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- Where to Go
- The Best of the Dominican Republic
- A Nature Lover’s Dominican Trek
- The Sexiest Dominican Beaches
- Historical Dominican Road Trip
- A Dominican Culture Tour
- Carnaval and Its Masks
- Planning Your Dominican Wedding
- Dominican Adventures
- Golfing the Dominican Republic
- Dominican Music and Dance
- La Ruta del Mango
- Day-Tripping in Monte Plata
- The Best Small Resorts
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To the Taínos this area was known as the Higüey province and was the territory of a cacique named Cotubanamá (sometimes referred to as Cayacoa). But in 1503, Bartolomé de Las Casas destroyed much of the area, killing thousands of Taínos and their leader. By 1515 almost the entire population of Taínos was annihilated.
Researchers believe that this area (especially the Parque Nacional del Este) was the site of a major community of Taíno Caribbean civilization. Deep in the forest of the national park, scientists have discovered ruins, artifacts, and cave drawings pointing to the settlement of Taínos that had once called the Southeast home.
And although there is Spanish documentation of these early events, the cave drawings discovered tell important stories of the first interactions and subsequent altercations between the Spanish and Taíno natives from the Taíno perspective. Additional pictographs were found in the caves of the Parque Nacional Los Haitises.
© Ana Chavier Caamaño from Moon Dominican Republic, 4th edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.