El Pico del Manglar Viewpoint

El Pico del Manglar Viewpoint serves up a killer panoramic view of the San Juan Valley and the Central Mountain Range from Las Matas de Farfán. I drove up the paved road that winds up the hill; at the top there's a small wooden gazebo and benches to kick back and catch the breeze. On a clear day you can spot the Sabaneta Dam and the towns scattered down below. I got there around 5:30 p.m. and the sunset painted the hills orange and purple — a free show that's totally worth waking up early or staying late for. Bring water and sunscreen, the sun beats down hard on the drive up.

This natural viewpoint sits atop Loma del Manglar, a high point overlooking the San Juan Valley. Historically it served as a lookout for cattle ranchers and travelers crossing toward the border. Today it's a must-stop to watch the sunset turn the bean and corn fields — the backbone of the local economy — to gold, with the Sierra de Neiba as a backdrop.