This caving expedition to the Dominican Republic set out to explore the island’s extensive limestone landscapes, which had received relatively little attention from speleologists despite being highly suitable for cave development. The team arrived in Santo Domingo after significant logistical challenges, quickly adjusting to local conditions as they organised permits and supplies.
Their first major destination was Los Bolos in the Sierra de Neiba. With the help of a local guide the group explored several caves, though many were blocked or limited in depth. A subsequent move to a nearby plateau revealed heavy deforestation, erosion, and clogged sinkholes, reducing the potential for major discoveries. Difficult access, intense heat, dehydration risks, and food monotony—especially repeated meals of rice, beans, and unripe bananas—became recurring challenges.
After limited success in the southwest, including unproductive reconnaissance around Sabana Real, Polo, and Loma Meregildo, the team shifted focus to the central highlands. They targeted the Catanamatias valley, near an Italian‑explored 400 m cave. This region proved far more promising, with multiple deep shafts and unexplored systems found at elevations between 800 and 1400 metres.
Significant discoveries included “Cueva Queso,” explored to 63m before reaching a sump, and “Cueva El Avenger,” ultimately mapped to around 200m depth after negotiating squeezes, loose boulders, and muddy conditions. The team also identified an exceptionally promising system in a higher adjacent valley, “Cueva Machete,” descending over 100m with clear continuation—though limited time prevented full exploration.