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You are here: Home / Dominican Republic / Southwest / Jimaní

Jimaní

  • About Jimaní
  • The Birds
  • How to Get There

Jimaní is the capital and the second largest city of the Dominican province of Independencia. As a border town, it serves as one of the primary thoroughfares to Haiti, and is an important marketplace for agricultural goods and other commodities. Although the town suffered a crippling flash flood in May 2004 when half of the town was completely washed away, killing many of the citizens during the night, the town is in the process of rebuilding. But the town has been further altered by the flood of refugees and aid-related activities following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

The birdwatching attraction in Jimaní is the brackish lagoon that lies between Lago Enriquillo in the Dominican Republic (Site B8: Lago Enriquillo) and Saumatre (also known as Lago Azuei) in Haiti. This lagoon, like Lago Enriquillo and the Cabral Lagoon, is part of a series of lakes and lagoons that are remnants of an open marine channel that up to 12,000 years ago divided the present-day island of Hispaniola into two.

The primary attraction at Jimaní is large numbers of the regional endemic Caribbean Coot, which is not easily seen elsewhere and particularly not in these numbers. Stopping at the wetland at Jimaní is a good extension of any trip to Lago Enriquillo (Site B8). The lagoon at Jimaní also attracts numbers of waders and terns.

From your parking site on the abandoned airfield, walk down to the lagoon. Look for ducks and egrets, as well as the target species, the Caribbean Coot. It is often possible to see as many as 100 of these hard to find birds. There are no developed trails to take you further into the lagoon, but feel free to explore the adjoining dry thorn scrub habitat.

Target species include Pied- billed Grebe, Cattle Egret, Green Heron, Common Moorhen, Caribbean Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Hispaniolan Palm Crow

Jimaní lies about 45 min on the primary roads from either La Descubierta on the north side of Lago Enriquillo, or from Duverge on the south. Once in Jimaní, follow traffic towards the Haitian border crossing. But prior to arrival at the crossing look for an unmarked dirt track that leads across a flat, empty area down to the lagoon on your right. This is an abandoned airfield so you can generally drive down onto the flats. Be aware to keep your vehicle out of the mud, but park where it is dry and walk in.

Jimaní (Map by Dana Gardner)
Jimaní (Map by Dana Gardner)

Jimaní

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
Southwest
Aguacate and Zapotén
Cabo Rojo and Pedernales
Cabral Lagoon
Cachote, Eastern Bahoruco
Jimaní
Lake Enriquillo
Loma Charco Azul
Los Arroyos, Sierra de Bahoruco National Park
Oviedo Lagoon, Jaragua National Park
Puerto Alejandro and Tortuguero
Rabo de Gato and Puerto Escondido
Sierra de Bahoruco National Park
North Coast
Cayos Siete Hermanos
El Limón, Samaná
Estero Hondo
Loma Guaconejo
Loma Isabel de Torres, Puerto Plata
Nalga de Maco National Park, Río Limpio
Samaná
Around Santo Domingo
Las Salinas de Baní
Mirador del Norte Park
National Botanical Garden
Ozama Wetlands
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
Limón Lagoon
Los Haitises National Park
Los Haitises National Park: Caño Hondo
Los Haitises National Park: Los Limones
Monte Plata
Ecological Foundation Trail, Punta Cana

Partners in the Dominican Republic

  • Grupo Accion Ecologica
  • National Aviary
  • SOH Conservation

With special thanks to our partners at the Ruta Barrancoli

Ruta Barrancoli logo

Dominican Republic Tour Operators

  • Gabriel Lugo

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

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 Raffaelle

 

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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