Cueva de Chicho

Useful Information

Location:	East of Los Melones. Autopista del Coral 3, exit Los Melones, at the first buildings turn left, follow road 2.5 km to the end. (18.375868, -68.808735)
Open:	All year daily. [2021]
Fee:	Adults DOP 200. [2021]
Classification:	Karst cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Parque Nacional del Este, Av. George Washington esq. President Vicini Burgos. Santo Domingo, Tel: +1-809-221-4141. E-mail: Explora Ecotour, Puerto Sansouci, Santo Domingo Este 11603, Tel: +1-809-964-8383. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1975	designated a national park.

Description

Cueva de Chicho is a small karst cave with a collapsed ceiling which allows access, and a lower section which is flooded by groundwater. It is easily reached by foot from the end of the road east of Los Melones/Bayahibe. There is a well signed path and explanatory signs. Bring enough water, sun protection, insect repellent, and a towel and swimsuit if you intend to swim. Good walking shoes for the trail and a torch for the cave are necessary. We recommend to visit the office of the park at Bayahibe first, to get directions. You do not need a guide, the trail is well signposted, but it seems some locals started to tell tourists that guides were mandatory and charge exorbitant fees.

There are also private tours to the caves of the park, with high quality guides. The nature walk takes 90 minutes, includes several caves, and the nature of the park. At the end of the walk the participants can take a swimm in one cave. Then they enjoy a delicious Dominican style lunch prepared by a local family. In the afternoon the town is visited. Such tours are offered by various tour agencies and are available from viator. The main pro is that they include pick up and drop off at the hotel and all formalities.

The Parque Nacional del Este (East National Park) is a trapezoidal-shaped peninsula, with land and marine areas, and includes Catalinita Island and Saona Island. Saona Island is the only inhabited place within the nature reserve. The park occupies about 305 km² of the La Altagracia province and about 109 km² of the La Romana province. Beneath its abundant biodiversity, the park protects archaeological sites in a system of more than 20 ceremonial squares, 8 aboriginal cemeteries and 27 reported caves. The main rock art sites identified in the Parque Nacional del Este are Cueva de José María, Cueva de Ramoncito, Cueva del Puente, Cueva de Bienve, Cueva de Panchito, Cueva de Pilón, Cueva del Huracán, Cueva de la Havilla, Manantial de Chicho, Manantial de Chicho II, Manantial Cayuco, and Manantial de la Lechuza. They include petroglyphs and pictographs, alluding to daily life, religious beliefs and the phenomena of the world known to them. Ceramics, stones and other minerals were found in the caves.