Dominican Republic Hidden Treasures

COTUI

Cotui is one of the oldest cities of the New World, capital of the province of Sanchez Ramirez, located in the south Cibao region, in the center of the Dominican Republic. Nicolas de Ovando, who was the governor of the Hispaniola Island, the Dominican Republic is on the eastern side of the island, ordered Rodrigo de Trujillo de foundation of this city. Cotui is the name of a Taino leader (Cotoi) who was ruling a well organized taino population of that area.

Gold from Pueblo Viejo, Cotui

Besides their agricultural activities, these Taino Indians were also involved in mining of the outcropping Pueblo Viejo gold deposit. The Spanish rulers mined this gold deposit from 1505 thru 1525 when the mine was abandoned for the gold mines in Mexico. The first African slaves in the Hispaniola Island arrived in Cotui to work at the gold mine.

Archaeological excavation at Pueblo Viejo is proving that this was the first gold mine built by the Spanish settlers in the New World.

Growing rice

In 1562 this city, together with other spanish settlements, was destroyed by an earthquake. It is understood that the Spanish colonization in the Hispaniola island started here!

Ducks coming from Canada

Cotui and Pueblo Viejo, which is a part of the city, are situated in the Yuna valley in the Cibao region, in the central mountain range, which runs from the Haitian border to the Caribbean Sea, with the highest peak of the Caribbean, Pico Duarte of 3,175 m. It is a highly gifted place with rich soils producing agricultural products such as rice, plantains, pineapples, cacao, passion fruits and yams! The beauty of its landscapes is highlighted with its crystal clear river waters and the largest artificial lake of the Caribbean, Presa de Hatillo, Hatillo Dam. Also its prehistoric caves, called guacaras, with drawings and pictographs of the Taino Indians, are of great interest. Thousands of migrating ducks from Canada come to spend winter in this habitat.

Cotui is also rich in gold, silver, bauxite, iron, nickel and marble mines!!

As at December 31, 2013, Pueblo Viejo had proven and probable gold reserves of 9.7 million ounces and a mine life of 25 years and beyond!!

Presa de Hatillo

From Mining.com, which ranked the gold mine in Pueblo Viejo number 7 in their top 10 list of world’s top 10 gold deposits, we quote” It might surprise some that this small island nation is rich in mineral reserves. The open pit mine is very new and began production in January 2013. It also has large silver and copper reserves to complement its gold deposit. As it ramps up to full production, it will also be one of the largest producers in the world, but we’ll save production figures for a separate Top 10 list.

Platanuses - Carnival Custome

One of the oldest Carnival celebrations took place in Cotui, although it was introduced by the Spanish colony, with its cultural influence, it was enriched by African customs after the gold mine was closed.

Cotui is also hometown of Mets pitcher Duaner Sanchez and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jose Capellan, but the province of Sanchez Ramirez, where Cotui is located, has produced many more baseball players who are playing in the big leagues.

Probably you are already wearing Dominican gold jewelry, who knows, but we like to share our natural beauties, our treasures and much more with you.

Dominican Republic has it all!!

Larimar, the mine and the miners

Working in the mines...

When people all over the world get to know about the unique blue pectolite, the Dominican blue Larimar stone, they click on the word Larimar and the same story about this stone will show up! Who discovered the Larimar stone, when and where, as well as a few characteristics of this special blue semi-precious stone.

But what about the people who make it possible for us to wear and enjoy of the jewel of the Caribbean, the Larimar stone? We want to talk a little bit about their struggle at the Larimar mines!

Larimar slabs

The peasants, who planted “yautia” (yams) in the surroundings of the area of the Larimar mine, were the first people to get involved with “the blue stone” as they called it. They collected this “blue stone” before Miguel Mendez followed the trail of the “blue stone” until he reached the peak of the mountain and revealed this best secret to the world!

These peasants turned into miners, as they understood they could make more money at the mine than with agriculture. The Dominican government gave them the concession to exploit the mine of Larimar. All mineral rights in the Dominican Republic belong to the government. In 1985 approx. 100 miners were working at the mine and by recommendation of the government a first cooperative was formed, nowadays there are two cooperatives.

Las Filipinas

The mine is located in the highest mountain of “Las Filipinas” in the community of Bahoruco, where you will find hundreds of men, naked from the waist up, who are going every day into the deepness of what you could call “hell” searching for Larimar, some have been doing this since over thirty year ago, exposing their lives, to make some money! There is no life insurance, no emergency aid, and no 911!

Every morning when the clock strikes nine, approx. 20 men in group of five, like ant rows, introduce themselves in narrow holes, leading to underground galleries, reinforced with wood to avoid collapsing, it feels like being buried alive. To go down most of them use the wood that serves as ladder and as reinforcement of the pit walls, some use pulley, but other are afraid it might break and they will hurt themselves.

Men of all ages work with rudimentary tools, like shovel, pick and hammer, although lately some have an electric “pick-hammer” tool. Once these miners start working they will start a sort percussion sound, which will be played during eight hours, only interrupted by meal break of one hour! 

To be able to work in these infernal holes, air is pumped into the pits at eight o’clock in the morning one hour before the miners start going down.

An image of one of the many pits high in the mountain.

Actually there are about 40 holes or pits that are up to 200 meters deep. Once they find a Larimar vein they start working their way through corridors, reinforced with wooden frames, which many time become home for many cockroaches; these holes can be productive during several years. To open a new pit can cost approx. US$15,000, and not always Larimar veins are found in new holes!

Cables carrying electricity produced by the generator are introduced into different holes and 220 Volts cables are used in the pits where an electric “pick-hammer” tool is available, exposing their lives to electric shocks.

