Puerto Plata

As cultured as it is productive, this province that looks onto the Atlantic like a large mirror, sought to create a carnival character with a special essence, one accentuating its Indigenous roots. The Taimáscaros of Puerta Plata, who take the form of Taíno (the Indigenous god of the people living on the island when Christopher Columbus arrived), use elements from nature to make up their costumes. The pants of their outfits are made from sea shells to symbolize their relationship with the ocean. Meanwhile their puffy shirts and multicolored scarves express their connection with African religious beliefs and mysteries, highlighting the black heritage of this now mulatto place.