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Most people think of the Dominican Republic as a paradise
of sun and sea. Whilst that is definitely true, there is another
attraction in the area that is just as spectacular - the mountains.
The Cordillera Central range runs down the spine of
the Dominican Republic and houses two national parks that
are actually joined to form one huge wilderness area, home
of the mountain Pico Durante.
The two national parks were established in the 1950's, as
the Dominican Republic government didn't want to follow Haiti's
fate and log their national forests. Pico Duarte, at over
10,000 ft high (3175 metres) is the pinnacle of the region,
and one that attracts hikers from around the world. There
are five different tracks that lead to the summit, ranging
in difficulty. Another drawcard to the region is the fact
that twelve of the major rivers in the Dominican Republic
start in the Cordillera Central.
The Caribbean's highest mountain was named after Juan Pablo
Durante, who gained independence for the Dominican Republic
in 1844. Each year on February 27th, the anniversary of that
day, many Dominicans come here to make a pilgrimage to the
top.
Curse of the Banshee
A common way of hiking is to take mules, to carry all hiking
equipment for the hikes that start from three day round trips.
Local men known as mulateers handle the animals. The mulateers
are characters themselves, and sometimes tell hikers that
these mountain trails are haunted by ciguapas, blue-skinned
women with their feet facing backwards, who seduce young men
at night and lure them to their death.
Trekkers Tips
Whilst those stories are usually taken with a grain of salt,
it is worth remembering that the weather can reach freezing
point overnight, so good preparation is essential. Whilst
there are rangers in the area, they only speak Spanish, as
do all the mulateers, but there are organised tour groups
that speak English and take care of all preparations for you.
But whatever way you tackle it, when you reach the top of
Pico Durante you will feel on top of the world, or at least,
on top of the Caribbean!
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