The Three Eyes — Attraction in Santo Domingo Este

The Three Eyes National Park – A Must-Visit in Santo Domingo, DR!

If you're visiting the Dominican Republic, you must check out The Three Eyes National Park (Los Tres Ojos)! This open-air limestone cave is located in Mirador del Este Park within Santo Domingo Este. It’s an incredible natural wonder filled with history, breathtaking scenery, and unique underground lakes. Originally, the Taíno Indians used the caves for religious ceremonies and fertility rites, making this spot not just beautiful but historically significant.

NOTE: NOT recommended for elderly visitors, kids under 6 years old, or anyone with mobility issues. My 69- and 74-year-old parents couldn’t complete it— so if you have weak knees, any mobility issues or balance issues, sit this one out!

What to Expect: The Three Eyes (and a Bonus!) The park features three main lakes, known as the “Three Eyes” due to their enclosed, cavernous setting. Each lake has its own unique characteristics: Lago de Azufre – Discovered in 1916, this lake contains calcium minerals and has a mystical blue-green hue. La Nevera – Its name means “The Fridge” because it gets no sunlight, making the water icy cold! El Lago de las Damas – Historically used by women and children for bathing due to its shallow depth. Bonus Lake – Los Zaramagullones – This fourth lake is technically not one of the “Three Eyes” because it has an opening to the outside. You can only access it by crossing Lago La Nevera on a hand-pulled ferry raft. o Cost: About $100 pesos per person (~$2 USD). o Tipping Tip: Please don’t be cheap! The local guides manually pull the ferry all day long. A small extra $100-$200 pesos ($2-$4 USD) is a great way to support them and spread kindness!

MUST-READ TIPS Before You Go! ✔ It’s Absolutely Worth It! – Stunning natural beauty and rich history make this a must-see spot in the DR! ✔ Bring Dominican Pesos (DOP)! – Cash is king here. The experience will be smoother if you have small bills handy – SEE PRO TIP BELOW when exchanging to smaller bills ✔ Be Prepared for a Hike! – This is NOT a flat, easy stroll. Expect natural rock steps, steep inclines, and sudden altitude drops. • NOT recommended for: Elderly visitors, kids under 6 years old, or anyone with mobility issues. • My 69- and 74-year-old parents couldn’t complete it—so if you have weak knees or balance issues, sit this one out! ✔ Wear Comfortable Shoes! – Sneakers or, even better, hiking shoes are a must. No sandals! ✔ Bring Water! – You’ll be walking and sweating, so stay hydrated. ✔ Entry Fee: just about $100 DOP ($2 USD) per person ✔ You Don’t Need a Tour Guide! – If you’re comfortable walking steep areas and exploring on your own, you’ll do just fine!

Pro Traveler Tip: Currency & Bargaining in the DR • $1 USD ≈ just about 60 DOP (Dominican Pesos) • When exchanging money, ask for small bills (100s, 200s, 500s DOP). It makes buying souvenirs, tipping, and small purchases much easier! • Use this conversion trick to negotiate fair prices when shopping locally!

Fun Fact! My 69-year-old father used to bathe in these caves as a child, way before it became a tourist attraction!

Final Thoughts Visiting The Three Eyes National Park is an amazing experience, but being prepared will make it even better! Bring cash, wear good shoes, and be ready for some hiking. It’s an unforgettable adventure that combines nature, history, and culture—so enjoy every moment!

🇩🇴✨ Happy...

It's worth the visit as the site is very good. However, it is a hustle. You can purchase tickets which are just a few USD/CAD dollars. However, it is damn near impossible to find those tickets online. So when you get there you NEED internet access and you use the barcodes they have posted which will take you to the website. However, the website PURPOSELY loads extremely slow. I checked at least 10 other websites to see if they loaded and they all did without issue. After 15-20 minutes you just give up and purchase the tickets which include the guide. So instead of paying 3-5 dollars you end up paying 20-25 USD/CAD. There is NO other option to just purchase the entry tickets from staff working. You have to do it online. Hence me saying it is a hustle. The place does NOT need a guide. There are four 4 lakes, Natives would use the caves to shelter from hurricanes, one lake the only access before stairs was to rope down, Dominicans use to have access, but tourist / teenagers would trash the place, have fires, etc, so it is now only open with paid access. There you go, there is your tour. Now in saying all that... I didn't mind giving money for the tour and would have happily paid 15-20 to just get access because I am on vacation so not going to miss it over a...

Amazing gem so close to the city, there are public buses that go to the park, but our accommodation said it's best to get an Uber as it's so quick and cheap (it was under 200 peso one way from the city centre). Entry was a bargain at 200 peso, only card payment is accepted. The cenote was surprisingly large and not very busy (we visited on a Thursday around midday), the water is stunning, so blue and clear. Be sure to get the small barge (additional 50 peso, cash only) at the back of the main area, as it takes you to a great viewpoint of the outside cenote. We spent close to 2hrs here, including a short walk outside. We did have an issue with our return Uber, he tried to tell us the price would be x4 times the agreed app price, so we got out and ordered another. I'm assuming this is a common trick some try. Multiple people that I spoke to before visiting had tried to walk back to the city, but were told by police not to as...