If you're going to be in Santo Domingo, visiting Los Tres Ojos National Park is a must-do. It's one of the most unique natural parks in the Dominican Republic, and I enjoyed the natural change of pace it provided from the city. This guide includes everything you need to know before you go!
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What is Los Tres Ojos National Park?
Los Tres Ojos translates to "the three eyes," and the name refers to three underground lakes, Lago de Azufre, La Nevera, and El Lago de las Damas, inside a limestone cave system. In history, the caves or cuevas were used by the native Taíno people for rituals.
Today, this subterranean experience is a unique natural monument because it's part open air, and the light that comes through, along with crystalline structures inside the caverns, makes the mineral-rich lagoons sparkle.
Being inside felt like entering another world, and you might recognize this location from adventure movies like Tarzan and Jurassic Park III. And there's actually an optional fourth lake or ojo (technically speaking, it's a freshwater lagoon), which I highly recommend spending a lil extra time to see, and I'll get into that later!
Staying in the area? Read my top things to do in Santo Domingo!
Getting There & Entry Details
El Parque Nacional Los Tres Ojos is located in eastern Santo Domingo, inside the larger Parque Mirador del Este. And the address is Calle Marginal Las Américas Este, Santo Domingo Este 11604, Dominican Republic. I used this link to The Three Eyes in Google Maps to get there from the colonial zone.
I rented a car in Punta Cana and drove to this attraction, but you can book a tour that includes transportation or take a taxi or rideshare from Santo Domingo. Either way, parking is available on-site.
The national park hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, but they typically sell the last tickets of the day at 3:00 pm, so that everyone has ample time to explore the park.
Here's everything you need to know about driving in the Dominican Republic as a traveler!
What You'll Need
Despite the cool, shaded appearance, it can get hot and sticky inside those caves! For this reason, the best time to visit is typically early in the day and during the cooler months of November through March, which coincides with the Dominican Republic's dry season. Even in October, I was sweating.
Dress in breathable pieces you'll feel comfortable walking and climbing in, and that you wouldn't mind getting dirty, just in case.
Wear shoes with grip! Moisture drips from the stalactytes, and there are openings to the sky inside the caves, so the ground can be moist from recent rain or even morning dew. Most of the staircases have rails, but I found some of them to be slippery still.
Mosquito repellent is a must. I forgot mine, and they tore me up. Don't make the same mistake.
Bring a water bottle and, if you desire, small snacks. There is a restaurant on-site along with vendors selling these things, too. Either way, please be respectful and don't litter.
Lastly, bring cash--preferably Dominican pesos. At the time of my visit, the entrance fee was 200 RD pesos for foreigners and 100 for locals.
If you're visiting on a guided excursion, check with your tour operator to confirm what's included.
Use my Dominican Republic packing list with outfit ideas to style your trip!
Review of My Experience
I did a self-guided visit at my own pace and spent about two hours inside the cave late in the afternoon. I was one of the last visitors, and the golden hour light filtering into the caves illuminated the lakes beautifully. Each one is a little different, and they reminded me a lot of the cenotes in Tulum and Las Grutas de Tolantongo in Mexico.
However, there's no swimming allowed! You can get up close to the water, though, which makes for stunning pictures. There is a small amount of climbing up and down steps required to get to the different eyes, and the park is not wheelchair accessible.
To see Lago Los Zaramagullones (the fourth lake), I paid about 50 pesos (cash only) for a boat ride, then walked for just a few minutes to the lookout point. And the time and price were definitely worth it!
All in all, I would recommend this nature park for most any kind of traveler. I visited solo, but there were plenty of groups, couples, and families, including some with small children.
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I hope this article helps you enjoy visiting the Three Eyes natural attraction in the Dominican Republic soon and very soon.. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this post for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
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