Barahona is located about 200 km northwest of the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo. The beautiful nature of this region, steep cliffs, secluded beaches, and unexplored places – this is what draws people here.
There are many extraordinary places here: national parks, Lake Enriquillo (Lago Enriquillo), and the Magnetic Field (Polo Magnético).
The city of Barahona is a small Caribbean town with provincial charm. The history of the city dates back to the early 1800s. The first settlers, consisting of a few families of wealthy timber merchants, settled here at the beginning of the 19th century. The city is very interesting with its colonial-style houses, the central park, the cathedral, the central sugar plantation, plantations of cacti, vegetables, and bananas, the long promenade (Malecón) stretching along the shore, and the very interesting market.
The beaches of this province are beautiful, deserted, and untouched. Many of them have a rocky shore. The most beautiful among them is considered to be Puerto Alejandro beach, which lies behind the settlement of La Ciénaga.
When in Barahona, you must visit Polo Magnético, a mysterious place, the so-called field of wonders, which allows your car, left in neutral, to roll uphill by itself. It is said that this is related to a strong magnetic field, but the locals claim that the mountain sometimes emits strange light at night and produces unsettling thunder. Polo Magnético is located in the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, where the best coffee in the country is produced.
And arguably the most interesting thing this region has to offer is Lake Enriquillo, with a length of 35 km and a width of 10 km. This is the only saltwater lake in the world where crocodiles live. There are three islands in the lake area: La Islita, Barbarita, and Cabritos, the latter being not only the largest but also a national park of the same name. It is here that you can encounter the Ricord’s iguana, which has red irises.
The nature of this place is unlike any other corner of the Dominican Republic: huge cacti and flat trees, scorching sun, numerous iguanas, long-legged herons, pink flamingos, and crocodiles – although the latter are not often sighted.
On the mountain side, near Lake Enriquillo, there is a cave with rock paintings by the Taíno Indians (these drawings are called Las Caritas).
Near the lake, there are healing sulfur springs. The water in the springs is crystal clear, cold, and invigorating. It is said that bathing in these wonderful thermal waters grants new energy and health.
For the full experience, you should visit the market in Jimaní, which lies on the border with the state of Haiti. This place reflects life in the western part of the island (Republic of Haiti), where a white person is better off not staying.
03.07.2026 
