Pico Duarte

The Pico Duarte, historically called La Pelona, is a peak belonging to the Cordillera Central in the Dominican Republic, being the highest point of Hispaniola and the Antilles as a whole. It is located in the José del Carmen Ramírez National Park

Until the first years of the last century, its two peaks were interchangeably called La Pelona, distinguishing between La Pelona Grande and La Pelona Chica. La Pelona Grande was baptized as Trujillo Peak in the 1930s. After the death of the dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo they gave it its current name.

Currently, Duarte Peak and La Pelona Chica Peak are considered twin peaks. According to some current topographic maps, the two peaks have the same height of 3087 meters above sea level, however, altimeter measurements show that La Pelona is a few meters below the Duarte peak.

The straight distance between the summits of Pico Duarte and La Pelona is 1 ½ km. The peaks are divided by the Lilís valley, with a height of 2950 m a.s.l. no. m.. To the east and to the west there is a steep slope. Other important peaks in the surroundings are the Pico del Barraco (2644 m a.s.l.) and the Loma de la Viuda (2801 m a.s.l.). To the east is Loma La Rusilla with 3038 m a.s.l. no. m. and Yaque Peak (2761 m a.s.l.).

There are four important valleys that drain the water from the Duarte Peak massif: one of them is the Bao Valley, in which the Bao River rises to the north, the Yaque del Norte River to the northeast, the Blanco River and the Yaque del Sur river to the south. To the west are the valleys of the Mijo river and the Limón stream, which drain to the south, and the valleys of the Mao river and its tributaries that drain to the north. Between these valleys mountains rise that in many cases exceed 2000 meters of altitude. Normally this peak is visited by many brigades and Dominican schools.

Climate

The climate is mainly influenced by the trade winds that come from the northeast, eventually transporting rain clouds that collide with the mountain ranges causing them to discharge their waters. Thus, a good part of the rain falls on the Northern Cordillera and on the easternmost hills of the Central Cordillera (Ébano Verde Scientific Reserve), the rest continues on its journey until it falls on the northern slope of the rest of the Central Cordillera. On the southern slopes of the Central Cordillera it rains less (a phenomenon known as orographic shadow).

Temperatures depend on altitude. In the highest parts of the mountain range, temperatures can drop below 0 °C in the early hours of the morning, frosts (frosts) and sparkles can occur on the higher elevation areas. The temperature is very low, so it is recommended to wear coats, gloves and closed shoes.

Average climate parameters of Pico Duarte
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Total precipitation (mm)	7	11	17	37	51	40	25	81	44	37	18	8	376
Source:

Hydrology

The Pico Duarte massif is extremely important for the hydrological regime of the country. The two most important rivers in the Dominican Republic are born there: the Yaque del Norte River with its tributary, Río Bao, and the Yaque del Sur River, with its tributaries, Río Mijo, Río Grande, and Río San Juan. These rivers are very important for supplying drinking water to urban centers and for irrigation in arid areas in Cibao Occidental, the San Juan Valley, and the Azua and Barahona plains. All the main rivers have dams when they flow from the mountains to the plain.

These dams, in addition to storing water for the driest seasons, have hydroelectric plants that generate an important part of the electrical energy nationwide. Due to the geological formation of the Central Cordillera, its waters are mainly superficial. For this reason, even at the highest points, such as the Valley of Lilís, water emerges during most of the year.

Routes to the Duarte Peak

1. Jarabacoa - Manabao - La Ciénaga - Los Tablones - La Cotorra - Agüita Fría - La Shared - Pico Duarte
2. El Pedregal - Matagrande - Loma del Oro - Las Guácaras - Valle del Bao - La Pelona - Vallecito de Lilís - Pico Duarte
3. Presa de Sabaneta – Alto de la Rosa – Agüita Fría – Macutico – La Pelona –Vallecito de Lilís – Pico Duarte

From Santo Domingo it is necessary to get to Jarabacoa (La Vega province) to access route A, to Santiago de los Caballeros to use route B, and to San Juan de la Maguana to access route C. The first of These routes are 23 km long and last 2 to 3 days, the second 45 km and 4 to 5 days, and the third 48 km and 4 to 5 days.

There are facilities for accompanying local guides, mule service, etc. There are guide companies that are very reliable and include all equipment, transportation, meals, sleeping bags, tents, cold clothing, and qualified guides.

It is highly recommended that you book your trip in advance and receive all the information from your guide a few days or weeks before the trip. This way you will have a more pleasant experience and you will enjoy the mountain more.

Main climb from the south to Pico Duarte

It begins near the Sabaneta dam, located in the section with the same name, about 20 km north of the city of San Juan de la Maguana. From this route, the Duarte peak is covered in three days and compared to the other routes, this is the longest and most difficult, that is why it is the route where you will find fewer people on the way.

Access Route: In San Juan de la Maguana, take the road to Sabaneta heading North, after 20 km of paved road you will reach the Sabaneta dam where the road begins. You can park the vehicle in the forest nursery 300 m before the dam.

Time planning: You can walk the Sabaneta - Pico Duarte trail in three days: From the town of Sabaneta to the Alto de la Rosa booth on the first day, from the Alto de la Rosa booth to the Macutico booth the second day and up to the Duarte peak and the La comparición booth on the third day. Read more... Text fragment obtained from the Maguana.net Portal

Controversy over the height of Pico Duarte

There is no exact measurement of the height of Pico Duarte. In 1851, its first climber (the British consul Robert Schomburg) estimated the height at 3,140 meters. In 1912, the botanist and priest Miguel Fuentes said that it measured 2,855 meters. Traditionally, the height of 3,175 meters was added, but later it was calculated at 3,087 meters for both summits (Duarte and La Pelona).

In the year 2000, Professor Kenneth Orvis of the Department of Geography at the University of Tennessee, in Knoxville, carried out a study published in 2003 where he calculated with GPS instruments that Duarte Peak measured 3,098 meters above sea level, with a margin of error of 5.9 centimeters. La Pelona, according to the same study, measures 3094 meters.