Villa Los Almácigos

Los Almacigos is a town in the province of Santiago Rodríguez, in the Dominican Republic. It is located in the Southwest portion between the Cordillera Central or Central Mountain Range and the Inaje River area.

Los Almacigos is today a beautiful town of more than 7,000 inhabitants. One of the main attractions is the park called "Olegaria Rodriguez", who was the first citizen of the town itself. However the main tourist attractions are the mountains and the rivers located in the Cordillera Central. Inaje River is a spectacular river that has wonderful and abundant waterfalls in the mountains. The river and surrounding areas boast one of the most spectacular swimming holes of the country.

Just a few kilometers to the south of Villa Los Almacigos is La Peonia, a beautiful village where the temperature is always cool and wild orchids and colorful birds can be found in the coffee plantations. La Peonia offers beautiful mountain views and refreshing waterfalls. La Peonia it is often called a paradise for its cool weather and natural beauty. This community is well known for its coffee and nice people. In the mountains around La Peonia, it is possible to locate the Hispaniolan solenodon and Hutia, rare animals endemic to the Dominican Republic. These animals usually live in brushy areas and in and around the coffee plantations. Both are considered critically endangered and are unique mammals on earth.

Next to La Peonia is "Nalga de Maco National Park" with a selection of different habitats and a beautiful tropical rainforest with endemic birds and plants. The climate is generally very pleasant, and the winter on the top of the mountain can get quite chilly. One of the most exciting places of Nalga de Maco is the Elfin Forest, or Bosque Enano, that is located on the summit and that is a cloud forest where the drops of rain are so fine that they create a mystical landscape.

References