Province · Santiago e Cordilheira Central

Monseñor Nouel

Monseñor Nouel is the province of Bonao, in the center of the country: mountain rivers, reservoirs among green hills, the art of Cándido Bidó and the road that climbs to Constanza.

In the photo: Bonao and the mountains (Monseñor Nouel)

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Monseñor Nouel

Monseñor Nouel is located in the center of the Dominican Republic, where the Cibao plain meets the slopes of the Central Mountain Range. The capital, Bonao, is an agricultural and commercial town on the edge of the Duarte highway, and the province is named after an archbishop and president from the early 20th century.

The landscape consists of green hills, rice fields and cold mountain rivers that descend from the range, such as the Yuna and the Masipedro, with riverside bathing spots where families spend Sundays. The Rincón and Blanco reservoirs form lakes among the mountains and are popular for outings and fishing.

Bonao is the homeland of painter Cándido Bidó, known for his intense blues and scenes of the Dominican countryside, and the town preserves a museum and murals related to him and other local artists. The cuisine is that of the Cibao, with rice dishes, stewed meats and the fruits and vegetables sold along the highway.

The guide lists no towns in the province, but it is a mandatory passage for those going from Santo Domingo to Constanza: the mountain road that leads to the valley starts in the Bonao region and climbs the range through pine forests.

When to go

Between December and April there is less rain and the road to Constanza is firmer. The region is humid, with afternoon showers from May to November, when the rivers run fuller. In the surrounding mountains, nights are cool.

Getting there

Bonao lies on the Duarte highway, about an hour from Santo Domingo and an hour from Santiago, with frequent buses in both directions. Those arriving by plane land at Las Américas (SDQ) in Santo Domingo, just over an hour away. From Bonao, the mountain road takes you to Constanza in about an hour and a half.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Monseñor Nouel

What to see in Monseñor Nouel?

The mountain rivers and bathing spots, the Rincón and Blanco reservoirs, and in Bonao the legacy of painter Cándido Bidó.

Is Bonao on the way to Constanza?

Yes, it is one of the most used routes by those leaving Santo Domingo: from the Bonao region, the road climbs the range up to the Constanza valley.

Who was Cándido Bidó?

A Dominican painter born in Bonao, known for his intense blues and scenes of the countryside; the town preserves works and a museum associated with him.

Can you stop in Bonao on the way between Santo Domingo and Santiago?

Yes, the town is on the Duarte highway, roughly halfway along the route, with restaurants and roadside stops.

Tap a province to see its destinations. Limites: Oficina Nacional de Estadística / OCHA-HDX / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.