El Choco National Park

[Gabriela]

My misposting on the weather network was unintentional. I explored the El Choco area years ago and am thrilled to know it's been made into a national park. How bad are the roads into the park? Do you need a 4X4? Can anyone describe the park to me and recommend a day trip? This is a serious inquiry. No wise cracks please.

[XanaduRanch]

Originally Posted by Gabriela

My misposting on the weather network was unintentional. I explored the El Choco area years ago and am thrilled to know it's been made into a national park. How bad are the roads into the park? Do you need a 4X4? Can anyone describe the park to me and recommend a day trip? This is a serious inquiry. No wise cracks please.

I've included a map below, that I just posted in the weather forum. The Park area is directly behind Xanadu. A number of the roads scoured out in this project actually enter into what is the Park area, but they are barb-wired shut. If the roads in the park are like the roads to Xanadu, a 4WD probably isn't needed, but you would have to have a good, high, rugged jeep or pickup to be sure, not a car. If there are any open roads in. It seems to be more of a forest preserve. There is an entrance to the park from Cabarete. Just past the Tigermart on the right is a sign for the underground Cuavas del Choco or something like that. They give guided tours in several languages, and may give tours into the park as well, I have never checked. I see the tourist trucks up and down El Choco every day. They may enter the park from the El Choco side as well. But they end up usually in Sabaneta at the river.

Parque Nacional El Choco
Click to Enlarge

My apologies if I misinterpreted your intent in deleting your post in the Weather thread. It did not seem to be a serious question at first read.

Tom aka XR I saw an ad in Listin Diario for 24 Hour Banking But I don't have that much time.

[Chris]

I've not trekked into the park but I have visited the crystal caves just at the entrance. I really enjoyed this visit - although the main 'crystal' cave shows some indications of damage. It still is a beautiful cave and defnitely worth a visit. I've found the guides at the entrance very knowledgable about the park and they can give you a lot of information. XR lives a small distance due west from the park. I think if one really treks into the back area of our housing development, there may be a shared boundary with the park. We live in the same community and it sometimes feels as if we are living in the park. There are not many people here.

This site has a good map of the location of the park. http://www.drpure.com/drpure/index.p...c=Park&page=73

[Gabriela]

Originally Posted by XanaduRanch

I've included a map below, that I just posted in the weather forum. The Park area is directly behind Xanadu. A number of the roads scoured out in this project actually enter into what is the Park area, but they are barb-wired shut. If the roads in the park are like the roads to Xanadu, a 4WD probably isn't needed, but you would have to have a good, high, rugged jeep or pickup to be sure, not a car. If there are any open roads in. It seems to be more of a forest preserve. There is an entrance to the park from Cabarete. Just past the Tigermart on the right is a sign for the underground Cuavas del Choco or something like that. They give guided tours in several languages, and may give tours into the park as well, I have never checked. I see the tourist trucks up and down El Choco every day. They may enter the park from the El Choco side as well. But they end up usually in Sabaneta at the river.

Parque Nacional El Choco
Click to Enlarge

My apologies if I misinterpreted your intent in deleting your post in the Weather thread. It did not seem to be a serious question at first read.

Tom aka XR I saw an ad in Listin Diario for 24 Hour Banking But I don't have that much time.

Thanks XR. I also apologize for any rude comments directed your way in the past. I just felt that everyone on DR1 had their machetes flying at my posts, so I thought a good offense was the best defense. I know realize that most of you know each other well enough to take potshots at each other, but newbies should wait before launching any bombs. Now, do you have a map that shows the route from Sosua into El Choco? Yours is a bit east of where I'd be starting. Are you anywhere near the International School? I'm lost.

[XanaduRanch]

Originally Posted by Gabriela

Thanks XR. I also apologize for any rude comments directed your way in the past. I just felt that everyone on DR1 had their machetes flying at my posts, so I thought a good offense was the best defense. I know realize that most of you know each other well enough to take potshots at each other, but newbies should wait before launching any bombs. Now, do you have a map that shows the route from Sosua into El Choco? Yours is a bit east of where I'd be starting. Are you anywhere near the International School? I'm lost.

I appreciate that, thank you. I only toss back usually waht people throw at me. I am really I nice guy. Honest!

I couldpost another map, but it's not necessary. Just take the main highway from Sosua east toward Cabarete. Drive to the Sosua Car Wash, then the Coastal station, past Sea Horse Ranch, Lomas Mironas, and Perla Merina, to Cabarete. In Cabarete when you see the Tigermart, I think it's the next right after. Coming back from the beach in Sabaneta today I saw the sign for the park. If you're looking for it, it's not hard to miss.

Tom aka XR Three weeks ago, Alba learned how to drive. Last week she learned how to aim it.