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(Updated May 9th, 2025). The Taino, first original settlers of Hispaniola Island, now Dominican Republic. When Christopher Columbus found the American continent back in October 12, 1492 he was under the impression of being at or close to India, in his quest for a quicker trade route. What he found were the Taino, an indigenous culture that populated many of the Caribbean islands. Columbus anchored in La Isabela, Puerto Plata<\/a> and built the first Spanish settlement in the New World. A local tour of La Isabela<\/a><\/span><\/strong>, Puerto Plata is available to visit the remains of the old city, also a museum with antique pieces.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Throughout the years to follow, the Taino were killed by the conquerors either by disease or battle, and their culture was almost completely wiped out. Most Dominicans nowadays rarely resemble what the Taino looked like, and only a few families have some Taino blood in their generations. Preserved in time, still many artifacts and stone pottery can be found in the island, and their simple art they left behind in caves.\u00a0 The Dominican Republic Taino were the most peaceful of these indigenous groups.<\/span><\/p>\nGALLERY OF TAINO LIFE IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC<\/span><\/h3>\n