Mina de Larimar
Mina de Larimar
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4.0
13 reviews
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2
dave l
Fort Myers, FL15 contributions
Apr 2017 • Business
First of all, I am experienced in visiting mining locales around the world so this is no big surprise for me. However, most people would find the road to the mine difficult, scary and possibly impossible. Fortunately, we were in the care of experienced guides but even so, recent torrential rains made the road more difficult than usual. Many parts of the road were destroyed.
This is the only place in the world where Larimar is mined and that makes this special. Mining, for the most part, is by hand. Tons of Basalt must be removed to find a few pounds of the gem.
I would not recommend this for a casual tourist, but if you are into rocks, gems, and minerals, it is worth the effort. You will not be able to make this trip on your own. You will need to go with someone who knows the road and has a vehicle that can do the job.
This is the only place in the world where Larimar is mined and that makes this special. Mining, for the most part, is by hand. Tons of Basalt must be removed to find a few pounds of the gem.
I would not recommend this for a casual tourist, but if you are into rocks, gems, and minerals, it is worth the effort. You will not be able to make this trip on your own. You will need to go with someone who knows the road and has a vehicle that can do the job.
Written 11 May 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert D
266 contributions
Sept 2017 • Friends
The larimar mines are in the highland Bahoruco mountain region up in the mountains from La Cienaga. You absolutely have to have a sturdy 4x4 to access the area. We found someone in the town of La Cienaga to take us up. The route is hobbled by washed out roads and steep unpaved stretches of gravel. Small villages line the route on your way up. It seemed to us that they didn’t get many tourists up there. The mines themselves dot the landscape where the road begins to dead end, starting with the more professional, gated spots to the open area where small private mining lots are lined with temporary housing for Dominican and Haitian miners. People in the encampments will offer you polished and rough sections of stone if you’re interested. Common to find smaller pieces of pure larimar with few veins of other mineral. Larger pieces of pure larimar are harder to come by. Partially cut and polished, larger stones are cheaper. They do it by the gram for smaller stones, but larger chunks with mineral veining are easier to negotiate down. If you’re interested, some of the mines will strap you in a harness and lower you down. I wouldn’t go too far in to any of the mines: they pump oxygen in, so it’s safe, but they’re muddy and humid. Go in far enough to get a sense for the conditions and call it a day. Pretty brutal work without a doubt; definitely interesting to see to get a sense for how they operate these mines.
Written 18 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2000_fish
Sosua, Dominican Republic55 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
We had heard about the larimar mines in this area and tried to look for information online. We were staying in a hotel in Barahona and asked around about directions. We found a moto driver that jumped in our jeepeta and took us to the location- he even had to ask directons. It was about an hour each way on a rough road (which we expected, high clearance and 4x4 required). There is not much English in this area, so bring your best Spanish. Our goal was to see the mine area and buy some Larimar. Research the prices before you go - so you know how to buy. There were lots of specimens to buy, raw, cut and polished. The people don't have much in this area and were very nice to us (with our bad Spanish). The guys at the mine say the road is much better than it has been and is fixed up. The mine (hole in the side of a mountain) was not much to look and we just peeked inside to see the conditions. Lots of people approached us with larimar to sell.
Written 22 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chandra Moon
Edinburgh, UK6 contributions
Mar 2021
We were keen to see this place after seeing so much larimar around for past few months . Pleased we made the effrort - just DO NOT STAY in Casa Del Mar Lodge - that was truly awful;
Written 7 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cristian Maffione
Bavaro, Dominican Republic167 contributions
July 2017 • Family
It is absolutely something you should see. At only 40 minutes up to the hills there is another world. It is amazing how people risk their lifes because of the need and following the dream of find the larimar.
Written 6 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cjclark64
Tomball, TX42 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
there is no clear indication on how to get there (no sign whatsoever) so just ask and ask until you make it. it is only for 4x4 (and a good one!) the road is full of rocks and my car could not make it to the end..we only found out after close to 35 mn of travelling that we were half way and that it would get worse..so I went on youtube and watched avery's experience in the mines!
Written 1 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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