Santo Domingo Day Trip from Punta Cana & Los Tres Ojos

Santo Domingo's Colonial Heart & Underground Lakes in One Day

You're picked up from your Punta Cana hotel and driven to Santo Domingo, where you explore Los Tres Ojos cenote with its underground lakes, visit the Columbus Lighthouse and the oldest cathedral in the Americas, and walk the colonial streets near the Malecon. Lunch and all park admission are included, and the air-conditioned vehicle brings you back to your hotel by late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Columbus Lighthousepassing by
2. Three Eyes National Park1h · entry included

Santo Domingo city and park tour

• Pickup from Punta Cana
• Visit Columbus Lighthouse
• Explore Three Eyes National Park
• Tour Primate Cathedral of America
• See colonial architecture near Malecon
• Return to Punta Cana

The experience

The van is already rolling when you leave your hotel: pickup happens early, and the drive to Santo Domingo takes about an hour. You're heading toward one of the Caribbean's oldest cities, and the first real stop is Los Tres Ojos National Park, a cave system with four freshwater lakes that sit inside limestone chambers. The park was discovered in 1916, and the name comes from the three main lakes visible from inside the cave. You walk through the cavern, and the light hits the water in a way that makes the whole thing feel older than it probably is. There's a fourth lake too, one you can see without going into the cave itself. The whole place has this quiet, almost untouched feeling: indigenous people used to come here centuries ago, and you can sense that history just sitting there.

After the cenote, you head into the city proper. The Columbus Lighthouse is hard to miss. It's a cross-shaped monument about 800 meters long and 36.5 meters high, built to mark the Christianization of the Americas. People used to think Columbus himself was buried there, but genetic testing proved that wrong. His remains are actually in Seville. Still, the lighthouse is the kind of landmark that anchors the whole colonial district. Then you move through the old streets near the Malecon, where the architecture is all narrow doorways and weathered stone facades. The Cathedral of Santa María de la Encarnación sits near Parque Colón. It's the oldest cathedral in the Americas, officially called the Primate Cathedral, and the colonial stonework inside is the real thing, not a reconstruction. You get time to walk around, take photos, and just absorb the fact that you're standing in a place that's been here since the 1500s.

Lunch is included, so you're not hunting for a restaurant or worrying about timing. The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters because Santo Domingo gets hot and humid, and you've already covered a lot of ground by midday. The whole day runs about 8 to 9 hours, and the driver handles all the logistics. You just show up at your hotel in the morning and get dropped back there when it's done. It's the kind of tour where you see the major pieces without having to figure out transport, entry fees, or where to eat.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Punta Cana.
• admission to Los Tres Ojos National Park.
• lunch.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• visits to the Columbus Lighthouse, the Cathedral of Santa María de la Encarnación, and the colonial streets near the Malecon.
• all fees and taxes.

Options for this experience

2 options

Santo Domingo tour, privateUp to 10 people · Guide in English, Spanish or French · No fixed timePrivate, 9 hours, lunch, minivan, includes pickup

Shared Santo Domingo TourUp to 8 people · Guide in English, Spanish or French · No fixed timeShared, 10 hours, lunch, bus, includes pickup

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (2 to 9 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Best Punta Cana Vacations

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Santo Domingo's main historical sites and the cenote in one day without arranging your own transport or entry tickets: the fixed itinerary and included lunch mean you're not making decisions once you're on the road.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 9 years); Infant (under 2): free.

How long is the drive from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo?

About one hour each way.

What is Los Tres Ojos National Park?

A cave system with four freshwater lakes inside limestone chambers, discovered in 1916. You walk through the cave to see three of the main lakes. A fourth is visible from outside.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Yes, lunch is included in the price.

What time does pickup happen?

Early morning from your hotel. The exact time is confirmed when you book.

How many hours is the full tour?

Approximately 8 to 9 hours, including drive time and all stops.

Is the vehicle air-conditioned?

Yes, the tour uses an air-conditioned vehicle.

What is the Columbus Lighthouse?

A cross-shaped monument about 800 meters long and 36.5 meters high, built to commemorate the Christianization of the Americas. It's located in Santo Domingo and is one of the tour's main landmarks.