Villa Miriam: A Piece of Lebanon in The Dominican Republic
In an ancient poem, a young man expressed his affection for the love of his life. He wrote:
“You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water,
And flowing streams from Lebanon.”
This poem perfectly describes Villa Miriam - a piece of Lebanon in the Dominican Republic. Being in this small piece of paradise filled with gardens, waterfalls, and refreshing, cold, natural pools, is like being embraced by nature from the moment you arrive.
Why Lebanon Though?
HISTORY OF VILLA MIRIAM
The property surrounding what is now known as Villa Miriam was purchased by Nabij Khoury. A Lebanese blogger named Carla wrote about her experience meeting him in her blog Out of Lebanon. She shared that Mr. Khoury was an immigrant from Lebanon who moved to the Dominican Republic with his family when he was 12. He became a successful businessman and founded Khoury Block, a leading construction material manufacturer. In the 1970s he started to build a house on the property and named it after his wife, Miriam. On the official Facebook page of Villa Miriam he is quoted as saying:
“Villa Miriam is a paradisiacal place where I am transported to my childhood years in my native Lebanon.”
In the 2000s, the Khoury family opened up this balneario (natural pools) to the community so they too could enjoy this jungle oasis. Nabij Khoury passed away in 2014. One of his last requests was that Villa Miriam be preserved. The property remains open to the public so we can share in this piece of paradise.
ENTRANCE INFO & DETAILS
Villa Miriam is a place you can go for an hour or so enjoying the pools or a place you can spend all day, depending on the time you have.
Updated May 2024: Villa Miriam is open Monday-Sunday, from 8 am to 6 pm. The cost to stay there and relax is 500 Dominican Pesos (approx. $8.50 USD) per person under 12 years old. The cost for children from 2-12 years old is 400 Pesos. The fees are paid in cash.
Around the pools in Villa Miriam the trees envelop the area and create a rainforest-like atmosphere. For that reason though, there is a limited time where the sun is shining directly on the pools.
11am-2pm is prime time to soak in the sun as you are chilling, literally, in the cold mountain water, so plan your visit accordingly!
Personal food and drink (including alcohol) are allowed. There are tables and plastic chairs available to use. No cigars, hookah, or e-cigarettes are allowed on the property.
There are bathrooms by the parking lot, near the entrance to the villa.
It’s a good idea to bring toilet paper and soap, as they may not be equipped with these items at all times.
It is important to note that Villa Miriam has many guests during weekends and holidays. If possible, it is best to plan your trip to enjoy this serene experience on a weekday, preferably from Monday to Thursday. You may even have the whole place to yourself if you follow these travel tips.
HOW TO GET THERE
You said you were looking for an adventure, right? Getting to Villa Miriam is just that.
Villa Miriam is 17 miles (27 km) west of Barahona traveling on the coastal highway, route 44. After a 40 minute drive, you will arrive at San Raphael beach. Continue up the hill, and you will see small public pools and waterfalls on the right. This area is amazing in itself, and a free option if you choose to stop here, but if you go just a bit further, trust us, you won’t be disappointed.
After the public pools on your right, take the next entrance to the right. There are no signs, and the road is not in the best condition, but don’t be deterred. Continue up the hill before you arrive at the gates of Villa Miriam and its secure private parking lot. Paradise awaits you.
If you are planning on taking the guagua (small local bus - pronounced ‘gwa-gwa’) there, you can catch it in the town of Barahona. The stop is at the corner where Pica Pollo Lucky is on Avenida Luis Del Monte. Tell the driver to leave you at the “Entrada de Villa Miliam.” You will need to watch for the entrance as you approach and remind him to drop you off. See the pictures we’ve included for reference. It is a very short walk up the hill from there.
Please be very careful when leaving the area by guagua as there is a dangerous curve on this section of the road. You can flag down a bus by standing on the side of the road where the entrance is. Be sure the bus is headed in the right direction!
San Rafael Beach to your left
Natural pools to your right (an option for the budget traveler)
The entrance to Villa Miriam on your right (be careful on this curve)
You’ve arrived at Villa Miriam. Time to park and enjoy!
Be careful on this curve when you leave, especially if you are waiting for a guagua.
HOW TO ORDER FOOD
Don’t have a meal plan? No problem. Along the hill towards the Villa Miriam gate, there are several typical comedors (homemade food eateries - pronounced ‘co-meh-door’) that provide delicious meals. Stop by one of these eateries on your way into Villa Miriam to make your order and they will deliver the food directly to you so you can dine right next to the waterfalls.
You won’t find a menu at these comedors. They will let you know what they have to offer that day. It’s fairly safe to say that whatever they provide will be delicious. Fried fish will most likely be the plate of the day. (To be safe, stay away from raw vegetables if offered). You will have to pay cash directly to the comedors after you eat.
Below are two of these comedors that will cook and deliver food directly to you:
D’Tatica Cafeteria (pictured)
Dona Mella
You will find Dona Mella in the house to the left of D’Tatica. She doesn’t have clear signage but you can ask anyone you see in the area if she is around. Keep an eye on our page for an updated picture of her location.
WHAT TO BRING
Food (food is available for purchase as well)
Drinks (bringing extra water is a good idea)
Water shoes or shoes with good tread (the walking areas and steps can be slippery)
My personal go-to shoes are Crocs…the cute kind. Crocs make great travel shoes and can double as water shoes. They are comfortable and easy to clean.
Mosquito repellant (you are in the tropics after all)
Here’s a link to one of my favorite deet free options.
Waterproof case for your phone
Towels and dry clothes
Toilet paper
Soap or hand sanitizer
