Province · Samaná e Nordeste

Sánchez Ramírez

Sánchez Ramírez is the valley of the Yuna River in the center of the country: Cotuí, one of the oldest cities in the Americas, the large lake formed by the Hatillo dam, green hills and rice fields.

In the photo: Hatillo dam lake, near Cotuí (Sánchez Ramírez)

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 Sánchez Ramírez

Sánchez Ramírez lies in the center of the Dominican Republic, in the valley of the Yuna River, between the Cordillera Central and the Cibao plain. The capital, Cotuí, was founded in the early 16th century because of gold in the region’s rivers and is one of the oldest cities on the continent, although little remains from the colonial period.

The landscape consists of green hills, pastures and irrigated rice fields. The province’s major landmark is the Hatillo dam, a barrage on the Yuna River completed in 1984 that created the country’s largest freshwater lake, about 22 km², surrounded by hills and included in the Aniana Vargas National Park.

The lake’s shores have viewpoints and small fish restaurants, and the region is known for tilapia and inland festivals. Cevicos and Fantino, other municipalities, preserve the rural life of the country’s interior, with cacao, coffee and cattle raising.

Sánchez Ramírez has no towns in the guide and lies off the tourist routes, about two hours from Santo Domingo, appealing to those who want to explore the Dominican agricultural interior.

When to go

From December to April it usually rains less and the inland roads are in better condition. The region is humid, with afternoon showers from May to November, and in hurricane season, June to November, rivers can rise.

Getting there

Cotuí is about two hours from Santo Domingo via the Duarte highway, with a turnoff at Piedra Blanca or La Vega, and about an hour and a half from Santiago. There are buses from the capital. The nearest international airport is Cibao (STI) in Santiago, or Las Américas (SDQ).

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Sánchez Ramírez

What to see in Sánchez Ramírez?

The Hatillo dam and lake, with viewpoints and fish restaurants on the shores, and Cotuí, one of the country’s oldest cities.

Can you swim in the Hatillo lake?

The lake is used for fishing and boat trips; before entering the water, check locally about current conditions.

Is Sánchez Ramírez far from Santo Domingo?

About two hours by car to Cotuí.

Is it worth including Sánchez Ramírez on a short itinerary?

On a short itinerary, no; the province appeals to those who want to explore the agricultural interior with more time.

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