Laguna Oviedo

Flamingos, iguanas, and a surreal salt lagoon

DifficultyEasy

Area28 km²

Duration2-3 hours

GuideRequired

Type

Wildlife Refuge

Entry fee

RD$100 park entrance + approximately RD$1,000 boat tour

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

2-3 hours

Guide

Required

Area

28 km²

Best time

November through April for most flamingos; early morning for best birdwatching

Hours

7:00 AM - 5:00 PM daily

Elevation

0-10m

FacilitiesVisitor CenterBoat DockRestroomsGuide Services

Key speciesAmerican flamingoRhinoceros iguanaGreen iguanaRoseate spoonbillWhite-crowned pigeon

Key featuresFlamingo coloniesMangrove island labyrinthRhinoceros iguana habitatHypersaline lagoon ecosystemBirdwatching

The park

Laguna Oviedo

A large hypersaline lagoon in the southwest famous for its flamingo colonies, rhinoceros iguanas, and otherworldly mangrove-island landscape.

Laguna Oviedo is one of the Dominican Republic's most fascinating wetland ecosystems — a large hypersaline (saltier than the sea) coastal lagoon located within the buffer zone of Parque Nacional Jaragua in the far southwest. The lagoon spans approximately 28 square kilometers and is dotted with small mangrove islands that create an otherworldly labyrinthine landscape.

The lagoon is most famous for its American flamingo population, with flocks of up to several hundred birds wading through the shallow, mineral-rich waters. Rhinoceros iguanas, green iguanas, and various shore birds are also commonly seen. Boat tours through the lagoon pass among the mangrove islands where birds nest in large colonies. The surrounding arid landscape of cacti and thorn scrub adds to the surreal atmosphere. Laguna Oviedo is a paradise for birdwatchers and nature photographers, and is often combined with a visit to nearby Bahia de las Aguilas.

Before you go