Caribbean Birding Trail

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You are here: Home / Dominican Republic / North Coast / Estero Hondo

Estero Hondo

  • About Estero Hondo
  • The Birds
  • How to Get There
  • Tour Operators and Guides

An ‘estero’ is a combination of a bay and a widened river mouth where the river enters the sea. The Scientific Reserve Caño de Estero Hondo is such a lagoon. It is completely surrounded by mangroves with a quiet stretch of uninhabited beach and home to one of the last remaining populations of manatees on Hispaniola.

But in addition to manatees, the Estero Hondo provides protected habitat for a variety of coastal birds, including herons, egrets, and warblers. A variety of ducks and shorebirds may also be present. An island at the mouth of the estero is a large roost for egrets, and especially late in the afternoon flocks of Cattle Egrets and other species flying into the roost is a special sight. The mangroves host Yellow Warblers and other Neotropical migratory species, as well as resident White-crowned Pigeons and Mangrove Cuckoos. These birds are all best seen by hiring a boat to take a trip on the lagoon.

American Flamingo, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Reddish Egret, Cattle Egret, White Ibis, Black-necked Stilt, Burrowing Owl, Village Weaver

The Scientific Reserve Caño de Estero Hondo is west of Puerto Plata, however, due to the uncertain condition of roads, it is best to approach the reserve from Santiago. From Puerto Plata take the main, well-marked highway C-5 west, which then turns south towards Santiago. This will intersect the Carretera Duarte (highway C-1) northwest of Santiago near Navarrette. Turn here to head west on 1 towards Monte Cristi.

If leaving from Santiago rather than Puerto Plata, take the main Carretera Duarte (Highway C-1) out of Santiago heading west towards Monte Cristi. At the Cruce de Villa Elisa turn right where there is a sign for Punta Rucia. This quickly becomes a pot-holed dirt road that passes through pasture and scrub habitat dominated by mesquite. The road slowly rises in elevation and in about 25 min you will reach the top of the range. In another 20 minutes and about 16.1 km (10 miles) from the Cruce de Villa Elisa you will reach a fork in the road; the left-hand fork will go to Punta Rucia; at a second fork, bear right to reach Punta Rucia.

Estero Hondo (Map by Dana Gardner)
Estero Hondo (Map by Dana Gardner)

The highlight here is a boat trip on the lagoon to look for manatee and birds. Boats and guides are available at the park office. We recommend a local bird guide, Antonio, who may be reached at 809-973-8699. Birding is also possible by walking the road into the national park house through the dry thorn scrub.

Estero Hondo

Dominican Republic Sites

Central Mountain Range
Constanza and Valle Nuevo
Ebano Verde Reserve
Hatillo
Jarabacoa with Armando Bermúdez and José del Carmen Ramírez National Parks
La Joya de San Francisco
Loma Quita Espuela
Pico Diego de Ocampo, Santiago
Southeast
Bávaro
Cumayasa
Del Este National Park
Del Este National Park: Boca de Yuma
Del Este National Park: Guaraguao
Del Este National Park: Padre Nuestro Trail
Del Este National Park: Saona Island
Ecological Foundation Trail, Punta Cana
Limón Lagoon
Los Haitises National Park
Los Haitises National Park: Caño Hondo
Los Haitises National Park: Los Limones
Monte Plata
Southwest
Aguacate and Zapotén
Cabo Rojo and Pedernales
Cabral Lagoon
Cachote, Eastern Bahoruco
Jimaní
Lake Enriquillo
Loma Charco Azul
Oviedo Lagoon, Jaragua National Park
Puerto Alejandro and Tortuguero
Rabo de Gato and Puerto Escondido
Sierra de Bahoruco National Park
Los Arroyos, Sierra de Bahoruco National Park
North Coast
Cayos Siete Hermanos
El Limón, Samaná
Estero Hondo
Loma Guaconejo
Loma Isabel de Torres, Puerto Plata
Monte Cristi and Saladilla
Nalga de Maco National Park, Río Limpio
Samaná
Around Santo Domingo
Las Salinas de Baní
Mirador del Norte Park
National Botanical Garden
Ozama Wetlands

Partners in the Dominican Republic

  • Grupo Acción Ecológica
  • La Sociedad Ornitológica de la Hispaniola (SOH)
  • National Aviary

With special thanks to our partners at the Ruta Barrancoli

Ruta Barrancoli logo


Dominican Republic Tour Operators

  • Explora Ecotour
  • Miguel A. Landestoy T., Independent Guide
  • Tody Tours
  • Wildside Nature Tours

Bird Checklists

Click here to download a pamphlet-sized year-round checklist for Dominican Republic.

Recommended Field Guides

Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti by Steven Latta, Christopher Rimmer, Allan Keith, James Wiley, Herbert A. Raffaele, Kent McFarland, and Eladio Fernandez

Aves de la República Dominicana y Haití by Steven Latta, Christopher Rimmer, Allan Keith, James Wiley, Herbert A. Raffaele, Kent McFarland, and Eladio Fernandez

Ruta Barrancolí: A Bird-finding Guide to the Dominican Republic by Steven C. Latta and Kate J. Wallace

Birds of the West Indies by Herbert Raffaele, James Wiley, Orlando Garrido, Allan Keith, and Janis Raffaele

Want to know how you can be involved?

Do you know of a place that should be part of the Caribbean Birding Trail? Are you the owner of a lodge or hotel and want to attract eco-tourists? Are you a guide interested in the birdwatching market? Then, get involved with our project!

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