Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic

The Cordillera Central is the main mountain range running through the Dominican Republic, forming the island’s central highlands and containing the highest elevations on Hispaniola. It is the nation’s principal area of montane forest, watersheds and alpine relief.

Hikers and naturalists come for multi-day treks to high peaks, cloud forest reserves and for opportunities to see endemic flora and fauna, with routes that range from day walks to several-day ascents. The range contains important protected areas and the highest summit, Pico Duarte, which attracts organized trekking groups.

The range is the geologic backbone of Hispaniola and has long shaped settlement patterns, agriculture and watershed use on the island. In the 20th and 21st centuries parts of the Cordillera Central were established as national parks and scientific reserves to protect biodiversity and water sources.

The Cordillera Central runs roughly northwest to southeast across the central part of the Dominican Republic, inland from the southern and northern coasts. It occupies much of the country’s interior and is accessed from several nearby towns and provincial centers.

• Highest peak and protected areas: Contains the highest mountain in the Caribbean and several protected reserves, making it the principal highland region of Hispaniola.

What to See #

• Pico Duarte: Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Caribbean at about 3,098 meters, which is the principal destination for multi-day treks in the range.
• Ebano Verde Reserve: Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve, a protected cloud forest area preserving high-altitude biodiversity and important watershed sources for the island.
• Protected parks: Armando Bermúdez and José del Carmen Ramírez national parks, which protect large tracts of montane forest and the highest peaks of the range.