Province · Costa Sul: San Cristóbal, Baní e Azua

Peravia

Peravia is the province of Baní on the southern coast: the Dunas de las Calderas, a desert of sand by the sea, the salt flats, the beaches of the Bay of Las Calderas, and the Baní mango (mango banilejo).

In the photo: Dunas de las Calderas, by the bay (Peravia)

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 Peravia

Peravia lies on the southern coast, west of Santo Domingo, in a dry strip between the mountains and the Caribbean Sea. The capital, Baní, is a trading and agricultural town known for its mangoes and is the birthplace of Máximo Gómez, a general in Cuba’s wars of independence.

The most striking landscape in the province is the Dunas de las Calderas, a natural monument of pale sand dunes reaching tens of meters high, on the shore of the Bay of Las Calderas. A trail with stairs and boardwalks climbs to the top of the dunes, with views of the blue sea on one side and the dry countryside on the other.

Nearby are the salt flats of Puerto Hermoso, where salt is still harvested from the sea, and calm-water beaches such as Salinas and Los Almendros, popular for sailing. The coast also has small fishing ports and seafood restaurants.

In June, Baní holds the mango festival, showcasing dozens of fruit varieties, including the banilejo, with sweet, fiberless flesh. Peravia has no towns listed in the guide for now.

When to go

The region is one of the driest in the country, with sunshine almost year-round; from December to March the heat is milder for climbing the dunes. The mango festival takes place in Baní in June. Hurricanes can affect the coast from June to November.

Getting there

Baní is about an hour from Santo Domingo via the southern highway, with frequent buses. The Dunas de las Calderas are about 20 km from Baní, near the village of Las Calderas; reachable by car or taxi from town. Las Américas (SDQ) is the nearest airport, about an hour and a half from Baní.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Peravia

What are the Dunas de Baní?

The Dunas de las Calderas, a natural monument of pale sand dunes on the shore of the Bay of Las Calderas, with a trail to the top and sea views.

Can you visit the dunes on a day trip from Santo Domingo?

Yes, they are about an hour and a half from the capital; combine it with the salt flats and a regional beach.

What is the mango banilejo?

A mango variety from Baní, with sweet, fiberless flesh, celebrated at the mango festival in June.

Does Baní have a beach?

The town is set a little inland from the sea, but the province’s coast has calm beaches like Salinas and Los Almendros.

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