Occupying the coast west of Santo Domingo and taking its name from the major city at its centre, the BARAHONA REGION was once the focus of Trujillo's personal sugar empire; vast tracts of cane still take up much of the land north of Barahona city, but today this is one of the country's poorest regions. As a result, the stunning Barahona coastline is almost completely undeveloped, making it perfect for independent travellers willing to rough it a bit in exchange for unblemished natural beauty.