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Meridiela.

Las Caritas de los Indios

Taíno faces carved into a limestone terrace above Lake Enriquillo.

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WhereIndependencia
Nearest cityLa Descubierta
Best seasonNovember to April
Time to allowAn hour
Getting thereOff the road near La Descubierta above Lake Enriquillo; steps up from the road
EntrySmall fee

On a limestone terrace above Lake Enriquillo, a series of small faces has been carved and pecked into the soft rock, round-eyed and open-mouthed, attributed to Taíno people and probably marking the site as significant. The terrace itself is an old shoreline of the lake, which sits below sea level and has risen and fallen dramatically in recent decades. The view from the ledge takes in the lake and the mountains beyond it.

What you actually see

  • The carved faces - small round-eyed figures pecked into the soft limestone.
  • The terrace - an old shoreline of the lake now well above the water.
  • The lake view - Enriquillo and the mountains beyond from the ledge.
  • The below-sea-level basin - the depression the lake sits in.

When to go

November to April is drier and cooler. Summer heat in this basin is severe. Morning light is better on the carvings.

Honest expectations

The carvings are small, weathered and easy to miss without someone pointing them out. Some have been damaged by graffiti. The site is hot with no shade.

Nearby

La Descubierta is nearby, and Laguna de Cabral is east.

What to pack for Las Caritas de los Indios

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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

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