This park is only 90 miles from Santo Domingo and easy to reach via the Mella highway. Situated on the extreme southeast part of the island, the East National Park is 172 square miles with an average annual temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The park includes a large heavily wooded area on the mainland and the Saona Island just off the coast.

Eleven species of birds make their home in the park, including the barn owl, brown pelican and the endangered white-crowned pigeon. There are a multitude of Amphibians and reptiles as well, like lizards, snakes, sea turtles and the rhinoceros iguana. Endangered marine mammals include the West Indian Manatee and the bottlenose Dolphin. A number of fascinating caves with Taino wall drawings dating back pre Columbian also exist.

To visit the mainland park and the caves, visitors should arrange for a tour at the Parks Department in Bayahibe or from tour operators.
Dominican Republic Reserves

There are seven scientific reserves (one of them officially a sanctuary) in total operating in the Dominican Republic. Two of the reserves are new, just up and running, so there isn't much information available about them, however, the other five are long established