Santo Domingo Colonial Zone tour: Lighthouse, palace, three lakes

Four lakes hidden beneath the city, and five centuries of stone above it

A four-hour guided tour of Santo Domingo's Colonial Zone covers the oldest cathedral in the Americas, the Columbus Lighthouse monument, the Alcázar de Colón palace, and Three Eyes National Park with its four underground lakes. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French or Portuguese. All entrance fees and taxes are included. Lunch is available as an add-on option. Children from age 3 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Columbus Park15m · entry included
2. Museum of the Royal Housespass by
3. Columbus Palacepass by
4. Columbus Lighthouse1h · entry included
5. Three Eyes National Park1h 30m · entry included
6. Colonial Zone20m

Explore Santo Domingo Colonial Zone

• Visit Parque Colón and monuments
• Tour the Cathedral of Santa María
• See the National Pantheon
• Pass by Museum of the Royal Houses
• Pass by Alcázar de Colón
• Visit Columbus Lighthouse
• Explore Three Eyes National Park lakes
• Stop at Colonial Zone gift shop

The experience

The tour starts in Parque Colón, the main square of the Colonial City, where a statue of Christopher Columbus stands among the First Cathedral of America, the original city hall, and the shops and restaurants that line Calle el Conde. From there you move through the oldest cathedral on the continent (the Cathedral Basilica, begun in 1512), and into the National Pantheon, a mausoleum where the permanent guard of honor stands in gala dress without moving. The Museum of the Royal Houses comes next, a pair of 16th-century palaces that once housed the first royal court in the New World and served as the residence of governors and captains general.

The Alcázar de Colón, built between 1511 and 1514, is a fortified palace of coral rock with Gothic-Mudejar and Renaissance details. Of its original 55 rooms, 22 remain. The Columbus Lighthouse is a cross-shaped monument 800 meters long and 36.5 meters high. Its light can be seen from 64 kilometers away when it is lit on special occasions. The tour ends at Three Eyes National Park, where four lakes sit underground: the Sulfur Lake, La Nevera (which stays between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius and never sees sunlight), the Lake of the Ladies at 2.5 meters deep, and Los Zaramagullones, ringed by native vegetation and named for the amphibious ducks that live there.

A guide leads the entire route and provides detailed information at each stop. Pickup is included, and you can add lunch to your booking at checkout. A gift shop stop gives you time to buy souvenirs before the tour ends.

What’s included

• All entrance fees and taxes.
• guided tour of the Colonial Zone, Columbus Lighthouse, Alcázar de Colón, National Pantheon, Museum of the Royal Houses, and Three Eyes National Park.
• pickup from your hotel.
• a stop at a gift shop for souvenirs.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in 5 languages13:00

Guide in 5 languages09:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:00

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Sunset Caribbean

Is this one for you?Book the standard excursion if you want to see the major sites without a meal break, or add lunch at checkout if you prefer to eat during the tour. The four-hour pace works for anyone with moderate fitness who can walk through historic plazas and descend into the park's natural lakes.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

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 24h before the start.

What is the Cathedral Basilica of Santo Domingo, and why does it matter?

The Cathedral Basilica, officially the Santa Iglesia Catedral Basilica Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Encarnación, is the oldest cathedral in the Americas. Construction began in 1512 under the first bishop of Santo Domingo, and it stands in the Colonial Zone next to Parque Colón.

Can I swim or get close to the lakes in Three Eyes National Park?

Three Eyes National Park has four lakes you visit on the tour: the Sulfur Lake, La Nevera (the coldest, at 15–21°C), the Lake of the Ladies (2.5 meters deep), and Los Zaramagullones. The tour includes access to these sites. Specific activities at each lake depend on the park's current rules.

Is lunch included in this tour, or do I need to pay extra?

Lunch is not included in the standard excursion. It is available as an add-on option you can select at checkout. The tour itself covers all entrance fees and taxes.