Cueva de Berna


Useful Information

Location:  
(18.375682, -68.615289)
Open:  
Fee:  
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave ArchaeologyPainted Cave
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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.
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History

1975 designated a national park.

Description

Cueva de Berna is located west of the town Boca de Yuma at the eastern border of the Parque Nacional del Este. It ranks among the largest and most important Taino caves in the Dominican Republic. Taino faces are carved on rocks of various height, some of them can be climbed with a guide. The cave is home to bats and small birds. Multiple operators offer a guided hike of Cueva de Berna from Punta Cana.

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.