Los Haitises Eco Tour: Cano Hondo & Montaña Redonda Day Trip from Punta Cana
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
11–12 hours
Fitness Level
Participants should have a moderate fitness level—able to handle a 20–30 minute steep climb and some standing during boat and cave segments.
Overview
A full-day eco-adventure that pairs a riverboat through Los Haitises’ mangrove labyrinth with Taino cave art, a buffet lunch at Paraiso Caño Hondo and a short climb to Montaña Redonda’s sweeping coastal views. Expect long travel days, rich wildlife and camera-ready panoramas.
Los Haitises Eco Tour: Cano Hondo & Montaña Redonda Day Trip from Punta Cana
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The boat slips away from a low wooden dock and the mangroves close like curtains, leaves whispering and roots probing the slow-moving water. The guide keeps a steady voice—points out a mangrove crab here, a heron poised on a root there—while the horizon opens into rounded limestone islands that thrust out of San Lorenzo Bay. By midday the tour climbs a steep 1,000-foot promontory called Montaña Redonda and the Atlantic flattens into a silver ribbon below. It’s a full day that stitches together tidal canals, prehistoric cave art and a lunch at one of the Dominican Republic’s most celebrated ecolodges.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Start early
Pickups begin before 7:30am—an early start avoids mid-day heat and ensures time for the full itinerary.
Bring water and snacks
Lunch is served late (around 2pm); carry at least 1–2 liters of water and energy snacks for the morning.
Prepare for insects
Mangroves and forested paths attract mosquitoes—apply repellent and wear light long sleeves if sensitive.
Shoes for mixed terrain
Wear closed, grippy shoes for the dirt roads, boat dockings and the short scramble up Montaña Redonda.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Great blue heron (and other shorebirds)
- Mangrove crabs and juvenile reef fish in the canals
History
Los Haitises contains significant Taino rock art—sites like Cueva de la Línea preserve pre-Columbian pictographs that speak to indigenous life before European contact.
Conservation
The park is protected for its mangrove and karst habitats; stick to marked areas, avoid single-use plastics, and use reef-safe sunscreens to limit local impact.
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Adventure Hotspots in Punta Cana
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
Sturdy trail shoes
Provides grip on dusty roads, rocky steps and the short Montaña Redonda ascent.
Dry bag or waterproof phone case
Protects camera and electronics during boat passages and around natural pools.
Reef-safe sunscreen
Shields skin during open-boat stretches and pool time without harming marine habitats.
summer specific
Insect repellent
Useful in mangrove canals, forested cave approaches and shaded lunch areas.