Day Trip to Santo Domingo from Punta Cana
Travel from Punta Cana to the oldest city in the Americas on this comprehensive Day Trip to Santo Domingo. Walk in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus, explore the Colonial Zone, Three Eyes Caves, and the Columbus Lighthouse, and discover the rich origins of Dominican culture and identity.
What You Will Discover
- Three Eyes National Park — explore underground caves with crystal-clear lagoons
- Columbus Lighthouse — the monumental resting place of the famous explorer
- Colonial Zone — a UNESCO World Heritage Site with cobblestone streets and 500-year-old architecture
- First Cathedral of the Americas — the oldest in the New World
- Panoramic tour of modern Santo Domingo — main avenues, commercial districts, and the presidential palace
- Typical Dominican lunch included with hotel pickup and drop-off
The Full-Day Itinerary
Your day starts with early morning pickup from your Punta Cana hotel. Travel in comfort along the southeastern coast toward the capital, arriving first at the Three Eyes National Park — a magical underground world of limestone caverns and pristine lagoons that feels like stepping into another realm.
Next, visit the Columbus Lighthouse (Faro a Colon), an enormous monument in the shape of a cross that houses the remains of Christopher Columbus. Your guide shares the fascinating and controversial history behind this landmark.
Continue through the modern city, passing major avenues, the commercial center, and the presidential palace, before arriving at the heart of the experience: the Colonial Zone. Here you will walk the same streets that Spanish conquistadors walked 500 years ago. Visit the First Cathedral of the Americas, admire the Alcazar de Colon, and soak in the atmosphere of plazas, fortresses, and colonial architecture. A traditional Dominican lunch caps off this enriching day before the return journey to Punta Cana.
Itinerary
During the visit to Santo Domingo, we will make a stop at Los Tres Ojos National Park, where we will make a tour of about 45 minutes, and we will visit the three Taino caves and the fourth lake. The Los Tres Ojos National Park played an important role in the life, culture and lifestyle of the Tainos. It is important to note that these caves played an important role in life, culture, and in the Taino religion. We will always do this guided tour, with a native of the area, who will give us every detail of what was visited there.
45 minIn our visit to the Colon lighthouse from outside the building we will observe the different countries that supported the initiative to create this monument. This visit is to the external part of the monument where we will take photos in this place with the mobile pope.
Pass byIn this place we will stop to take a photo of the Presidential House, which is a replica of the United States Capitol. This visit is to the outside of the Palace where we will also take a photo with the presidential guard.
Pass byThis is one of the most favorite places when visiting Santo Domingo where you can appreciate the warm and gentle breeze of the Caribbean and lose your sight in the Caribbean. In this place they will visit a small part of the Malecón, they will also use hammocks that we have here in this beautiful place. !That experience! ride the hammocks here on the boardwalk, remember your childhood, is priceless.
15 minHere in the Colonial Zone we will visit the following places: 1. Mugado Restaurant, to enjoy a delicious lunch. 2. We will visit Calles las Damas 3. Colon Park 4. Alcazar de Colon 5. First Cathedral of America 6. Plaza España 7. The pantheon of the Homeland 8. Souvenir Shop
120 minAgLa Calle Las Damas was the first street in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and America. Located in the Colonial City, it owes its name to the fact that at the beginning of the colony the ladies walked along that street, which is currently decorated with colonial tiles. This street has as attractions: Fortaleza Ozama, La Real Audiencia, Don Rodrigo de Bastidas' house (today the "Trampolín" children's museum), colonial houses (some with colonial shields) and at the end the Plaza España. Las Damas Street, was the first street created in the Colonial Zone, which was made during the government of Nicolás de Ovando, in this street it went from the Ozama Fortress or Torre del Homenaje, to the vicinity of the Alcázar, which were started around 1511. During colonial times, this street was called Calle de la Fortaleza, because the Ozama Fortress was located there. Here we will take a guided tour, learning about the culture and origin of this famous street.
10 minAgEl Parque Colón is one of the parks or historical squares of the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, which served as the main party center of the society of the colonial era. Currently the Parque Colón is used as the main center for cultural activities and is also part of the Santo Domingo World Heritage Site. This was the main entertainment center for the inhabitants of the time, since it gave life and splendor to the town of La Isabela, and its surroundings. The name of Plaza Mayor was given in honor of the Major Commander of the order of Nicolás de Ovando, who arrived in Santo Domingo in 1502. It owed its name even more, since this was in charge of moving the city to the western part of the Ozama River. We will also make our tour in this beautiful place and we will see hundreds of pigeons that adorn this area.
5 minThe Alcázar de Colón or Viceregal Palace of Don Diego Colón is a palace located in the Plaza de España in the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, which was built on a site near the cliffs that look towards the Ozama River, granted to Diego Colón, first-born son of the discoverer of America, Christopher Columbus, by King Ferdinand the Catholic, to build a home for himself and his descendants on the island of Hispaniola, which he arrived in 1509 as governor and where today The Alcazar de Colón Museum works. The Alcázar de Colón was built between 1511 and 1514, following the influences of the existing one in Mancera de Abajo, in Salamanca, Spain, of which ruins are still preserved. The name of the architect who carried out the building is unknown. Mostly Mudejar Gothic style. Here we will take a tour with an audio in your language, which explains step by step all the antiques in there.
30 minLocated in front of the Alcazar de Colón, this monumental square, also known as Plaza de la Hispanidad, is characterized by housing the statue of the founder of the city, Nicolás de Ovando, in the western part of the river. Also, in front of the historic royal houses you can see the sundial dated 1753. In this beautiful place we will take beautiful photos, as well as take a tour.
10 minAgre The building was one of the last buildings built by the Spanish on Dominican soil. The date of the beginning of its construction is not known with certainty but some historians suppose that it was between the years 1714 and 1755 and it is attributed to Jerónimo Quezada y Garçon. It originally served as a church of the Jesuit order. Here the Jesuit priests gave mass with their backs to the congregation so that everyone, including the priests, would face the figure of Jesus Christ and the altar. The National Pantheon has around 36 empty spaces to house future heroes. There is also an empty space without a plaque, dedicated to the unknown soldier. There is a permanent Honor Guard, made up of members of the Presidential Guard, in full dress, without moving a single muscle. One of them makes a solemn walk around the central aisle, which runs from the main entrance to just in front of the main altar.
10 minWhat's Included
- Non-alcoholic beverages
- Typical
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Not Included
- Alcoholic drinks
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
From
$55
per person
You'll be redirected to our booking partner
Duration
10 hours
Free Cancellation
Up to 24 hours before
Hotel Pickup Included
From your Punta Cana resort
Language
English, Spanish
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