The fields
Green squares.
Angel Ramos G — CC BY 2.0 · yensileonel — CC BY 3.0 · CristoRey99 — CC BY-SA 4.0
A broad farming valley at about 1,200 metres in the central mountains, ringed by pine-clad peaks; its town, Constanza, is the coldest on the island of Hispaniola and in the whole Caribbean, with frost covering the fields on some winter nights. Its mild climate has made the valley the country's vegetable basket: neat fields of garlic, potatoes, strawberries and lettuce and flower glasshouses supplying the cities, so from the surrounding hills it looks like a quilt of green squares. Legend says its name comes from a Taíno chief's daughter who lived in the valley. South of the valley lies Valle Nuevo National Park, a high plateau of pine forest and cold meadows with the Aguas Blancas waterfall, one of the tallest in the region, reached by four-wheel drive; ask about road conditions. The mountain road from Jarabacoa is winding and beautiful, and local markets sell fresh strawberries and fruit. The mountains are much cooler than the coast, especially at night, so bring a jacket.
Green squares.
Pines and meadows.
At the markets.
La Vega province, about an hour and a half south-west of Jarabacoa
Yes, it is the coldest town in the Caribbean, with cool nights all year and occasional winter frost, so bring warm clothes.