Hoyo de pelempito

The near 32-kilometer (20-mile) long drive from sea level up to the observatory at Hoyo de Pelempito’s park–in an area called Aceitillar, located a cool 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) high–is an attraction in itself, and unique to the Caribbean region. The vegetation will surprise you as it morphs from desert plants to pine trees, and into a cloud forest. At the top are several mountain trails near the observatory, which overlooks the hoyo de Pelempito: a geological depression dropping 700 meters (2,300 feet), and nestled between the Sierra de Bahoruco mountains. Temperatures here range from a high 25°C (77°F) at noon to 0°C (32°F) in the early morning.