Crocodiles & Jimani to Pedernales, via the back door!

Robert · #1 12-23-2003, 03:34 PM

The past few days I have been away, went with Scott to go find some Crocodiles at Lago Enriquillo.
Found the Crocs, about 50-60 adults. These are salt water Crocs so very timid. But, you can get very close, within 10-15 feet without a problem. Access is via the National Park just before La Descubierta. You can get a motor boat and guide for around RD$800. Take water and sunscreen, it gets pretty hot out on the water.

On the way back, Scott thought it would be fun to travel to Pedernales via a goat track that runs across the mountains clipping the Haitian border. If you haven't got a good 4 wheel drive, do not attempt this, it's 5-6hrs of very hard driving. If you have a good 4 wheel drive and know what your doing, it's an amazing journey.

The views are breathtaking and the variation of landscape and fauna are a photographers heaven.

Up in the mountains the road (goat/rock path) will take you above the cloud cover. It gets pretty chilly and is fun for your ears.

I wouldn't want to do this trip after it rains, it would be very dangerous and a good chance you wouldn't make it.

The road varies between dirt, rocks, gravel, boulders and all of the above. About 15-20km outside of Pedernales the road has been washed away. You have no choice but to cross the river, because it's a long way back!

I will let Scott fill you in with the rest of the details.

The next fun trip should be La Descubierta to Dajabon, about 200km of fun and goat track along the Haitian boarder

Chirimoya · #2 12-23-2003, 03:48 PM

Rob, glad to hear you made it back alive. Bet you're glad you didn't read this before you set off.

A serious question: did you need to get permits to visit the national park, or the island in the lake, or can you just turn up? I'm planning a trip next week. Any recommendations for nearby accommodation also welcome.

Chiri

Robert · #3 12-23-2003, 04:15 PM

Didn't need a permit to get into Enriquillo, just had to pay for the guide and boat.
The Crocs are to the right in the "agua dulce" not on the island. Not much on the island, just a small info center and lots of cactus. Saying that, we found a Scorpion.

Never needed a permit to get into Sierra de Baoruco National Park. This is the park the road we took runs through.

The only time we had to pay for a permit was to get into Bahia de Las Aguilas, RD$20 each. Be warned, the road is a bit bumpy and pretty steep just after the rangers station.

We stayed in Barahona, place on the Malecon called ? It was one of the 2 below. RD$550 per room including breakfast. It was simple, clean, AC etc. I would have no problem staying again.

HOTEL CARIBE AV ENRIQUILLO-BH 524-4111
HOTEL GUAROCUYA AV ENRIQUILLO-BH 524-4121

This was also a nice place, but Scott didn't fancy climbing 3 floors to his room.

HOTEL GRAN MARQUIZ CARR PARAISO 3-BH 524-6866.

Porfio_Rubirosa · #4 12-24-2003, 10:39 AM

Sounds like a fascinating trip. If you like cloud forest, you could also try the road between San Jose de Ocoa and Constanza. 4-wheel drive also very necessary. I did this route in 1987 when the road was still part of the Dominican numbered highway system - indicating to poor tourists that it would be passable by regular car. It is probably the highest elevation roadway in the country (maybe the Manobao road could contest).

On your next trip, if you want a small step-up, try the Apart-Hotel Ponte Vedra - on the beach at Bahoruco, south of Barahona. Beachfront, 2 pools, breakfast and dinner included for about US$50/night off season double occupancy. There's even hot water, if you ask.

The Hotel Guarocuya was a Trujillo era hotel that was still very Trujilloesque until a very poor renovation job was done in the mid-1990s. When it was built, though, the beach in front was very swimmable. It no longer is.

Did you notice the gingerbread architecture at Los Rios, on the north shore of the lake?

Escott · #5 12-24-2003, 01:39 PM

I had a great trip and I have to say that the Goat trail over the mountain topped it off. We went up so high the temperature dropped from scorching hot to freezing cold or a little above that. At one point we were looking through a break in the clouds down to the valley.

Robert only had to get out one time to walk across the river to see how deep it was before I drove through it. So it was a little cold on his footsies!

Don't let Robert pick hotels for you. The one in Pedanales was a very interesting stop. 350- Pesos for NO hot water, NO shower head, toilet seat UNATTACHED, a bed that resembles a hammock in shape and a A/C that blew cold air. At least there were no mosquito's owning me there. Man I was crying. I do have to say that it appeared to be the only hotel in town but it would have been worth a 200 mile drive to S.D. instead of staying there.

Bahia de Las Aguilas has a road that was so steep with loose rock I wimped out and didn't pass though it. I am not weak in the stomach but had these bad thoughts of never getting my Jeepeta out of there and having to walk/hitch/Gua Gua back to S.D.. Ok so I wimped out!

On the way out there we saw where people lived in Caves. Interesting.

All in all this was a great trip. I have been wanting to take this for quite a while and finally saw the inside southwest of the country that I hadn't seen before. Robert is a great traveling companion. He even rubbed my back after a hard drive!

Robert · #6 12-24-2003, 03:40 PM

This is another cool spot I forgot about. I have know idea why this happens, but it's very odd watching a car roll up a hill. Scott and I tried varying ways to defeat the phenomena, but we lost everytime.

Whatever we did, the car appeared to roll up the hill, very creepy.

Polo Magnetico is located about 15km outside of Cabral (between La Cueva and Las Auyamas) which is I guess 20km from Barahona. You will need a map as it's not sign posted.

Chirimoya · #7 12-24-2003, 03:45 PM

I've been there and I am convinced it's an optical illusion, not a freak magnetic phenomenon as people like to claim. The hills and mountains make it appear as if the downward slope is at an upward gradient, so that things seem to be rolling uphill. There is one just like it near Bethlehem (wow - seasonal connection) and it has been proved to be optical.

Chiri

appleman · #8 12-25-2003, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Robert

On the way back, Scott thought it would be fun to travel to Pedernales via a goat track that runs across the mountains clipping the Haitian border.

The road varies between dirt, rocks, gravel, boulders and all of the above. About 15-20km outside of Pedernales the road has been washed away. You have no choice but to cross the river, because it's a long way back!

Robert, (and Scott)

This sounds like an awesome trip. In your opinion, could it be done on a motorcycle? I'm thinking dirt bike like the 125cc Yamahas. I'm looking for a scenic, challenging trip that me and 2 or 3 friends could take.

m65swede · #9 12-26-2003, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chirimoya
I've been there and I am convinced it's an optical illusion, not a freak magnetic phenomenon as people like to claim.

Probably so. I'll check it out with my GPS the next time I'm in that area .

Swede

GlowWorm · #10 12-27-2003, 04:26 AM

Sounds like it was a great trip. Would like to visit Lago Enriquillo sometime.

I thought they were American crocodiles at Lago Enriquillo. Aren't salt water crocs indigenous only to Africa and some parts of Asia? Maybe not.

Either way 10' to 15' is far too close.

Glow