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Park · Bayahibe, La Romana
Parque Nacional Cotubanamá
The large protected area on the southeast tip, with dry forest, trails, caves with Taíno paintings, reefs and the islands Saona and Catalinita, accessible from Bayahibe.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Parque Nacional Cotubanamá
Parque Nacional Cotubanamá, formerly called Parque Nacional del Este, protects the island’s southeast tip: a limestone peninsula covered in dry forest, the reef coast between Bayahibe and Boca de Yuma, and the islands Saona, Catalinita and the sandbank of the natural pool. The name honors Cotubanamá, a Taíno cacique who resisted the Spanish in the region.
Near Bayahibe, at the Guaraguao entrance, trails through the forest lead to caves and dolines. Cueva del Puente has Taíno paintings and petroglyphs; the Padre Nuestro trail passes a freshwater well inside a cave where you can swim. The forest shelters iguanas, doves, parrots and many endemic birds.
The marine area is a diver’s paradise, with reefs, walls and even a shipwreck turned into an underwater museum. Most visitors see the park by boat en route to Saona; the land trails get far fewer people and show another side of the place.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From two hours to a full day, depending on the trail or tour.
Best time
For hikes, early in the morning, before the heat intensifies. The dry season, from December to April, makes the trails firmer.
How to get there
The Guaraguao entrance is a few kilometers east of Bayahibe, after Dominicus, via paved road; the caves are along the trails. For the marine part, boats depart from Bayahibe pier.
Tip
Go with a local guide for the caves: the paths can be confusing in the forest. Bring water, insect repellent and a flashlight, and pay the park entrance fee at the control station.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Parque Nacional Cotubanamá
Is Parque Nacional Cotubanamá the same as Parque Nacional del Este?
Yes. The park changed its name to honor the Taíno cacique Cotubanamá.
Can you swim inside a cave in Cotubanamá?
Yes, in the freshwater well on the Padre Nuestro trail.
Is Isla Saona part of the park?
Yes, Saona and Isla Catalinita are inside Parque Nacional Cotubanamá.