DK Travel : Dominican Republic : Lago Enriquillo

Lago Enriquillo

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This vast inland stretch of salt water is more like a mini-sea than a lake. Glinting in an arid plain beneath rugged mountains, it marks the lowest geographical point in the entire Caribbean and is said to cover about the same area as Manhattan. Home to thousands of birds, iguanas, and American crocodiles, it is a protected National Park. Yet, the lake, its main island, and surrounding villages are easy to visit, offering a very different landscape from other parts of the island. Hot, dry, and sparsely inhabited, this border country stands in fascinating contrast to the developed coastal areas.
Las Caritas is a wild, isolated cave, with no fixed times or admission charges There are no recommended restaurants in La Descubierta, but a number of stalls sell street food around the sulfur spring

Top 10 Sights

1. Lago Enriquillo

1. Lago Enriquillo

Girdled by a circular road, the huge lake stands under the intense sun. Dead tree trunks emerging from the water’s edge testify to its saltiness and give it an eerie atmosphere, emphasized by the silence around.
2. Boat Trips

2. Boat Trips

Boats set off from the National Park Office to Isla Cabritos, and to ferry visitors towards the crocodiles, which prefer the fresh water inlets on the northern shore. Boatmen will try to pass as close as possible to the sleepy beasts.
3. Isla Cabritos

3. Isla Cabritos

A sandy spit of land with dry shrub and coral-strewn beaches, the Goat Island provides perfect sanctuary to an iguana colony and some 500 crocodiles. A walk through the parched island reveals flowering cacti and scuttling lizards.
4. Bird-watching

4. Bird-watching

This remote site is a haven for over 60 species of birds, many of which can be observed from the road or the water itself. The most identifiable are the flamingos, which gather in huge numbers at dawn and dusk.
5. Crocodiles & Iguanas

5. Crocodiles & Iguanas

Crocodiles can be secretive, especially when the heat rises and they take to the water, but the ricord and iguanas are not shy, approaching visitors in the hope of a snack. Feeding these large reptiles is discouraged.
6. Las Caritas

Easily found off the side of the road near the village of Postrer Río, an open cave reveals traces of early indigenous culture and religious ritual in the form of small faces (caritas ) carved into the coral rock.
7. La Descubierta

A small and sleepy outpost of single-story houses, some brightly painted, the village stands in the middle of the hot plain. It has a shaded central square, a couple of short walking paths, and several cheap bars and restaurants.
8. Las Barias Balneario

8. Las Barias Balneario

A strange feature of La Descubierta is its cold natural pool of slightly sulfurous water. Popular with local families, this balneario , with food and drink available nearby, also welcomes visitors.
9. Jimaní

The spread-out town of Jimaní marks one of the official border crossings into Haiti, although the frontier line is actually 3 miles (5 km) away down a very hot road. You are likely to see brightly painted Haitian buses, known locally as tap-taps .
10. Border Market

10. Border Market

The dusty no-man’s land between the two countries is the scene of a semi-permanent outdoor market, in which Haitian traders sell mostly counterfeit clothing and watches. Haiti’s celebrated Barbancourt rum is worth buying.

Practical Information

There is a flat fee payable for the boat ride, irrespective of numbers, so it may be worth waiting for other visitors to share the cost (approximately $60). It is impossible to cross the border in a rental car, and most crossings involve extensive bureaucratic obstacles and bribes, even for a few hours. It is much easier to fly. Boat Trips: Open 7:30am–1pm daily Fare approx RD$1000