Montecristi. A Treasure on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic

Today, we will travel to Montecristi, located at the west end of the North Coast in the Dominican Republic. It is a city that not many travelers know about. It is filled with natural resources with extraordinary potential and incalculable scientific value, as well as beautiful landscape.

From East to West – The North Coast of DR is an Ecological Treasure.

You can find many unique attractions in the entire North Coast of DR. In particular, its natural, historical, and cultural attractions make this area the most distinct in the country. For those of you looking for history, La Isabela has a history of more than 500 years old.

You can enjoy diverse gastronomy, warm beaches, perfect weather, friendly people, and a stress-free lifestyle. These and many other reasons make this an ideal place to invest in real estate. 

In regards to ecotourism, in the eastern part of the North Coast, we have the city of Samaná, one of the best places in the world for the observation of humpback whales. In the western area, Montecristi has some of the best places in the Caribbean to do bird watching. Once again, we have more reasons to be proud to say that the North Coast area has it all!

Bird Watching in Montecristi.

Montecristi is the city with the most notable number of migratory birds in the country. Also, you can find several species of endemic birds, which makes it an excellent site to observe tropical birds. According to the data provided by eBird, there are 159 bird species in Montecristi.

The most popular zone for bird-watching is “Los Cayos Los 7 Hermanos.” Moreover, the authorities are in the process of creating at least seven bird-watching paths.

You can find a vast selection of birds in Montecristi. Some of the variations are boobies, brown pelicans, magnificent frigatebirds, storks, spatulas, white egrets, and a great variety of herons. You can also find sea swallows, plovers, and even flocks of flamingos near the bay of Montecristi. 

Top Things to Do in Montecristi, Dominican Republic.

Montecristi is very accessible. The Duarte Highway will take you straight there. ” The place itself has numerous activities from beaches, cultural visits, ecotourism, amongst many others. Below are some recommendations so you can design your day, as you prefer.

1. El Morro National Park
   

   On top of our list, we have “El Morro National Park”, which is a symbolic place in this province. The park is a considerable elevation of 242 meters high above sea level, and has vast endemic vegetation. There used to be some stairs to access the top.

   However, nowadays, there is a path created by the people who have made the trek. Once you are at the top of El Morro, you have a breathtaking view of the coast, combined with the brilliant color of the Atlantic Ocean. Just the mental vision of it can bring about incredible relaxation. At the bottom of the hill, you can take a swim at El Morro Beach.

   Excursions to El Morro National Park

   There is an excursion named “Ruta El Morro y Los Caños,” which not only includes the visit to El Morro, but visits to several beaches, mangroves, snorkeling, and bird watching as well. 

2. Salt Interpretation Center
   

   Montecristi is the pioneer city of the salt industry and currently the largest salt producer in the country. It is the only visitor interpretation center of the salt industry, where you can learn about the process and the importance of salt in the history of the city. It is believed that the town is the oldest salt producer in the western hemisphere.

3. The Mangroves
   

   The Mangrove National Park of Estero Balsa is a protected area where there are lagoons and mangrove trees, located in the Bay of Manzanillo. Hence, it has preserved areas of great beauty that visitors can access.

   
   Curious Fact: Red mangrove trees are vital to the production of sea salt. They need to extract fresh water from the seawater they live in to survive. Its roots can filter up to 90 percent of the salt in the water. It is the primary reason why Montecristi is a salt producing city.

4. Isla Cabra & Cayos Los 7 Hermanos (Cabra Island & The Seven Brothers Keys)
   

   Isla Cabra is located one kilometer from Montecristi, which has become a popular attraction next to the 7 Brothers Keys. One fun activity you can do is camp in Isla Cabra to watch the beautiful sunrise and build a bonfire. Then take a boat ride to the 7 Brothers Keys to enjoy its pristine beaches.

5. Maximo Gómez Museum
   

   In the middle of the city you will find the house of General Maximo Gómez. The house exhibits the life history of this honorable Dominican who participated in the war of independence of Cuba.

6. The Clock Tower
   

   It is said that you have not visited Montecristi if you have not taken a selfie in the Clock Tower, an iconic place for the perfect picture. It is a mini version of the Eiffel Tower and was designed by the French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. To add to that emblematic name, it was built by the famous French clockmaker Jean-Paul Garnier. A place you should not miss out!

   

To sum it up, Montecristi boasts profound history in every corner, combined with abundant nature.