Smaller
BiggerDominican Republic showcases Pico Duarte to promote adventure tourism in Colombia
Colombia.- Tourism Minister David Collado presented a new strategy to promote ecotourism in the Dominican Republic during the ANATO 2025 fair, highlighting Pico Duarte as a premier adventure tourism destination. He introduced the “Orgullo de mi Tierra” (Pride of My Land) project by Centro Cuesta Nacional (CCN), which aims to showcase the country’s natural wealth and support local development through community-based tourism.
The campaign focuses on three main routes to Pico Duarte: Mata Grande (45 km, best in January-February and Holy Week), La Ciénaga de Manabao (23 km, the shortest and most popular, from December to April), and Sabaneta (48 km, the most challenging, ideal from January to March). Each route offers a unique experience for hikers seeking to explore the Caribbean’s highest peak.
The initiative seeks to inspire Dominicans to appreciate their natural heritage while attracting international ecotourism enthusiasts. More than just a scenic landmark, Pico Duarte symbolizes resilience, adventure, and environmental conservation.
The government has in the last few years started a tourist quota and increased fees for adventure tourists going to the Pico Duarte area to protect it from the environmental damage caused by the masses of visitors. The guides and tour operators had to respond by restricting the size of their groups and increasing adventure prices.
The promotion of Pico Duarte to Columbia goes against the grain of the quotas by creating a demand that could be unfulfilled or fulfilled allowing special tourists to be exempt from quotas. So…. what happens now?
The Secretary of Tourism did not think out this promotion well.