Things to see and do Caraïbes

Typical of the development of metal architecture, the meat market dates from the beginning of the last century. Built in the same year as the large covered market, it is distinguishable for its magnificent ironwork. The stalls are manned by rather discreet men, but its unique atmosphere is due to the housewives who, in a verbal clatter, decide the price of the butchery! The same Creole atmosphere can be found at the fish market, which is held along the canal.

Except for the main rooms dedicated to exhibitions, this palace has not changed much since the last heirs of the Sánchez-Iznaga family left in 1982. During the visit, you will get acquainted with samples of the architectural development of Trinidad. You will also see the Italian porcelain toilet in the interior patio and the American shower of 1912, heated with gas. The urns in the patio (19th century) are from Malaga.

In an old neoclassical palace, probably built between 1806 and 1817, you can discover works of art related to the life of the most famous great man in American history: Simón Bolívar. An art gallery with numerous pieces donated by Venezuelan artists completes the ensemble. In the 19th century, the house was owned by Santiago B. Burnham. The central patio, full of green plants and multicolored birds, is very welcoming.

This Franciscan hermitage, whose full name is Iglesia Parroquial del Santo Cristo del Buen Viaje (Parish Church of the Holy Christ of the Good Journey), was built in 1640 and was recognized as an auxiliary parish at the end of the 17th century. In 1775, the temple, the main chapel and the side chapels were rebuilt. The present baroque façade was added at that time. The church is recognizable by its two towers, its beautiful stained glass windows and its tiled roof.

This magnificent residence, the oldest in the plaza, is also known as the Casa de don Luis Chacón, the military governor who had it built in the very early 18th century. Don Luis Chacón was entrusted three times with the office of military governor of Cuba, an honor and above all a responsibility that was almost never in the hands of criollos, those descendants of Spaniards born in Cuba, whom the crown preferred to be pure Spaniards... The Casa-Bayona palace has one of the most harmonious facades of Cuban colonial architecture. Its red marble floor, its ceilings of precious wood seem to have been destined to higher functions than those that were assigned to it. It was the headquarters of the Chamber of Notaries until 1933, and later became the editorial office of the newspaper La Discusión. It was during this time of republic that it was named Casa-Bayona, to honor the memory of the former noble family to which it never belonged..

Museo de Arte Colonial. After the Cuban revolution and the restoration of the place, the palace became a Museum of Colonial Art. Seven marvelous exhibition halls give a glimpse of the luxury that surrounded the wealthiest classes of the colonial era: precious wood furniture, sumptuous dishes, Sevres vases, Murano crystals, silverware... We should also mention some typical Cuban furniture, such as the taburete, an upholstered chair with a narrow back.

This museum has been repainted in a bright white and blue for the city's bicentennial in 2019.

Built between 1891 and 1893, the building originally housed the Spanish casino. Today, it is primarily dedicated to the decorative arts and preserves archaeological samples from the pre-Columbian era. On Saturdays and Sundays, the place comes alive with concerts of traditional Cuban music. The program can be requested at the reception desk. Every first Saturday of the month, a peña (popular cultural gathering) is held at the museum.

The excursion takes about 2 hours and is walking through the countryside and tropical forest (predicting what to drink). You will discover six caves. In the past, cave Indians were living there. Once the emotion has gone, you'll take a look at some of the taino objects and ceramics exposed in a pompously cave called museum, visit a Dominican farm and maybe make a stop in a river in fresh waters or in one of the caves.

Avenida Malecón, known as Avenida General Gregorio Luperón, runs for 4 km alongside the ocean. The promenade is pleasant and well-maintained: you'll come across rollerbladers, bicycles and sports enthusiasts with family or friends, taking advantage of the beautiful bicycle path. The Malecón comes alive in the evening and at weekends in the downtown area. You'll be able to tell by the smell of the many frituras and chimichurris stands that fill it. Unfortunately, the beach is not very beautiful and the sea is polluted.

Swimming with dolphins is a unique experience (although we still prefer them in the wild!). Interactive programs with marine mammals last around 25 minutes. The experience begins with a theoretical explanation on the beach, before moving on to the platforms and pools in the open sea off the Barcelo resort. It doesn't take long to get into the swing of things: hugging a dolphin, dancing, swimming with it and even getting a kiss, or playing ball with a sea lion - there's so much more to the program than you ever dreamed!

Nestled in an immaculate cove of white sand, the beach of Petit Macabou, hemmed in by grape trees, jealously guards its authenticity and its wild aspect. You can go for a horseback ride, go for a hike, fall asleep in the sun, and swim with caution because of the abundance of seaweed off the coast, which often deposits thick piles of algae. Halfway between Le Marin and Le Vauclin, this natural treasure can be discovered after passing a beautiful windmill, a vestige of the colonial era, and after walking 2.5 kilometers along a stony path.

South of. A place steeped in history, ideal for appreciating the military genius of freedom warriors. A historic battle, won by the freedom fighters against the powerful military forces of the British army, came here once, in the place of the place now named «Soft Estate». Since then, the beauty of the site tends to soften the memories of its history, which has left it with a magnificent th century plantation, with natural trails dotted with fruit gardens. A true paradise where tropical bird songs blend with the unruffled beauty of the colonial plantation.

The museum traces the archaeological history of Cuba, from the pre-Columbian period to the Spanish conquest and colonization. Its former owners, Don Juan Andrés Padrón and his family, hosted the famous Alexander von Humboldt in 1801 during his visit to Trinidad. Hernán Cortés is also said to have stayed here before leaving for Mexico in the 16th century. Guamuhaya is the word used by the aborigines to designate the mountain range surrounding Trinidad.

