SANTO DOMINGO – In a significant move to balance tourism growth with environmental preservation, the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources will inaugurate a new ecotourism route at the Palomino Dam on January 21, 2026. This development within the José del Carmen Ramírez National Park responds to a five-year surge in hiking and nature-based tourism, prompting authorities to implement enhanced safety and conservation frameworks.
The initiative, orchestrated by the Vice Ministry of Protected Areas and Biodiversity, follows a comprehensive evaluation and restructuring of access protocols to the protected zone. A pivotal component is a newly established overnight stay protocol, formally introduced to tour operators, local guides, and Ministry of Tourism officials during a virtual conference held on December 30.
Under the stringent new regulations, prospective campers are required to seek authorization a minimum of 15 days prior to their visit via the Ministry’s dedicated digital platform. Each visiting group must appoint a designated leader and be accompanied by at least one certified local guide for every ten participants. Overnight capacity is strictly limited to 120 visitors. The regulations explicitly prohibit alcohol, tobacco, controlled substances, and single-use plastics, mandating a ‘pack-in, pack-out’ waste policy to ensure zero environmental footprint.
An integral part of the rollout includes a specialized training program to certify local guides as Nature Interpreter Guides, a qualification that will eventually become compulsory for all guided visits. Future plans also entail the construction of permanent, eco-friendly overnight facilities to minimize ecological disruption and bolster sustainable local economic development. This new route replaces the previous access path to the Palomino Dam, which was closed in August 2025 as a preventive measure to safeguard both visitors and the region’s delicate ecosystem.