Category:

General Tourism

Religious Tourism

History

Location

Moca is the capital of Espaillat province and is located in the northern Dominican Republic. It has an area of 339.21 km ² and its neighboring provinces are Santiago de los Caballeros (22 km), La Vega (22 Kms) and Salcedo (15 kms).

How to get there?

By Air: Nearest airport is Cibao International Airport (STI) in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Other closest options are: Gregorio Luperon International Airport (POP) in Puerto Plata and Las Americas International Airport (SDQ) in Santo Domingo.

By car: From Santo Domingo is approximately a 2 hours drive through Duarte Road going north after passing the town of La Vega.

About Moca

• Historians say the town’s name comes from the given name of a chief called Moca, while others say it is the name of a tree growing beside rivers that provides plenty of shade.
• Moca was among the first agricultural centers of Spanish colony during the nineteenth century and over the years has prospered by its production of coffee, cacao, green plantains, cassava and cigars.
• The tallest building in town is the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and is one of the major tourist attractions.
• Moca is commonly called 'Land of Brave Men and Beautiful Women" and "City of the Viaduct”. Moca is also known as "Heroic Villa" for its important role of male and female figures that ended the dictatorship of two tyrants as Rafael Trujillo and Ulysses Hereaux (Lilis) and restored democracy to the country.
• Moca festivities are in the first week of October and the natives of this town living in other parts of the country return to their village to help with the activities taking place during these parties.

Attractions:

Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Iglesia Sagrado Corazón de Jesús):

This church is one of the most beautiful and original of the Dominican Republic that was initiated by the Salesians who came to this church around February 1945. The church has a beautiful stained glass panel and is built on concrete base with 2 floors, with capacity for around 500 people. The Church carries out activities during Holy Week and is one of the most visited in the for its inner and outer beauty.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church is located at Calle de Jesus # 58 and is open during the day offering 3 daily mass services.

Our Lady of the Rosary Church (Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Rosario):

It is the first church built in the town of Moca. The Church of the Rosary is considered a place of unique historical and cultural value. The Church has images of the Virgin Our Lady of the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, the lying Christ and beautiful stained glass art. This Church has historic value because it maintains the graves of President Ramon Caceres and the remains of several heroes of May 2, 1861 as Jose Contreras, Jose Inocencio Reyes, Cayetano Germosen and Jose Maria Rodriguez.

The Church had a restoration in 2008 which were refurbished in all areas of the temple and was conducted by the Ministry of Culture of the Dominican Republic. Despite changes in the external painting of the Church, it still retains the original beauty that has always characterized.

Botanical Zoo:

Moca Zoo was established in the era of the 80s and is the only one outside of Santo Domingo area which is a pride for the community of Moca. The zoo has a special park for recreation for children and is visited by university and high school students doing research about the animal world and the environment.

Railway Viaduct:

It is the railroad that ran through the route Macoris Sanchez-Moca-Santiago-Puerto Plata and was inaugurated in 1897 with the mission of transporting the products to be produced and distributed around these areas in the Cibao or northern area of the country. The Railroad Viaduct was at that time the only rapid transit starter providing high performance loads.

The Viaduct stopped working in 1956 on the orders of Dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo and in the city of Moca are still remnants of the railroad. The viaduct is a monument in a street of the city and you can see it from your vehicle and take pictures of it.

Moca Carnival:

Throughout the month of February and since 1998 the Moca people have integrated into the carnival traditions. Groups that have vitality and joy of the carnival are the Jackals, The Owls, The Cyber, the Unwanted, Coyotes, Blue Devils, Dragons, and the “Jinchaíto de Moca”.

The main character is carnival is the “Jinchaíto de Moca''The''. According to historical data is said that in the early twentieth century in the village of Juan Lopez, families of canarian origin settled there and were using stream water to use in their own household. There was a time when there was a drought so hard it almost ran out the existence of the creek and a ravine became interrupted by long stretches completely dry.

Over time, it became contaminated, but as people who lived there had no other way to get water, they were in the need for use even in polluted conditions, causing people to look ''swollen''. When they went to town, the inhabitants of the city began to call them ‘‘the Juan Lopez jinchaítos’’ and there go the story. Today is a popular phrase around the town of Moca, "A Jinchaito of Moca just arrived"

Parks:

Major parks to visit during your stay are: Duarte, Ramon Caceres, “de los Periodistas”, “De los Obreros”, Pablo Neruda and ‘Maestros”. Ramon Caceres Park is well known because it has an ancient tree in the park and is the venue of many activities for the town.

Plazas and Monuments:

Moca has several historical places and monuments such as “Plaza Hermanos de la Maza” (De La Maza Brothers) which is a monument created in honor of heroes who overthrew dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina. Also has a mural spanning the period from 1916 to the fall of the Trujillo dictatorship.

Other places you can find the “Plaza 2 de Mayo” who was created in honor of all those who fought in the historical epic of May 2nd, and Farmer's Plaza in honor of all farmers in the area.

Tips:

• If you are visiting the town of Moca, be sure to enjoy a plate Yuca, which is the most flavorful of the country.
• Night  life could be busy here if there is something going on in town, but most of the time locals prefer to drive to Santiago or other close by towns for specific activities throughout the weekend.
• Photography lovers should visit the two major churches to take great indoor and outdoor pictures of it.