Parque Nacional Los Tres Ojos

Underground lakes beneath Santo Domingo

DifficultyEasy

Area0.1 km²

Duration1-1.5 hours

Type

Natural Monument

Entry fee

RD$200 foreigners, RD$100 Dominican residents; under-9s free. Boat to the fourth lake RD$50.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

1-1.5 hours

Guide

Self-guided OK

Area

0.1 km²

Established

1972

Best time

Year-round; mornings for fewer crowds

Hours

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM daily

Elevation

0-15m

Cell coverage

Good coverage throughout (located in urban Santo Domingo)

Camping

Not allowed

FacilitiesVisitor EntranceRestroomsSmall Gift ShopParkingLocal Guides Available

Key speciesFreshwater turtlesCave batsTropical fish

Key featuresThree underground freshwater lakesHand-pulled cave ferryStalactite formationsTaino heritage siteCave lighting effects

TrailsCave walkway loop (500m)

What to bringCameraComfortable walking shoesWaterCash for entrance fee and tipsLight jacket (caves can feel cool)

WarningsStone stairways and walkways can be slippery when wet — hold handrailsThe hand-pulled ferry to the fourth lake has limited capacity — expect a short waitDo not swim in the cave lakes — it is prohibitedWatch for uneven surfaces and low ceilings in cave passages

The park

Parque Nacional Los Tres Ojos

A system of three underground limestone caves with crystal-clear freshwater lakes, located just minutes from downtown Santo Domingo. A natural wonder beneath the city.

Parque Nacional Los Tres Ojos (The Three Eyes) is one of the most unusual natural attractions in the Caribbean — a system of open-air limestone caves containing three crystal-clear freshwater lakes, located in the heart of Santo Domingo's eastern suburbs. Used by the Taino people as a sacred site and water source, the caves were rediscovered in the 20th century and designated a national park.

Visitors descend a stone staircase into the cave system, where walkways lead past the three interconnected lakes — Lago de Azufre (sulphur lake, with a greenish tint), La Nevera (the refrigerator, naturally cold), and Lago de las Damas (ladies' lake, the deepest at approximately 8 meters). A fourth lake, Los Zaramagullones, is accessible via a small hand-pulled ferry boat that crosses through a cave passage. Stalactites and stalagmites line the cave walls, and sunlight streaming through the cave openings creates dramatic lighting effects on the water. Despite its tiny 0.1 km2 footprint, Los Tres Ojos attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

Before you go