Baoruco (sometimes spelt Bahoruco) is a province in the South Western part of the Dominican Republic. It used to be part of the The Province Baharona until 1943. It then became part of the Province Independencia. The Province Baoruco came into being in 1952).
The main towns (municipalities / municipos) are Galván, Los Ríos, Neiba (the largest city), Tamayo and Villa Jaragua. These are divided into smaller towns, municipal districts, campos and barrios.
Baoruco borders Lago Enriquillo, the largest salt-water lake that is below sea level in the Caribbean. The area is a protected National Park. The río Yaque del Sur runs along the regions eastern boundary and provides irrigation for agriculture in the area.
The province main
agriculture is bananas, grapes,
coffee and sugar cane.
Instituto Nacional de la Uva -INUVA, are starting to produce wines made from the grapes grown in the area. You can find Neiba Valley Wines in select supermarkets of the country including Cuesta, Nacional and Jumbo. They are marketing these wines under the name "De La Cima". There is also a Grape Fair that started in 2009 held the end of August.
The central and southern part of the province it is very dry and desert like. In the mountain areas there is more rain and it can get very cold for the Caribbean.
Getting there:
Driving distance: Baoruco is about 142 km/ 88 miles from Santo Domingo and about 127 km/ 79 miles from Santiago. Drive from Santo Domingo to Neiba is about 216 km/ 134 miles.
Take the
Caribe Tours bus to either Auza or Barahona. There are smaller guaguas and busses that can take you to the towns in the Baoruco area. Once you reach the end of the line there are always taxis, public cars and motor cycle taxis to take you to your destination.
Must sees and dos in Bahoruco:
The
Jaragua - Bahoruca - Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve is located in the southwest of the Dominican Republic. It includes three biogeographic regions in the Caribbean: the 'Hoya del Lago Enriquillo', the 'Sierra de Bahoruco' and the 'Procurrente de Barahona'. Baoruco is part of this diverse reserve. (
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve)
Baoruco Mountain Range / Sierra de Baoruco have two main mountain ranges, Monte Neiba and Loma Monte Bonito. The area, for the most part is unpopulated because the lush green mountain ranges are so rugged. The peak of this range is called loma de toro / bull hill. There can be found a vide variety of orchids and birds in the surrounding area. There are many lakes and ponds with both sweet and sulfur water. Many of the sulfur ponds are used for regenerating purposes, thought to make people young again. This is one of the locations in the far southwest part of the country where you can find
larimar. Part of the area has been set aside as the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park/ Parque Nacional Sierra de Bahoruco.