher Columbus in 1494. In search of gold, Columbus settled with Spanish settlers here in the Cibao Valley, on the banks of the Rio Verde. Archaeologists are still researching the foundations of the old city, which have been protected as a national park since 1976, including the Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion fort built in 1494, which flourished between 1505 and 1510. After touring the ruins, make time to visit the on-site museum, which features numerous finds from the times of the Taino Indians and Spanish settlers. 

Jarabacoa Flower Festival

Jarabacoa town center 

Every year in June, visitors and locals meet for the weekend of the Flower Festival, which takes place in the park across from Avenida La Confluencia. Exotic and rare flowers, traditional food and drinks, arts and crafts, tropical plants and much more can be found in the province of La Vega. 

BOCA DE LOS RÍOS 

Between Jarabacoa and Constanza on the Ent la Guanita

Two minutes from the entrance of the Armando Bermudez National Park in the picturesque mountain village of Manabao is the so-called river waterpool Boca de los Rios. There is a very nice amusement park with lots of banks and tables inviting for a picnic. The excursion will end with a refreshing swim in the calm waters of the Yaque del Rio.

Santo Cerro

Direction La Vega, Calle principial 

Certainly, one of the most important holy places in the country can be found in the north of Santo Cerro, east of La Vega. It is the Santuario Nuestra Senora de las Mercedes church, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Legend has it that Christopher Columbus erected a cross on a hill next to today’s church in the fight against the native Taino. During an attack by the Taino, the Merciful Mother of God, patron saint of the Dominican Republic, appeared to them and drove them away. 

Every year on September 24th the Dominicans make a pilgrimage to Santo Cerro from everywhere and pay homage to their patron saint. 

On the back of the church there is an open terrace, there you come to a staircase, go down the stairs to the 14 m high cross that watches over the beautiful Cibao valley and enjoy the wonderful panoramic view.

El Arroyazo

Between La Vega and Constanza

Immediately after the exit to the natural science reserve Ebano Verde you will find a hiking trail to the emerald green waters of El Arroyazo, a swimming area surrounded by dense forest and rocks. A wonderful natural place that should be avoided on weekends, because there is a lot of activity when families look for refreshment in the cool waters of the Rio Camu. Before jumping into the water, remember that the water is ice cold. 

La Ciénaga

It is one of the most beautiful villages on the Yaque del Norte river. From here you can set off to the summit of Pico Duarte. Experience a day in this typical mountain village, enjoy the wonderfully green landscape, the country life and the colorful wooden houses scattered all over the place.

José del Carmen Ramírez Nationalpark 

Just like the adjacent Armando-Bermedez National Park, which is even less explored, this is one of the first national parks and protected areas in the DR. It spans three provinces covering an area of 764 square kilometers and provides an alternative entry point to the Pico Duarte.

LA CONFLUENCIA

Check out this waterfront park just ten minutes from downtown Jarabacoa, where two of the area’s rivers merge, creating mini-pools amid the rocks.

Manabao

One of two “gates” to Pico Duarte, Manabao – about 27 kilometers south of Jarabacoa – offers breathtaking views. Roads, in the background distant peaks, meander along vegetable fields, pine forests, pastures and sometimes along the river Rio Yaque del Norte. Stop at the roadside and hike down to the riverside for a swim, surrounded by nature and far from the stresses of everyday life. 

Akasha Spa

You can also really relax here in Jarabacoa, there is a wonderful wellness oasis that not only offers a sauna and swimming pool, but also various massages and beauty treatments. A unique facility that you never want to leave. Talk to us, we will organize an appointment for you.

Between La Vega and Constanza

Immediately after the exit to the natural science reserve Ebano Verde you will find a hiking trail to the emerald green waters of El Arroyazo, a swimming area surrounded by dense forest and rocks. A wonderful natural place that should be avoided on weekends, because there is a lot of activity when families look for refreshment in the cool waters of the Rio Camu. Before jumping into the water, remember that the water is ice cold. 

Salto de Baiguate

A perfect waterfall that fills a jade green pool with water. It can be easily reached via a good path with wooden steps. You will quickly reach the destination located in a ravine. The water falls from 25 m here, the pool has a shallow bank and then gets deeper and deeper. Of course, the locals also use this refreshing bath regularly. If you feel like going for it, you can book a canyoning excursion with an extreme sports provider and abseil down the 25 m. From Arabachor it takes about 20 minutes to reach this wonderful nature reserve.

Las Pirámides

In the icebox of the Dominican Republic, perhaps the entire Caribbean, deep in the Valle Nuevo National Park (La Nevera area)

there is a pyramid-shaped monument at an altitude of 2300 m. It was created in 1958 by Spanish artists from Constanza and San Jose de Ocoa. It pays homage to the completion of the road between the two places. There is also a museum that provides interesting information about the national park. For the tougher among you, there is also a campsite, no later than the morning will you find out how this place got its nickname.

And to not forget Jarabacoa itself – without question a capital of the Dominican Republic for extreme sports, especially the mountain ones. 

There are tons of really well organized tour operators who offer all kinds of extreme sports such as river rafting, mountain biking, canyoning, paragliding or even adventurous hiking tours.