Three Eyes National Park
The breathtaking Los Tres Ojos (The Three Eyes) National Park is aΒ natural reserve located in the capital of the Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo. It is an open air cave system that houses three crystal clear turquoise lakes/lagoons.Β It was definitely one of the top things we did during our time in Santo Domingo and we would highly recommend a trip here!
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The cave system was previously used by the TaΓno population,Β as a place of refuge or to carry out their spiritual rituals. The lakes were formed thousands of years ago due to tectonic movements causing part of the cave ceiling to collapse. The depressions then filled with water to create the separate oval pools, giving each one a different mineral composition and unique turqouise colours earning them their name of ‘the eyes.’
To reach the The Three Eyes National Park you can easily get from La Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo to the park by car. We used Uber which cost around $3 and the journey took 10 minutes.
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When you get there you’ll find lots of tour guides waiting near the ticket kiosk. We heard a lot of them as they were taking people around and they definitely know their stuff! We just decided that we wanted the freedom and time to wander around and take pictures for as long as we wanted.
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Without a tour guide the park costs 200 Dominican Pesos
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Aguas Azufradas
The journey begins as you head down a set of steep stairs which open out into the cave system. As you descend you are met by the beautiful turquoise waters of the first lake, Aguas Azufradas.Β It’s honestly some of the bluest water we’ve ever seen and the way the sunlight glimmers on the surface and creates reflections is amazing to see.
Top Tip
It gets super muggy and humid down by the lakes so you can end up getting pretty sweaty. It’s best to wear light and comfortable clothing that you can move around easily in. It’s also a good idea to wear trainers or sturdy shoes as you are constantly going up and down stairs and, with the humidity it can get a bit slippy.
El Lago de las Damas
As you walk along the winding paths and staircases you reach the second lake. It is the shallowest of all three and is known as ‘the ladies lake’ as it was where women and children bathed and swam.
La Nevera
The third lake, La Nevera, takes you into the darkness of the caves. It is here that you can board a small wooden boat for 50 pesos and be pulled across the water to the other side. What lies waiting for you here is, in our opinion, the best part. There is a fourth lake named ‘Los Zaramagullones’ which is a gorgeous aqua colour pool of water surrounded by vegetation. It isn’t included with the ‘three eyes’ as it is a fresh water lagoon that sits outside of the cave system.
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Β You can also view this fourth lake from above. After you’ve finished inside the park, head back up the steps and you can wander around the circular opening looking down into the lake.Β
If you’re in Santo Domingo and have the time, Three Eyes National Park is definitely worth visiting! It’s easy to get to and a great price for the views inside the cave system. It was one of our favourite things to do and some of the prettiest lakes we’ve seen!
See Also
Top Things to do in Santo Domingo
A Day in Bourton-on-the-Water
