Any sign of privatization or use that compromises its environmental integrity immediately sparks community concern.
MONTECRISTI.- Isla Cabra, located in the province of Montecristi, is owned by the Dominican State, a unique natural heritage: a small cay of white sand in front of the iconic Morro, turned into a must-see stop for those looking for virgin beaches and snorkeling.
This coral islet, as national territory, is protected by the Constitution of the Republic and, as a protected area, is covered under laws 64-00 and 202-04, which require environmental impact studies, carrying capacity and official permits for any intervention.
Its greatest appeal is also its greatest weakness. In such a delicate environment, experts agree that if tourism is possible, it must be very low-impact, in controlled groups, and with clear rules that prioritize conservation over profit. Because Isla Cabra, small and unprotected, is a reminder of how easy it is to lose an ecosystem, and how difficult it is to recover it.
Protected by the Constitution
The Dominican Constitution establishes that natural public domain assets, such as beaches, rivers, islands, and protected areas, are inalienable, imprescriptible, and unseizable. This means they cannot be sold, donated, transferred, or leased to private individuals. The State can only authorize regulated uses, always under its control and without transferring ownership or dominion.
Although some sectors have raised the idea of granting a concession for tourism purposes, the Constitution and the Law of Protected Areas are clear: a natural public domain asset cannot be rented or alienated.
Article 15 of the Constitution establishes that natural resources are the patrimony of the Nation and public domain, while Article 16 reinforces the protection of areas under special regimes, such as Isla Cabra. In this context, Law 202-04 expressly prohibits the alienation or lease of protected areas.
Environmentalists and academics have warned that any attempt to lease the land would be “disastrous” and illegal, as it would set a precedent for privatizing other protected areas. They also warn of the irreversible damage that massive tourism development could cause to mangroves, reefs, and endemic species, not only on the island but throughout the entire ecosystem.
Allowing a lease agreement with private companies would weaken the national conservation system and jeopardize the State's ability to protect its natural heritage.
Isla Cabra cannot be rented or transferred, either constitutionally or by law. However, it is possible to authorize regulated activities such as scientific research or ecotourism, under state control, provided they do not involve the transfer of ownership or a lease.
More protected areas
For many residents of the province, Isla Cabra is not just a point on the map: it is part of their identity, a place for family outings, artisanal fishing and traditional enjoyment.
Montecristi, located on the northwest coast of the country, has a set of protected areas that combine sea, mangroves, keys and arid plateaus.
This province offers a mosaic of protected areas where conservation and low-impact tourism coexist. Isla Cabra, with its white sand and crystal-clear waters, has become a symbol of this balance: an accessible, still largely unexplored paradise that reflects the potential of Dominican ecotourism.
According to the Ministry of Environment and the decree creating national parks, the province has:
– Monte Cristi National Park (550 km²): created in 1983, it extends from the border with Haiti to Punta Rucia. It includes mangroves, coastal lagoons, reefs, and the limestone plateau of El Morro.
– Cayos Siete Hermanos : seven marine islets within the park, habitat of migratory birds and turtles.
– Villa Elisa Scientific Reserve : strictly protected area for ecological research.
– Montecristi Bay and Underwater Park: with 530 km² of marine surface, it is one of the richest ecosystems in biodiversity in the Caribbean.
– Isla Cabra: part of the underwater park, with an area of 150,000 m², accessible by a wooden bridge and traditionally used by fishermen.
The most fragile and most pressured islet
Isla Cabra, which is not an island but a coral islet, is reached by boat from the coast of Montecristi. Although its appearance is arid and silent, it plays a crucial role within Montecristi National Park.
Surrounded by mangroves, seagrass meadows and fish breeding grounds, Cabra is part of one of the most fragile ecosystems in the Dominican Northwest: a true natural nursery whose health sustains much of the region's marine life.
Although for years it was a solitary place, the high exposure of images turned this territory into an "unmissable" stop for local visitors and curious tourists, who find a direct panoramic view, from its shore, of the iconic Morro.
For a long time, visitors to Isla Cabra arrived unsupervised and often without park rangers or formal controls within the protected area. This sudden popularity has had visible consequences.
Environmentalists and community guides warn of accumulated garbage, erosion of coastal vegetation, boat traffic over seagrass meadows, and the occasional appearance of makeshift structures during peak seasons.
All in a territory that, by law, should be kept with minimal and strictly regulated use.
There was never a lighthouse
In addition to the small pier used by fishermen and hikers, Isla Cabra preserves the remains of a vertical concrete structure that many visitors mistakenly identify as an old lighthouse.
However, official records from the Dominican Navy, the Port Authority, and international maritime signaling catalogs do not document the existence of any lighthouse on this islet. Experts consulted explain that it is, rather, an old beacon or coastal signaling point, used decades ago to guide vessels in shallow waters. Today, the structure, eroded and on the verge of collapse, is a visible symbol of the islet's fragility and the need to protect its natural and cultural heritage.
Tourism, exploitation and visitors
According to data from the National Statistics Office (ONE) and reports from the tourism sector, Montecristi receives tens of thousands of visitors each year, with a marked concentration during Holy Week and the summer months.
Most are domestic tourists, families, youth groups and day-trippers, attracted by the beaches, coastal cuisine and iconic landscapes of the northwest.
Although international tourism still represents a smaller proportion, it shows sustained growth, especially among travelers from the United States and Europe interested in activities such as diving, bird watching and ecotourism.
Tourism is managed by local private operators, under the supervision of the Ministry of Tourism and the Environment. As there is no large hotel infrastructure within the protected areas, the predominant visitor profile remains that of day-trippers, and the offerings are concentrated on low-impact excursions and activities
– Isla Cabra: officially promoted by the Ministry of Tourism as a beach and snorkeling destination.
– El Morro: symbol of Montecristi, visited by hikers and photographers.
– Seven Brothers Cays: exploited for tourism through bird watching and diving tours.
– Mangroves and lagoons: boat tours organized by local operators.
Isla Cabra, fragile and under pressure, is today a reflection of the tension between conservation and business. Protected by the Constitution, it serves as a reminder that natural heritage is not negotiable: it is protected, cared for, and passed on as a collective inheritance.