The handicraft market, the Mercado Nuevo, is housed in a concrete structure with a resolutely modern and aggressive architecture. Stands offer all local production in the fields of sculpture, painting, basket, textiles and consumables, cigars, rum… Apart from this, the traditional market is held with its coloured stalls and amply supplied in fruit and vegetables, sheltered under umbrellas or large sheets of plastic. We weigh the products on scales of fortune, the small restaurants make room.

Next to the former, it is reached by a small trail. Apart from that, you can walk through the heart of the mangrove forest, a lair of hundreds of white herons or vultures.

This beach located west on the exit of the Río San Juan lagoon was a former cemetery. You can reach the hotel in front of the Bahía Blanca.

The heart of the city, both peaceful and central. The square has undergone profound renovations between 2015 and 2017, on plans by architect Daniel Pons, offering the city a new space, modern and pleasant to live.

This rocky cove is a dream swimming pool with translucent waters. Think of your masque and snorkeling palms!

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.

It extends behind the village. With a little luck and tenacity, there are many bird species. Fishing and hunting are prohibited.

The last house of the Mirabal family houses the museum in memory of the three mythical heroines of the country, martyrs of the Trujillo dictatorship. The three sisters were murdered with their driver on the road between Puerto Plata and Tenares, while returning from a visit to their husbands imprisoned for dissidence in Puerto Plata. Many books and films tell their story. The museum presents the house as it was furnished at the end of the 1960s, with the rooms of each of the sisters, their wardrobe, everyday objects..

It holds passages for Cayo Levantado there, excursions for the observation of whales in season, as well as excursion for Los Haïtises.

This islet closes the bay of Samaná, opposite the city. The cayo has no other interest than to offer the sea a vast panorama over the city. At dusk, couples will taste the embrasement of the… sun. Many sailboats at mooring take advantage of this natural shelter.

The market beats every morning in the open air, but it is particularly animated on Saturday when small farmers come to sell their weekly harvest. The peasants, the head of a straw hat, are moving by mule in the middle of the pallaradant bikes, fruit sellers, vegetables, used clothing, and merenee and bachata Cds. The music escapes in dense waves from the cups to sheet roofs. It hurts, it shouts, it's merchantable to whom better in a joyful blast, anyway, it's typically Dominican…

Managed by CESBE, an NGO that campaigns for the protection of Samaná Bay, this modest centre presents an exhibition on the fauna of the region, notably parrots, but above all, whales; for example, you will see a real humpback whale skeleton, which is particularly impressive (even though the head is fake!) You will learn more about the life of whales, their diet, their migration and the dangers they face on a daily basis. There is also a handicraft shop which helps the NGO's coffers.

It is part of the city's oldest heritage. This moving Victorian wooden church was brought from England piece by piece in 1823 to serve as a place of worship for the Wesleyan Methodist Church. For many years, the services were conducted in English and the name is a Dominican transformation of the word church. In 1861, the Gothic influenced building was transformed into a hospital. Today it has been restored and is home to the Evangelical Dominican Church.

Located 4 km from Samana in the direction of Las Galeras, this beach was the scene of the first battle in history between Europeans and Aborigines. The Spaniards confronted the Ciguayo Indians on January 13, 1493. The skirmish was so intense that Christopher Columbus wrote in his diary: "I had never seen so many arrows flying"! If you were thinking of stopping there to take a dip, you should know that the site was covered in all kinds of rubbish during our last visit, so it's better to go swimming at the next beach.

This small cove of fine sand is completely wild, superb and very little frequented. A real postcard with its golden sand wet by a crystal clear water of a radiant blue and its tropical vegetation. Attention, the access is done by a private property, the guard will surely ask you to leave your car at the entrance and to continue on foot (it is necessary to count 30 minutes if one arrives since Las Galeras). Big waves can make swimming dangerous, but the visit is worth it. Moreover, the beach is often deserted!

This small beach of Las Galeras is only 5 minutes away from downtown. Nicknamed playita by the locals, it is a long strip of white sand bordered by leaning coconut trees and beach restaurants. The water is clear and gently undulating. A very pretty and popular site (especially on weekends), suitable for swimming. You can rent deckchairs for 150 pesos. Note also the presence of the cave Cueva Duarte, on the left when leaving the beach. A visit to be made in complement of the main beach of Las Galeras.

Designed in France and built here in 1895, this old colonial wooden house was once the residence of the Rodríguez Jiménez family. The Dominican State later acquired it to convert it into the headquarters of the Montecristi Courthouse, an office that the Villa fulfilled until 1990. Abandoned for many years, it has undergone extensive restoration. The final project is to turn it into a Casa de Cultura, housing a school of Fine Arts.

The lagoon consists of a series of canals forming labyrinths between mangroves. They contain many species of birds. We can get there by renting the services of a fisherman.

This rocky promontory was christened by the great admiral who found him a form of slug slug. Recently declared national park, the Morro is the subject of a reforestation operation. After taking a stony trail, you have to take a trail that leads to the top within thirty minutes walking. From the summit, the show is grandiose. Around the Morro are planted ten white crosses symbolizing the Ten Commandments. Provide a antimoustiques bomb.

On April^1, 1895, Maximo Gómez Báez and José Martí, the hero of Cuban independence, signed the Montecristi Manifesto in which the Dominican promised his help in the struggle for Cuban independence. The old grey wooden house has been transformed into an interesting museum. Some documents and objects of the time allow us to imagine the daily life of a family of the Dominican petty bourgeoisie of the 19th century. There are also facsimiles of the treaty.