Banco de la Plata and la Navidad Scientific Reserves located in the Bay of Samaná is a marine mammal sanctuary. It was declared protected in 1986 and has a marine extension of 32.936 square kilometers. Its main attraction is the presence of humpback whales between January and April, when they come to the area to mate and give birth.
Estero Hondo in Puerto Plata is a marine animal sanctuary with coral reefs in excellent condition. Here you can observe a highly diverse marine life. The sanctuary includes wetlands and pristine mangrove lagoons. The main attractions are the manatees that live in its waters. Here you will find the largest population of these species of marine mammals in the country.
Villa Elisa located in Guayubín, Monte Cristi province. Here you will find a wide variety of orchids, 138 different flora, 28 of which are endemic species. There are 23 species of birds including parrots, a variety of the woodpecker and the "cao" which are on the endangered list.
Ebano Verde Reserve is located between the municipalities Constanza and Jarabacoa, La Vega. It was created to safeguard the largest population of trees on the island. Water resources are also preserved in the reserve, through rivers (ríos) and streams (arroyos) that supply water to the communities in the lowlands. There has also been reported 687 species of plants, 159 are endemic to the island and nine exclusive of the reserve. Wildlife species are mostly birds, 59 species, of which 17 are endemic. Also they found the presence of one of the most unique mammals on the island, the Solenodon, which is in danger of extinction.
This 13 mile long lake (aproximatiley 300 km²) is in an out of the way area in the southwest,western part of the Hoya de Enriquillo, very near to the Haitian border. It is the lowest point in the entire Antilles, 114 feet below sea level. Lake Enriquillo is 3 times saltier than the ocean. It is a great spot to see crocodile (Caimans), flamingo, and iguanas.
The lake has grown enormously to almost 400 square kilometers. It keeps growing. Much of the surrounding farmland has been covered by salt water. The island in the center is getting smaller and smaller.This is affecting the creatures living in the area as well as the people and lands.
The Isla Cabritos National Park/ Little Goats Island is in Lago Enriquillo. This island has a very unique habitat. The original vegetation that once grew on this small island was lost to the goats and cattle that once grazed there and also due to the collection of timber. Now the park has present a large population of wildlife. The turn around is amazing to behold. The new vegetation includes 106 species of plants, and 10 types of cactus. The area also boasts a large crocodile-caiman population. An endemic species of iguana along with other species of reptile populate the island. There are 62 different species of birds that have also been identified: five aquatic, 16 shore, and 41 land birds. 45 of these species are native to the island. Some of the birds included are the manuelito, the great hummingbird, the querebebé (which is best heard at sun down), and the cu-cú (which sings at dawn and dusk, and nests in an excavated hole in the desert.
You can visit the lake and Isla Cabritos, which is in the center of the lake, by boat with an authorized guide from the National Park Station in the town of La Descubierta, on the lake's northwestern shore.
Directions: Highway 46 west from Barahona, in the direction of Neyba toward the Border of Haiti, Dominican Republic