Los Haitises boat tour with natural pools and cave paintings

Two cave systems with indigenous petroglyphs sit between the mangrove forest and the natural pools.

A full-day boat tour through Los Haitises National Park in the Dominican Republic combines a 2-hour ride through coastal mangroves with visits to two cave systems decorated with indigenous paintings and petroglyphs. After exploring La Arena Cave and La Línea Cave, the tour returns to Hotel Caño Hondo, where you swim in 14 natural pools with waterfalls and eat a Creole lunch before heading back.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat ride and natural pools visit

• Begin 2-hour boat ride
• Explore Los Haitises National Park
• Visit La Arena and La Línea Caves
• Return to Caño Hondo pier
• Rest at Hotel Caño Hondo
• Enjoy Criollan lunch
• Swim in 14 natural pools

What’s included

• The tour includes a 2-hour boat ride through Los Haitises National Park.
• visits to La Arena Cave and La Línea Cave with their indigenous paintings and petroglyphs.
• four hours of free time to swim in the 14 natural pools at Hotel Caño Hondo.
• and a Creole lunch with salad, fried fish, chicken, rice, beans, and dessert.

Times

• Monday to Saturday 08:00 10:00 11:00
• Sunday 09:00

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Up to 10 1 private ›

Live guide English, Spanish and French Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup No hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. 3 with pickup ›

Book up to 6h before

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Not recommended with back problems

Operated by The Whales Las Ballenas

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 2 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

If you have a free afternoon or morning in the coastal north of the Dominican Republic, this tour fills most of a day without requiring you to arrange your own transport. The boat leaves the pier for a 2-hour ride through Los Haitises National Park, where the mangrove shoreline and tidal channels make up the landscape. The guide speaks English, Spanish or French and points out the park as you travel.

Two cave stops break up the boat ride. La Arena Cave and La Línea Cave both hold paintings and petroglyphs left by indigenous civilizations, and the guide walks you through each one before returning to the boat. The caves are the main reason to book this tour. They are not accessible by land and not part of most other park visits in the region.

Once back at Hotel Caño Hondo, you have four hours to swim in the 14 natural pools, which have waterfalls and flow into each other. Lunch is included: the menu runs to green salad, potato salad, fried fish fillets, chicken cracklings, pasta, white rice, string beans, moro de gandules con coco (rice, beans and coconut milk), and a coconut dessert. You rest between the boat ride and the pools, so the day does not feel rushed.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does the boat ride through Los Haitises National Park take?

The boat ride lasts 2 hours and covers the mangrove channels and coastal forest of the park. The cave visits and return journey add to the total time on the water.

What are La Arena Cave and La Línea Cave like?

Both caves hold paintings and petroglyphs from indigenous civilizations. The guide leads you through each one as part of the tour. They are only reachable by boat and not accessible by land.

How much time do I have to swim in the natural pools?

You have four hours of free time at Hotel Caño Hondo to swim in the 14 natural pools with waterfalls. This time comes after lunch and before the return to the pier.

What is included in the lunch at Hotel Caño Hondo?

Lunch is a Creole meal with green salad, potato salad, fried fish fillets, chicken cracklings, pasta, white rice, string beans, moro de gandules con coco, and a coconut dessert.