Pomier Caves, Cave system near San Cristobal, Dominican Republic

Pomier Caves is a network of interconnected chambers near San Cristobal that descend deep underground with varying ceiling heights and floor levels. The system includes multiple cavern spaces of different sizes, with five sections currently accessible to visitors.

The caves were first documented in 1851. Their roughly 6,000 drawings, carvings and pictographs were made over about 2,000 years, mainly by the Taíno and also by the Kalinago and Igneri. In 1996 the Anthropological Reserve of Cuevas de Borbón was enlarged to shield the caves from limestone quarrying, raising their protection category under Law 64-00.

The rock art was made mainly by the Taíno, and also by the Kalinago and Igneri, over roughly the last 2,000 years. About 6,000 drawings, carvings and pictographs show birds, fish, reptiles and human figures. The painters used charcoal mixed with animal fat, a detail visible in the dark lines on the cave walls.

Access requires joining a guided tour through the National Park to safely explore the open areas. Wear sturdy shoes and prepare for uneven, damp surfaces since the underground passages present physical challenges.

The caves are being considered for the title Capital Prehistoric de las Antillas (Prehistoric Capital of the Antilles), and one cave with its surroundings is slated for rehabilitation to match that category. The site lies within the Anthropological Reserve of Cuevas de Borbón, enlarged in 1996 to shield it from limestone quarrying.