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Pico Duarte, is the highest peak in all the Caribbean islands. It lies in the Cordillera Central range, the greatest of the Dominican Republic's mountain chains. The Cordillera Central extends from the plains between San Cristóbal and Baní to the northwestern peninsula of Haiti, where it is known as Massif du Nord. The highest elevations of the Cordillera Central are found in the Pico Duarte and Valle Nuevo massifs.
The Pico Duarte was allegedly climbed for the first time in 1851 by the British consul to the country, Sir Robert H. Schomburgk. He named the mountain Monte Tina and estimated its height at 3,140 m. In 1912, Father Miguel Fuertes dismissed Schomburgk's calculations after climbing La Rusilla and considering that it was the tallest summit of the island. A year later, the Swedish botanist Erik L. Ekman sided with the Englishman's estimate, thinking it was closer to the truth, and called the sister summits as Pelona Grande and Pelona Chica (Big and Small Pelona). During the Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina regime, the tallest of these was called Pico Trujillo, only to be renamed later, after the dictator's death, with its current name of Pico Duarte, in honor of Juan Pablo Duarte, one of the Dominican Republic's founding fathers.
As explained, the mountain's elevation has been for quite some time a matter of debate. As recently as mid-1990's, it was said to be 3,175 meters high. But in 2003 it was measured by a geographer using GPS technology and found to be 3,098 meters *. In January 2005 a GPS survey by a team of hikers obtained a reading of 3,087 meters (10,128 feet), but despite the above sign, SRTM data indicates that the professional survey is probably more accurate. It is only two meters taller than La Pelona, its twin sister peak.
The mountain and the surrounding landscape is covered in Hispaniolan Pine (Pinus occidentalis) forests and has a climate that is not typical of a Caribbean island, with cool temperatures all year round, going below freezing during winter nights.
There is a well-maintained system of trails leading up to the summit, with trailheads at several locations. The easiest access is from the town of La Ciénega, near Jarabacoa. The trail is 23.1 km (14.4 miles) to the summit, with a total elevation change of 1,977 meters, and a shelter 5 km away from the summit. Tourist-friendly travel agencies in the town of Jarabacoa can help arrange trips from this trailhead, using mules in their employ to help lug food, sleeping bags and supplies for the overnight stay in the shelter. A few fresh water springs labeled "Potable" are along the trail, but water filters are recommended. The vast majority of hikers travel by this route.
For the more adventurous, there is another trailhead northwest of the town of San Juan de la Maguana. These three-day (two night) trips that end at the Ciénaga trailhead (or, for an extra day of hiking, back at the starting location) are run entirely by local Dominicans who cook the food you provide and help you camp along the way. Each night is spent in well maintained shelters, and due to the distance traveled, riding by mule-back is strongly encouraged. Far off the beaten path, it is highly unlikely that there will be anyone else on the trail until you merge with the trail from La Ciénaga. Although a Peace Corps worker has been helping to organize the trips, a strong command of Spanish is recommended for anyone that attempts this route.
"Pico Duarte"