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Although the Dominican Republic is commonly thought of as a tourist destination for those seeking warm sandy beaches, water adventures and more traditional vacationing activities, some of the most spectacular vistas can only be experienced by hiking or trekking into one of the five mountain ranges or in the various national parks or reserves found throughout the country.

A large proportion of the Dominican Republic (about 80%) is mountainous. The most northern of these ranges is the Cordillera Septentrional, which extends from the coastal town of Monte Cristi near the Haitian border all the way to the Samana Peninsular in the east and runs almost parallel to the Atlantic coast.

The Cordillera Central is the highest range in all of the West Indies. This range is connected to the Massif du Nord in Haiti. It gradually bends southwards and finishes near the town of Azua de Compostela on the Caribbean coast. The majority of serious trekking trips take place on the Cordillera Central range as it is home to the four highest peaks in the West Indies. The peaks of La Pelona (3,085m), La Rucilla (3,049m) and Pico Yaque (2,760m) are all located in this range as well as the Pico Duarte (3087m / 10,000 ft) which has the distinction of being the highest peak in the Caribbean.

In the southwest portion of the country and south of the Cordillera Central there are two other arid ranges. The more northern of the two is called the Sierra de Neiba, and the southern is called the Sierra de Bahoruco and is connected to the Massif du Nord in Haiti.

A large highland area is the Cordillera Oriental. Being lower than the other main mountain ranges, it consists of a series of rolling hills that extend to the west along the Atlantic coast, running parallel to the southern shore of Samana Bay and eventually merges with the foothills of the Cordillera Central range. Aside from the majestic views from the mountain ranges, there are stunning walking or hiking trips through the various national parks. These can include protected desert areas, mangrove swamps and forests, extensive cave networks resplendent with indigenous Taino art, to nature preserves with a plethora of different species of birds, reptiles and other tropical fauna.

When venturing into the wilderness of the Dominican Republic it is advisable to hire a local guide as many of these areas do not have well marked trails. There are often tour operators that offer guided trips into the most popular climbing and hiking areas.