Northeast of La Vega, Santo Cerro is one of the holiest sites in the country, home to the church Santuario Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes. The legend says that during a battle with the indigenous Taino, Christopher Columbus placed a cross on a hilltop beside the church and when the Taino tried to attack it, Our Lady of Mercedes Virgin Mary, patron saint of the DR, appeared before them and scared them away. Santo Cerro is now the site of an annual pilgrimage on September 24, when Dominicans from around the country flock here to pay tribute to the nation’s patron saint. Head to the open-air terrace at the back of the church and walk the steps towards Santo Cerro’s symbolic, 14-meter (46-foot) high cross towering over the Cibao Valley and boasting spectacular panoramic views over the surrounding mountains.
Armando Bermúdez National Park
The Armando Bermúdez National Park stretches 767 square kilometers (296 square miles), and together with the neighboring José del Carmen Ramírez National Park, boasts the tallest peaks in the Caribbean region, including the mighty Pico Duarte, source of the Yaque del Norte river.
Stop at this river park for an easy dip in the fresh, calmer waters of the Yaque del Norte river. There are a handful of benches and picnic tables. Bring your own food and drinks for a lovely day out.
Rancho Baiguate provides a challenge for photographers at its Mariposario, or butterfly house. Take home the shapes, designs and colors of these tropical butterflies in your digital photos. http://ranchobaiguate.com
The Café Monte Alto coffee factory offers a complete tour of the facility and its production of organic coffee. See their process from tree to cup, ending the journey with multiple tastings of fresh-brewed coffee at the onsite café.
Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepción
This modern Roman Catholic Church took 15 years to build, and was completed in 1992. The cathedral is one of the few in the world where the statue of Christ is portrayed as already having resurrected and not dying on the cross.
Celebrated every year, the Constanza Spring Festival is an event that brings together many of the leading farming and tourism businesses of Constanza for a weekend of presentations, talks and exhibits at the Club Japonés in Constanza. It is a good opportunity to see the people and products of the region in an informal and fun atmosphere.
Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve
The scientific reserve boasts altitudes ranging from a low 245 meters (800 feet) to a high 1,565 meters (5,135 feet), home to over 600 species of flora and fauna, including over 100 bird species, giant tree frogs, lizards, and over 80 species of orchids.
This pristine bathing spot is a local favorite on weekends, when families flock here to cool off in the fresh water streams of the Rio Camú. Beware of the cool temperature before jumping in!
Hiking El Mogote is a physically challenging but immersive experience. The three-hour climb takes you to this 1,163 meter (3,815 feet) high peak, taking you along a very steep hike through thick pine forests and vegetation and onto steep, rocky dirt slopes all the way to the top.
Every June, visitors and locals alike gather for the weekend Jarabacoa Flower Festival held in the park off Avenida la Confluencia. Exotic and rare flowers, traditional homemade foods and beverages, arts and crafts, tropical plants, and more items made in La Vega province are for sale.
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