Columbus Lighthouse, Los Tres Ojos and Boca Chica Day Tour

Columbus Lighthouse (Faro a Colón)

The first stop of the day is the Columbus Lighthouse in Santo Domingo Este, a vast stepped monument in the shape of a cross, opened in 1992 to mark five hundred years since the first Spanish voyage to the Americas. It stretches for more than two hundred metres and its grey concrete walls rise towards a central chamber that holds a mausoleum said to contain the explorer's remains.

On this tour the lighthouse is a 30-minute photo stop: you walk around the esplanade and the outside of the monument while your guide tells its story, from the design competition of the 1920s to the powerful lights that can project a cross into the night sky. Entrance to the museum inside is not included. The stop is a useful introduction to the history of the capital before the day turns to nature and beaches.

Los Tres Ojos National Park

Los Tres Ojos, the Three Eyes, is the highlight of this Santo Domingo day tour. The park protects a series of open limestone caves where the roofs collapsed long ago, leaving deep pools of fresh water framed by stalactites, ferns and hanging vines. Stone steps lead down into the caves, and each lake has its own colour and mood, from clear green to almost black, depending on depth and minerals.

You spend about two hours here with your guide, walking past the three main lakes and then boarding a small boat to cross to the fourth lake, a large open cenote surrounded by tropical forest. The boat ride is included in the tour. Swimming is not allowed in any of the lakes, but the scenery makes this one of the most photographed places in the Dominican Republic, and many visitors call it the most surprising sight in the capital.

La Caleta, a Secluded Local Beach

After a short drive east, with a stop at a local café on the way, the tour reaches La Caleta, a small cove beside the protected La Caleta Underwater National Park. This stretch of coast is known among divers for its coral reefs and for a ship deliberately sunk offshore in the 1980s to form an artificial reef. The beach itself is small and used mostly by local families, which gives it a relaxed, authentic feel.

You have about an hour here to swim in clear blue-green water over a rocky seabed. For the adventurous, there is a low rocky ledge to jump from into the sea, while others prefer to float or rest in the shade. Water shoes are useful because of the rocks. It is a welcome contrast to the busier beaches and a chance to see where people from Santo Domingo go for a quick swim.

Boca Chica Beach

Boca Chica is the most famous beach near Santo Domingo, about thirty kilometres east of the city. A coral reef offshore shelters a wide, shallow lagoon, so the water is usually calm, warm and safe for wading, even for children. Coconut palms line the pale sand, and small beachfront kitchens serve fresh seafood to locals and visitors alike, especially at weekends.

On this tour Boca Chica is your lunch stop: you sit down to a plate of fried fish right on the beach, a Dominican seaside classic, followed by about two hours to swim and relax. Beach activities and loungers are not included and can be arranged locally if you wish. If you are wondering how to get to Boca Chica from Santo Domingo without a car, this day trip is the easiest answer, with transport there and back included.