The president of the Dominican Republic visited the Larimar recently and promised to have ventilated tunnels made to enable the miners to extract this semi-precious stone in a safer way, he promised to technify the whole mining process and to make of this Larimar area a touristic attraction. Also he promised to give the local Larimar artisans the opportunity to learn the art and skill to make professional quality Larimar jewelry.  We welcome this initiative of our president and hope he will abide by his promise!!!

In rainy seasons these pit are filled with water and it takes some time before the miners can start working again.

If you want to experience their working day, no problem just take your trip to Bahoruco and the miners will be more than happy to show how they do their living!

Dominican Republic A Tropical Paradise!

Dominican Republic Has It All! 

The island of Hispaniola is divided in two parts: The Dominican Republic on the eastern side and Haiti on the western side, two countries with different languages, religions, customs, mentality, etc.

The Dominican Republic has on its north coast the Atlantic Ocean and on the south coast the Caribbean Sea; it belongs to the second largest island of the Greater Antilles, located east of Yucatan, Mexico and south east of Florida, USA, the Lesser Antilles are west.

Dominican Republic is Caribbean’s most bio-diverse country, with 25 percent of its lush land and pristine coastline, 67 protected areas, 16 as national parks, reserves and sanctuaries.

Bahia de las Aguilas

With several mountain ranges, rivers, breathtaking, secluded beaches, awesome landscapes, friendly people, the Dominican Republic has and continues developing a very interesting ecotourism that offers our visitors of all ages the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful and exciting vacation.

With the creation of the Dominican Republic’s Marine Mammal Sanctuary for Humpback Whales in 1962, our country has been a forerunner in environment and marine-oriented protections, ensuring magnificent nature abounds.

Humpback Whales

From January thru March every year up to 5,000 humpback whales migrates to the north east coast and Samana Bay’s warm waters. Whale watching is an unforgettable tour to be considered in your visit to the Dominican Republic!

Barahona, where the Larimar stone is mined, is also an ideal place for surfers, as well as, Cabarete, which became famous for its perfect surf conditions, but there are many other water sports available, as wind surf, canyoning, snorkeling, diving and many more entertainments.

Pico Duarte

Horseback ride, mountain bike, river rafting and much more adventures are available in Jarabacoa, in the province of La Vega, which is also the gateway to the highest mountain peak in the Caribbean, Pico Duarte 3,187 meters in the Central Mountain Range.

Paragliding at Jarabacoa

Also paragliding sport is also available in Jarabacoa and other areas in the Dominican Republic.

River Rafting

South west of the Dominican Republic you will find Pedernales a bio-diverse place with abundant nature and breathtaking views and the wonderful, magnificent beach Bahia de las Aguilas with pristine waters and white sand!

Also a must see is the Jaragua National Park and the Enriquillo Lake, approx. 42 meters below sea level, the largest and deepest point in the Caribbean, where the American crocodiles, as well as other endemic species.

Thirty minutes drive from Puerto Plata, in the northern corridor mountain range, behind long stalks of sugar cane you will find, a mother’s nature treasure, the 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua, 27 thrilling rock pools and waterfalls, another unforgettable adventure, full of action, of climbing, jumping, sliding and more.

There are a variety of caves, such as FunFuncaves, and Los Haitises, a forest reserve on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, with a lot of caverns and the greatest abundance of Caribbean mangrove.

The Dominican Republic has several islets, with breathtaking beaches and endemic species, one of these islets is the Saona Island, which can be reached by speed boats or catamarans; this is our largest off shore island of 42 square miles, boasting of more than 112 species of birds, turtles, sharks, bottle-nose dolphins and manatees. On your way to this islet from Bayahibe Beach in La Romana, you’ll see the National Park of the East, an awesome sea’s natural pool, you must dip in, and a mangrove swamp reserve.

We have just mentioned a few attractions of all our country has to offer you and we invite you to plan your visit to the Dominican Republic and ask your travel agents for more information so that you will enjoy your trip in the area of your preference. The Dominican Republic has it all!!!

Oh and let us not forget our Dominican cuisine, which we are sure you will love, for each region has its own recipes!!

What do you really get when mining Larimar stones?

Here we'll give you the shocking reality!

Larimar rough or Larimar bruto

This miner has small Larimar rough stones in his hands just coming from the pits; sometimes very big stones up to 60 lbs are mined. These stones are cut in slabs and it is in that moment that you really know the quality of the LARIMAR and find out if the stone is cracked or broken. In the process of preparing Larimar stone for jewelry there is a high waste of material and at the end practically only 10 % is left!, causing this semi-precious stone to be quoted at high prices. For example of 100 lbs of Larimar rough stone you obtain 30 lbs of slabs, from 30 lbs of slabs you get 10 lbs of cabs and only 1lb is first quality material.

Larimar slabs or Chapas de Larimar

Aquí les exponemos la cruda verdad!

Este es un minero con piedras brutas de Larimar acabadas de ser extraidas de los hoyos en la mina; estas son de las mas pequeñas ya que a veces sacan tamaños de piedras que pueden pesar hasta 60 libras. Estas piedras son cortadas en lajas o chapas y es en ese momento que se sabe verdaderamente la calidad del Larimar y si la piedra no esta cuarteada o rota!! En el proceso para preparar el Larimar para joyeria se pierde mucho material y practicamente viene quedando solo un 10%! por lo que esta piedra semi-preciosa se cotiza a precios altos. Por ejemplo, de 100 lbs Larimar en bruto se sacan 30 lbs de chapas, de 30 lbs de chapas se sacan 10 lbs de cabuchones* y de estos solo 1 Lb es de primera calidad!!