El Macorís Natural Reserve

El Macorís Natural Reserve protects lush cloud forests and crystal-clear rivers near Estebanía, Azua. Its trails reveal endemic flora and birds like the Hispaniolan parrot and the Antillean mango hummingbird. Perfect for low-key ecotourism: guided hikes, nature spotting, and dips in natural swimming holes. An authentic green sanctuary in the Dominican south, ideal for unplugging and experiencing native biodiversity without the crowds.

El Macorís Natural Reserve safeguards the forests of the upper Macorís River basin, critical for the water supply of Estebanía and surrounding communities. Established to conserve native biodiversity and halt deforestation, it shelters endemic species and maintains the aquifer recharge that sustains agriculture and daily life in the southern region.