Dominican Republic -DR, is the number one Caribbean destination widely known for their scores of all-inclusive resorts. I was looking for a much different kind of trip-something along the lines of wild and authentic.
In Samana´, the south side of the most northeastern peninsula, on a magical boat excursion to Los Haitises National Park, a protected virgin forest and microclimate filled with more than a hundred species of birds, amphibians and reptiles – I found what I was looking for.
Our daylong excursion was put together by Tequia Experiences.
Exploring the two caves – La Cueva de La Linea (because of the old train line that used to pass in front of it,) and La Cueva de La Arena, was the icing on the cake! La Cueva de La Arena had a petro-glyph, a stone sculpture of a face or an owl guarding the cave, warning us not to go in (Indiana-Jones style), but we did, respectfully. Another cave was the “bat cave” where bats colonized on the ceiling, keeping one of the members of our group away. (Chiroptophobia!) As we left the bat cave, appropriately, there was a window – a hole that resembled a bat in flight! Afterwards, our guide Eduardo, had a treat planned – a little refreshment break on the island with fresh coconut, and pineapple, and dark rum, Coca Cola or Presidente lager! Here he talked to us about the Solenodon, an ugly (or cute!) little shrew like rodent that is endemic to this land and very endangered.
As we ate our lunch – a typical Dominican home-style meal of stewed beef, rice and red beans, roasted chicken, and shredded salad, we watched merengue dancers perform with a live band playing traditional local music. Some of the men in our group also participated in shots of Mamajuana, a Dominican Republic specialty – rum in a marination of herbal sticks and roots and professed to have aphrodisiacal qualities.
On our return trip in the truck, back to the awaiting boat, the entire band hopped in, along with one of the Meringue dancers! They played vivaciously, one member using something like a cheese grater as percussion, as the beautiful dancer danced all the bumpy way home!
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