Las Mercedes & Pelempito Natural Wonders & Lunch

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a panoramic drive into the Cabo Rojo Mountains, a stunningly beautiful landscape of natural wonders and sprawling farms. The deeper you drive inland and the higher the altitude, the more spectacular the terrain. You will pass through flat tropical environments, desert-like settings and hilly woodlands on the way to Las Mercedes, an area that was formerly mined for bauxite that was used to make aluminum. As you will see from an elevated lookout, the terrain there is ocher-colored and lunar-like. You will also pause at a spot overlooking the Pelempito Valley, a natural amphitheater of sorts in the pine-forested Bahoruco Mountains. It too is remarkably photogenic. Upon descending, you will visit Finca Mariposas for a traditional farm-to-table lunch. The exact menu will depend on which locally sourced ingredients are seasonal and freshest. Afterwards, you will be welcome to pet some of the farm animals.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel inland and admire the wonderfully diverse landscape from elevated lookouts.
• Gaze out over a reddish lunar-like terrain and a forested mountain valley.
• Dine on a traditional Dominican lunch at a farm where the ingredients are sourced.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.