Natural Crafts Dominican Republic

Few people know it, even Dominicans, but the country's north coast is home to a colony of manatis . This mammal, measuring 3 to 4 meters and weighing up to 300 kilos, has made its home in an estuary surrounded by mangroves to the east of Punta Rucia. Long hunted by local communities, only 10 remained in 1996. It was then that the authorities decided to protect the area by creating a protected sanctuary dedicated to manatee conservation. One of the results of this project was the opening of the Ciudad Manatí information center in 2013.Here, local guides will tell you all about the manatee and its habitat during a guided tour through the mangroves, where you will be introduced to the different types of manatee. The highlight is the viewpoint from which you can watch the manatee come to the surface to breathe. According to the guides, you have a 90% chance of seeing one! Today, over fifty representatives of the species inhabit these waters. A fine example of successful animal protection and responsible tourism.

Alsoworth a visit: Finca la Protectora. An agricultural and craft farm producing coffee, avocados and cocoa, among other products. It is accessible by quad or 4x4. It is also possible to sleep on site (rather basic). A wonderful discovery of an eco-responsible place in the heart of lush nature.

It is the largest museum of rock art in the Antilles. The walls of the cave are decorated with pre-Hispanic rock paintings. You will see some of the 500 pictograms that decorate the rock walls, testimony to the passage of the Tainos through the area, which was used as a center for religious and funeral rituals. Bring closed shoes to go down the 135 slippery steps, and a little wool (it is 19 degrees in the cave). No photos allowed!

You can reach this large natural cave by boat, which a colony of swallows has chosen as its home. The cave is named after these birds, golondrinas meaning "swallows" in Spanish. The cave can be reached in only five minutes by boat from Rio San Juan. Accompanied by your captain, you will admire its rocky composition while floating on crystal clear water. At the exit of the Cueva de las Golondrinas do not hesitate to swim in the natural turquoise and soft swimming pool. A walk in complement of the Laguna Gri Gri.

Cueva de Berna is famous for its Taino petroglyphs, testimony to the art and culture of this ancient civilization. While exploring the cave, you can also admire the spectacular rock formations and stalactites that have formed over time. The tour is unaccompanied, and it's best to bring a flashlight or portable torch to help you see clearly. You'll also need mosquito repellent, as the area is frequently infested. A pleasant visit, although the cave is not always well maintained.

Discovered in 1851 by a British consul, this geological formation, composed of some fifty caves, bears witness to Taíno rock art. More than 6,000 petroglyphs represent fish, reptiles and human figures. The caves, classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site, are home to large colonies of bats and were a place of veneration for the Taino people who performed rites there. The incredible wealth of rock art covering the walls of these caves makes the area the prehistoric capital of the Antilles.