Juan Dolio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Dolio
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 Juan Dolio
Location in the Dominican Republic
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| Country |  Dominican Republic |
| Province | San Pedro de Macoris |
| Population
(2010)
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2,488 |
Juan Dolio is a lovely town by the sea in the Dominican Republic. It's on the southern coast of the island of Hispaniola. This popular spot for tourists is part of the San Pedro de Macoris province. In 2010, about 2,488 people lived in Juan Dolio. It's also part of the Guayacanes municipality.
Contents
Where is Juan Dolio Located?
Juan Dolio used to be a small fishing village. It sits right on the Caribbean Sea. The town stretches for about 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) along the coast. It's also found on both sides of its main road, called Avenida Boulevard.
This main road connects Juan Dolio to the DR-3 highway, known as Autovia Del Este. This highway goes around the northern part of the village.
Juan Dolio is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) east of Santo Domingo, the country's capital city. The provincial capital, San Pedro de Macorís, is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) to the east. While the areas north and east of Juan Dolio have large fields and sugar cane farms, the western part blends into the community of Guayacanes. Other nearby places include the tourist town of Boca Chica (about 23 km or 14 miles away) and the Las Américas International Airport (30 km or 18.6 miles away).
A Look at Juan Dolio's Past
Early History and Settlements
Long ago, before Europeans arrived, Juan Dolio was home to the Taíno people. They were part of the Arawaks group. Their settlement was called El Corral, and it had a cemetery near the western end of the bay. The natural bay of Playa Juan Dolio was protected by a coral reef. This made it a safe harbor for their canoes. Even today, people sometimes find old artifacts in the center of Juan Dolio.
Becoming Part of San Pedro de Macoris
In the late 1800s, Juan Dolio was a section of the San José de los Llanos municipality. But on May 8, 1884, Juan Dolio and Guayacanes became separate. They were then added to the Maritime District of San Pedro de Macoris.
The Rise of Tourism
The idea of Juan Dolio as a tourist spot officially began on January 23, 1973. A special rule was made to define the area where fishermen and farmers lived.
In the late 1980s, Juan Dolio became one of the first tourist resorts in the Dominican Republic. It was a special place, mostly for European visitors. Later, many hotels started offering all-inclusive packages. This led to a big boom in tourism. New hotels were built in the western part of Juan Dolio, known as Villas Del Mar. By 1995, hotels in Juan Dolio hosted about 5,500 tourists every day.
Changes After Hurricane Georges
In 1998, Hurricane Georges hit Juan Dolio very hard. Many hotel chains decided to move their businesses further east. This was because a new tourist area, Bávaro-Punta Cana, was being built there. The hotels in Juan Dolio that were damaged found it hard to attract new partners. Most of the beach hotels closed down. Some older hotels were even torn down to make way for new building projects.
After the hurricane, property prices were lower. This gave developers a new chance. They started building second homes in the area. Places like Guavaberry Golf Club, Club Hemingway, and Metro Country Club became very popular. A new idea grew: Juan Dolio became a place for people in the media industries.
Juan Dolio Today
Since 2006, Juan Dolio has been part of the Guayacanes municipality. This is the newest district in the San Pedro de Macorís Province. The town council of Guayacanes officially started in December 2007. It is now in charge of managing Juan Dolio.
In 2015, the Pinewood film studios opened in the community. This has helped Juan Dolio become popular again. Many famous sports stars and business people choose Juan Dolio for their homes or vacation spots. They enjoy the privacy and safety the town offers.
Exploring Juan Dolio's Layout
The main part of Juan Dolio is near the Playa Juan Dolio bay. This beach is very popular with both locals and visitors. A few local fishermen still use the bay to bring in their boats.
To the northwest of the town center is the Mar Del Sol district. North of the center is the Metro Golf & Country Club, a private community. To the east of the center, you'll find the Villas Del Mar district. The western part of Juan Dolio touches the neighboring community of Guayacanes, where the district's main offices are.
The town has a main street called Calle Principal. It runs next to the beach and the Boulevard access road. On weekends, you can only drive on Calle Principal from west to east. Along this street, you'll find many small shops, restaurants, bars, and guesthouses. There are also mostly small homes and some taller apartment buildings.
The Villas Del Mar district is at the eastern end of Calle Principal. It has grown a lot in the last twenty years. This area is home to Juan Dolio's two biggest beach resorts. Wealthy investors have often chosen Villas Del Mar for their building projects. This zone has modern, tall apartment towers and some very fancy homes. Some of these buildings are still being built.
Discovering Juan Dolio's Beaches
The beach in the center of Juan Dolio, called Playa Juan Dolio, is open to everyone. It also has parking for visitors. However, the view of Playa Real in Villas del Mar is often blocked by tall condo buildings. Private security guards from the condo towers sometimes limit free access to Playa Real.
All the beaches in Juan Dolio were improved in the winter of 2006/07 as part of a government project. They now attract more and more visitors, especially on weekends. The public beach, Playa Juan Dolio, might not be as famous as the beach in Boca Chica, but it feels more natural and untouched. Coconut palms grow on the sand, the sea is a beautiful turquoise color, and you won't see any huge hotels right on the beach.
Images for kids
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Playa Juan Dolio
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Playa Juan Dolio
See also
In Spanish: Juan Dolio para niños
