Cueva de las Maravillas, or the "Cave of Miracles" is part of the extensive cave system in the Caribbean. It is located in the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic. This amazing natural wonder is located 25 meters deep underground. Once under the surface, there is an additional 800 meters of additional cave, 240 meters of which can be traversed by tourists for a thorough exploration. The caves former name was Cueva Jagual; this changed in 1949 when its actual name La Cueva de las Maravillas was given.
The easiest and safest way to experience the caves is to take part in an organized tour group (*although the option for solo exploration is also possible, it is not recommended), of which there are many on offer in the Dominican Republic. Most guided tours last about an hour or so, and are conducted and led in small groups for safety reasons. Footpaths are well lit and safety is always the primary concern. Along the tour, there will be many spectacular cave formations; stalagmites and stalactites thousands of years old will have many craning their heads upwards in order to take it all in.
Taino cave drawings and etchings that are thousands of years old are preserved and all on display as part of the tours - think of it as an underground, ancient art gallery, created and preserved by nature. The atmospheric lighting provides added ambiance and will no doubt make for some amazing photographs.
Be advised that bats live in large numbers in certain sections of the caves - although they generally will be asleep during the hours that the tours are conducted - and in many places there is water dripping constantly, if this could be an issue; wear a hat of some sort. Note: if something warm drips on you, it likely isn't water.
The tour guides are good-natured, often humorous and always well informed, so ask any questions you may have. Some tours are available directly from the airport, other tours are day long trips with a bit more of an in-depth look at the caves and their surroundings, and there are the aforementioned hour long excursions for an abbreviated experience. Not all tourists can handle being underground in the darkness for hours on end and as such, the hour long tours do a fair amount of business with the slightly less adventurous. The Cave of Miracles is a wondrous sight to behold and is highly recommended as an essential part of any Dominican Republic vacation.
The easiest and safest way to experience the caves is to take part in an organized tour group (*although the option for solo exploration is also possible, it is not recommended), of which there are many on offer in the Dominican Republic. Most guided tours last about an hour or so, and are conducted and led in small groups for safety reasons. Footpaths are well lit and safety is always the primary concern. Along the tour, there will be many spectacular cave formations; stalagmites and stalactites thousands of years old will have many craning their heads upwards in order to take it all in.
Taino cave drawings and etchings that are thousands of years old are preserved and all on display as part of the tours - think of it as an underground, ancient art gallery, created and preserved by nature. The atmospheric lighting provides added ambiance and will no doubt make for some amazing photographs.
Be advised that bats live in large numbers in certain sections of the caves - although they generally will be asleep during the hours that the tours are conducted - and in many places there is water dripping constantly, if this could be an issue; wear a hat of some sort. Note: if something warm drips on you, it likely isn't water.
The tour guides are good-natured, often humorous and always well informed, so ask any questions you may have. Some tours are available directly from the airport, other tours are day long trips with a bit more of an in-depth look at the caves and their surroundings, and there are the aforementioned hour long excursions for an abbreviated experience. Not all tourists can handle being underground in the darkness for hours on end and as such, the hour long tours do a fair amount of business with the slightly less adventurous. The Cave of Miracles is a wondrous sight to behold and is highly recommended as an essential part of any Dominican Republic vacation.
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