This guide is for you if you have one full day in Santo Domingo and want both sides of the Ozama River: the old town on the west bank, the Columbus Lighthouse and the cave lagoons of Los Tres Ojos on the east. It covers which day of the week to pick, the months to watch, what the steps and the boat involve, and what to pay for on the day.
Pick the day of the week first
The one fixed closure in this day is the Alcázar de Colón. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00, and is shut on Mondays. On a Monday you still see the palace from Plaza de España, but you cannot go in, so book Tuesday to Sunday if the museum matters to you.
The Columbus Lighthouse opens every day from 09:00 to 16:30. Its management says most of its visitors come at weekends, so a weekday gives you emptier rooms.
Outside the north coast, the rainy season runs from May to November, with May usually the wettest month. The cyclone season lasts from the beginning of June to the end of November, and most storms form in September and October. Pack a light rain jacket in those months, and message us if a storm warning is issued before your day.
Why the river matters
The Spanish first settled east of the Ozama in 1496. Bartholomew Columbus founded the town in 1498, and in 1502 the governor, Nicolás de Ovando, moved it across to the west bank. That is the Colonial Zone you walk first thing, which UNESCO listed as a World Heritage Site in 1990. This day takes you back and forth across that same river: the old town in the cool of the morning, then east to the lighthouse and the caves, then west again for the Alcázar and the seafront.
The Columbus Lighthouse
The lighthouse was inaugurated on 6 October 1992 by the president at the time, Joaquín Balaguer, for the 500th anniversary. Work on it had begun much earlier, under the Trujillo dictatorship. The design came from a worldwide competition won by J. L. Gleave in 1929, and the first stones were laid in 1986.
At the entrance is the mausoleum said to hold Columbus's remains. Seville Cathedral makes the same claim, and the argument has never been settled. Inside there are 49 exhibition rooms, one for each country with which the museum has a cultural link, each chosen by that country. One room holds the chasuble Pope John Paul II wore at the Mass for the fifth centenary in 1992.
The monument was built to project a cross of light onto the clouds at night. That cross has been out of service, so do not plan around seeing it.
Los Tres Ojos
Los Tres Ojos is a national park a short drive east of the river. A staircase winds down into limestone caves the Taíno used as a refuge and for rituals. At the bottom are three freshwater lagoons. The name means "the three eyes", after their oval shape.
Paths run alongside the first three. A small wooden barge takes you across to the fourth, which opens to the sky, with rock walls and plants all round. Look out for petroglyphs and pieces of pottery along the way. The boat is not included, so keep some local cash for it.
The steps are the part to plan for. There are several flights of stone steps down and the same back up. Shoes with a good grip help.
How the day fits together
You are collected at 07:00 anywhere in the city and spend the first two hours on foot in the Colonial Zone, from Parque Colón and the cathedral along Calle Las Damas to the Ozama Fortress. The lighthouse follows at about 09:15, then Los Tres Ojos at about 10:30.
Lunch is at around midday, in the Colonial Zone or near the Malecón, and it is not included. The Alcázar comes after lunch, then a drive along the Malecón, and you are back at your hotel in the afternoon, at about 15:00.
The vehicle is yours alone, so the order can change. Tell your driver in the morning. The price covers the car and the driver. Entrances, the boat at Los Tres Ojos, lunch and drinks are paid on the day. A guide is not included, but licensed guides can be hired in the Colonial Zone.
On your own, or with a car
The Colonial Zone is easy to walk on your own. The lighthouse and Los Tres Ojos are the harder part, because they are on the far side of the river from the old town and the hotels in Gazcue and Piantini. A car takes care of the crossings and the waits, and leaves you free to spend the time where you choose.
The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page. If you only have a morning or an afternoon, the half-day Colonial Zone tour covers the old town without the east bank.
What to bring and wear
- Shoes with a good grip, for the cobbles and the cave steps.
- Clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. The cathedral is a working church.
- Sun cream, a hat and water.
- Cash or a card for the entrances, and local cash for the boat and small purchases.
In the Alcázar, the museum asks you not to touch the pieces, not to use flash and not to take food or drink into the rooms. Before you fly, complete the free immigration e-ticket online. Every passenger entering or leaving the Dominican Republic needs one.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits a first visit with one free day, and families who want the caves as well as the history.
- Someone finds stairs hard. Los Tres Ojos is reached only by stone steps, down and back up. They can wait at the top while the rest of the group goes down. Tell us when you book.
- You land that morning. A 07:00 start after a night flight is hard. Take the tour the next day and let us meet you with our airport transfers.
- You are more than 16. Two vehicles travel together on one booking. Message us for a price.
Questions people ask
Can we see the lighthouse lit up at night?
Not on this tour, which ends in the afternoon. And the cross of light has been out of service.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Choose a day from Tuesday to Sunday, wear shoes for steps, and bring cash for the boat. Our guide to day trips from Santo Domingo compares this with the other four. The timings and what is included are on the Colonial Zone, Los Tres Ojos and Columbus Lighthouse private tour page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
