recommended. The majority of hikers travel by this route. A trailhead northwest of the town of San Juan de la Maguana is the starting point for four-day (three-night) trips that end at the Ciénaga trailhead (or, for an extra day of hiking, back at the starting location), which are run entirely by local Dominicans who cook the food provided, and help campers along the way. Each night is spent in shelters, and due to the distance traveled, riding by mule-back is strongly encouraged. Far off the beaten path, it is highly unlikely that anyone else can be seen on the trail until the merge with the trail from La Ciénaga. According to Dominican Park Service representatives in La Cienaga, while approximately 1,000 hikers visit Pico Duarte during each of the months of December and January; only about 10 to 15 people a day hike the mountain during off-season months. See also Geography of the Dominican Republic Hispaniola Pico Duarte Full Report References Dod, A. S. (1992). Endangered and Endemic Birds of the Dominican Republic. Cypress House Marcano, J. E.. República Dominicana: Sus regiones – Cordillera Central. Schubert, A.; Pérez, R. (1998). Hacia el Techo del Caribe: Caminatas al Pico Duarte. Kiskeya Alternative. External links Pico Duarte @ SummitPost.org Climbing Pico Duarte, The Tallest Mountain in the West Indies, 2012 travelogue in three parts at Uncommon Caribbean website. Duarte Geography of Hispaniola Mountains of the Caribbean Highest points of countries