Rio San Juan

**Rio San Juan** is a town in the María Trinidad Sánchez Province of the Dominican Republic. Located on the coast of the country's northeast corner, the town is adjacent to **Laguna Gri-Gri**. The population was 15,092 at the 2012 census.

## Rio San Juan

### Region

María Trinidad Sánchez Province
Cibao NE

### Distance to:

Nagua: 55 km (*34 mi.*)Santo Domingo: 203 km (*126 mi.*)

## Overview

The municipality is located on the north coast approximately half-way between the cities of Puerto Plata and Nagua.

## History

The first settlers of the municipality were the Ciguayos Indians, belonging to the of Maguá Maguá chiefdom, who called it *Cumíti River*, which was later given the name of *Río San Juan*, in honor of a chief from Puerto Plata, who was baptized with the name of San Juan. When the indigenous race disappeared, this region began to be populated at the beginning of the 18th century, adopting the name of *La Boca*, because it was located near the mouth of the river.

In 1914, the urban population had a significant increase, so on **June 1, 1944** it was elevated to a municipal district, by presidential decree. At that time there were no roads, only a local road connecting with the municipality of Cabrera.

Commercial activities were carried out by sea, mainly with the city of Puerto Plata .

## Geography

Rio San Juan is located at 19.6399° N, 70.0712° W. According to the ONE, this municipality has a total land area of 105.09 square kilometers (272.19 square miles) spread across a single municipal district, **Rio San Juan**. Rio San Juan is one of the four municipalities that make the province of María Trinidad Sánchez a unit. It is bordered on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, on the east by the town of Cabrera, on the southeast by the city of Nagua, on the southwest by the Duarte Province city of San Fransisco, and on the west by Espaillat Province town of Gaspar Hernández.

### Demography

In the recent census, the population was made up of 16,998 inhabitants, of which 47% belonged to the rural area and the rest to the urban area.

## Economy

Traditionally, the economic production of the municipality of Río San Juan was based on livestock, fishing and agriculture and was carried out by sea with Puerto Plata. Then in the 1980s, the increase in tourist activity produced a great displacement of the rural population towards the city, so that agricultural production declined considerably, projecting the economy of the municipality towards consumerism and not towards production, which allowed wealth to be concentrated in tourism and commercial enterprises.

### Transposrt

In the municipality there is a transportation system made up of private companies that provide public transportation services to and from Santo Domingo, Santiago de Los Caballeros, Puerto Plata, Sosúa, Gaspar Hernández and Nagua. There is also a tourist taxi company with modern and comfortable transport units. Another widely used transport system is the Motoconcho, used mainly in the urban area.

## Tourism

In this municipality of around 20,000 inhabitants, despite the effects of mass tourism, it has preserved all its charm. Río San Juan is one of the happiest places in the country. The wooden houses are painted in flamboyant colors and the village warmly welcomes tourists.

The municipality is known by nature lovers and fans of idleness even though it is a bit far from the main tourist attractions in the area. The beaches are beautiful, especially **Caletón** (a quiet bay surrounded by mangroves and rocks). Surf enthusiasts prefer **Playa Grande,** a large sandy beach, world famous for its waves, and **Playa Preciosa,** with its imposing vegetation and turquoise waters. In the vicinity of Playa Grande, there is the Playa Grande Golf Course, built in 1997 with the stamp of the famous Robert Trent Jones, and considered one of the best in the world. In addition, Amanera Resort at Playa Grande, an ultra-luxury hotel, is part of the master development plan that includes the Playa Grande Beach Club, Playa Grande Residences and other tourist amenities, including facilities in Playa Preciosa and an ecological reserve of the humid forest that surrounds the area.

Río San Juan is also popularly known for its **Laguna Gri Gri**, a large mangrove lagoon where you can embark and navigate among its mysterious caverns and caves that have appeared by the erosion of the years. It is called Gri Gri due to the trees that are part of its abundant vegetation on the shore.

Other attractions include Beach of the Dead, Minos beach, Los Guardias Beach, La Piscina Natural, Cave of Las Golondrinas, and the Rio San Juan Humid Forest. Festivities include the Rio San Juan Marine Carnival.

## References

Rio San Juan[1]

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