Cueva del Puente

Useful Information

Location:	Dominicus, La Romana, East National Park. Carratera a Bayahibe south to the end of the road, turn right on dirt road. Check in at ranger station. (18.332673, -68.811813)
Open:	Ranger Station: All year daily 9-13. [2021]
Fee:	Adults DOP 200. [2021]
Classification:	Karst cave Painted Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:
Guided tours:	D=30 min,
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Parque Nacional del Este, Av. George Washington esq. President Vicini Burgos. Santo Domingo, Tel: +1-809-221-4141. E-mail: ranger Station, Highway 4, Bayahibe, 23000
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

The Cueva del Puente (Cave of the Bridge) is located in the Parque Nacional del Este and contains paintings on the walls which were made by the indigenous Taínos. The cave is visited by small groups with a guide, it is not freely accessible. For the trip good shoes and torches are required. We also recommend sun protection and some water for the trail to the cave, and probably insect repellent. The ranger station at the end of the road sells the tickets and provides a guide for the tour. The trail to the cave is about 3 km long, the walk to the cave takes about 45 min to 1 h.

The cave is partially collapsed, forming a sort of natural bridge at the entrance, hence the name. It has a modest number of Taíno pictures, mostly depicting animals and human-like figures which may represent people or deities. The cave has impressive stalagmites and stalactites. South of it is Cueva Penon Gordo, a smaller cave but with even more pictographs. We arenot sure if it is possible to visit this cave.

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.