Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center

In 1975 a hurricane flooded the Portugués river and stripped soil from its bank, exposing stone alignments and human remains that turned out to be the largest and oldest indigenous cemetery yet found in the Antilles, with close to two hundred burials. Excavation revealed a ceremonial centre settled from about 25 AD by the Igneri, abandoned around 600 and used again from about 1000 by the Taíno, with nine ball courts and plazas bordered by stone slabs, some aligned to solstice and equinox sunrises. Pottery, amulets and stone collars came out with the burials. The site has reconstructed bohíos, a botanical garden of useful plants and a museum of the finds.

The main sights

• The ball courts - nine bateyes bordered by upright stone slabs.
• The astronomical alignments - plazas oriented to solstice sunrises.
• The museum - burials, pottery, amulets and stone collars from the site.
• The reconstructed village - bohíos and a garden of useful plants.

When to go

December to April is drier. Entry is by guided tour at set times, mostly in Spanish with English available on request. Mornings are cooler for walking the open plazas.

Practical notes

What survives above ground is stone borders and grass plazas, so the museum and the guide carry the visit; going without the tour would be pointless. Tours are often Spanish-only unless arranged. The site has closed for extended repairs after storms.

Nearby

Ponce is fifteen minutes south; Hacienda Buena Vista is nearby in the hills.

Key facts