Welcome to paradise

(Strolla at anchor in Los Haitises National Park)

Los Haitises National Park in the Dominican Republic turned out to be an incredible coastal maze of cliffs and coves and caves, all dripping with vines and hidden by deep mangrove swamps.  We spent two and a half days there, alone in the park, swinging from coconut trees, jumping off cliffs, and climbing through caves.  

 

(Exploring the inlets by dinghy)

(Scouting cliff climbing locations)

The park, we found, was best explored by dinghy.  Without fear of grounding, we could race up the mangrove rivers and search out the secret, jungle shrouded lagoons.  Trails led inland to crumbling cave mouths, like Mayan tombs gaping in the leaf litter of the jungle floor, all waiting to be wriggled through.  Bats and owls and towering stalagmites awaited. 

 

(Hiking through jungle and farmland)

(Amateur Spelunking)

(More use for the waterfall rope)

 

 

Long before I'd eaten my fill of fresh coconuts, or tired of tracing the park's endless coastal meandering by boat, the weather on the Mona Passage began to change in our favor.  With some regret, we weighed anchor in the pre-dawn light and sailed back across the bay to Samana to prepare for Puerto Rico.

 

(Drinking from a freshly foraged coconut)

(Impressive roots)