Pico del Cacao Lookout

From the Pico del Cacao Lookout in Polo, the 360° view takes your breath away: the Neyba Valley, the Bahoruco Mountain Range, and even the Caribbean Sea on clear days. Heading up before dawn is the pro move to catch the sunrise painting the clouds and feel that crisp mountain air. Pack a jacket, hot coffee, and the will to wake up early; the dirt road demands a 4x4 or serious hiking legs. A killer spot for photographers and anyone chasing pure silence in the Deep South.

In Polo's coffee-growing region, this lookout stems from the tradition of cultivating high-altitude coffee on the slopes of Pico del Cacao. Once a resting point for *conucos* (small family farms) and guides, today it serves up views of the valley where mist kisses the coffee plants and the cool wind tells the green story of the Sierra.