Bayahibe Attractions Pt 1

Above: The artists village at Altos de Chavon

Above: Saona Island

Isla Saona

A larger island off the coast of La Altagracia province. It is a palm-studded tropical island.

The fantastic turquoise, green and blue waters have endless visibility. The powder white sand is what you dream of in a Caribbean Island.

It has a quiet fishing village with friendly locals who now cater to thousands of day trippers. You can go by catamaran, big tourist boat or small motor boat.

The boats generally leave from Bayahibe. If you are lucky, dolphins will swim along with you. Some excursions use speed boats that take tourists to visit the village of Mano Juan and Palmilla beach with its white sands.

Mano Juan is a fishing village where you can purchase handicraft. You can also arrange for a stopover in "la piscina" in Palomilla, north of the island.

It is about half an hour from La Romana and you can get to Saona Island by speed boat, catamaran, or even by pirate boat.

Isla Catalina [Catalina Island]

Isla Catalina is a 9.6 square kilometre uninhabited off shore wildlife reserve located five miles south of La Romana. The island can be
seen from La Romana.

The Taino Indians called this island "Toeya" and but there is no clear evidence whether they actually inhabited the island or not. Christoph Columbus gave this island its current name in honor of Saint Catalina.

It is known for its white beaches and shallow waters and if you book a small boat with a local captain in Bayahibe or at Rancho Cumayasa, he could easily include this little island in
your day tour.

Catalina has coral reefs close to the island for snorkeling. Many dive excursions come to Catalina for the reefs and tropical fish.

The Cueva de las Maravillas (Cave of Wonders)

The cave of wonders is located midway on the highway from San Pedro de Macoris to La Romana.

The cave's 240-meter footpath takes tourists to a majestic journey 25 feet underground. Once underground there are some fantastic stalagmites and stalactites.

This caves were used by the natives for the adoration of the mortuary rituals and the God of the called death Maqueteaurie Guayaba.

There are a collection of approximately 500 rupestrian paintings by the indigenous inhabitants.

The tour will take approximately one hour and should be included in every visit.

The National Park of the East

420 sq. kilometer flora and fauna reserve that is also a major archaeological centre for Taino Indian culture.

Botanists have counted 539 flora species and there are also many types of birds living in the park.

The Pereskia quisqueyana

In Bayahibe Dominican Republic grows a small group of plants that are extremely important to the biological characteristics of this area: in particular, the Pereskia quisqueyana. This plant species is endemic to Bayahibe. Pereskia quisqueyana is known for its beautiful flowers.
The popular name by which this pink flower is known is "Bayahibe Rose."

Below: The Bay at Catalina Island

Bayahibe Attractions