SPIDERS

I am curious to find out if there are a lot of spiders in the boca chica area and if they are big.

There are not a lot. I've seem some the size of small mice. In fact, I thought it was a mouse at first. There are lots of small lizards, which eat bugs and are harmless.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

In whole Dominican Republic there are a lot of spiders but they are harmless, and they are mostly in the rural places but in the city. Some of them have the size of a hand, and its bit causes a big pain and infection... These are called "cacatas". Be carefully with these because they can attack you if you bother them. However, don't worry because its poison is not deathly.

Very good!

Excellent!!!

Never been to Boca Chica, but I have seen some pretty big ones elsewhere in the DR... size of a quarter or bigger with webs a couple feet across..

I doubt you would find any in the resort areas though....

I used to have a girlfriend until my last trip to Boca Chica where this Giant Tarantula scooped her right off the balcony of the Hamaca!

Sleepless in S.D.

This is so very funny! I laughed so loud at work everyone wondered what was wrong with me! At my resort a couple of weeks ago, some other girls had a big one the size of their hand in their room. You could hear them screaming a mile away! Kind of funny, kind of not!

I am gutted !! I have just spent two months convincing my boyfriend not to go to Africa for our holidays this year !! Mainly because of stories of hairy arachnids !! Yuck!! I obviously havent done my research too well as now we have a holiday booked to go to DR !!!! Are some areas worse than others ? Is there anything that I should look out for ???? Should I cancel my holidays ????

Panicked in London !!

I have been to the DR many times and traveled throughout the island, usually not on the resorts. I have never seen any large or dangerous spiders. Now, I am not saying that they do not have them. But, if you don't look for them they won't look for you. Relax and enjoy your vacation. You will have a great time. The worst decision you should be making is which sunblock to buy.

Lori