Cueva de las Maravillas

The Cave of Wonders runs for around eight hundred metres beneath the Soco river valley and was developed carefully in the early 2000s into what is probably the best-presented cave in the Caribbean: lit walkways, a lift down for wheelchair access, and strict control of numbers and photography to protect what is on the walls. That is around five hundred pieces of Taíno rock art, pictographs drawn in charcoal and petroglyphs cut into the rock, showing figures, animals and geometric patterns, among the largest concentrations known. Stalactites, columns and pools fill the chambers around them, and the guided route takes about an hour underground.

What you actually see

• The Taíno rock art - around five hundred drawings and carvings.
• The formations - stalactites, columns and still pools along the route.
• The lift - step-free access into the cave, unusual anywhere.
• The lighting design - carefully done to show the art without damaging it.

When to go

Year-round, since the cave holds a steady temperature; it is a good option on a wet or very hot day. Closed on Mondays. Tours run at set times with limited numbers, so arrive early or book. Photography is restricted to protect the pigments.

Honest expectations

Access is by guided tour only at fixed times, and English-speaking guides are not always available. Photography rules are strict and enforced, which disappoints some visitors. It is humid inside. The site has closed for extended periods for maintenance in the past, so confirm before driving out.

Nearby

La Romana and Altos de Chavón are half an hour east; Boca Chica is west.