Colonial Zone Tour: Explore Historic Santo Domingo

Embark on a half-day tour of historical Santo Domingo, exploring caves, colonial architecture, and iconic landmarks. Discover the caves of the three eyes, visit the Columbus Lighthouse, presidential palace, and the colonial zone. Enjoy a delicious Dominican lunch and browse local product stores.

Duration: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • The 3 Eyes National Park - In this national park, you’ll discover one of the city’s best-kept natural secrets: its four lakes:
  1. Sulfur Lake: The first lake visible upon entry, named for the whitish substance at its bottom, which was once thought to be sulfur.
  2. Ladies’ Lake: Named because it was once a spa reserved for women due to its discreet…
What's Included
  • Lunch
What's Not Included
  • Alcoholic Beverages
Additional Information

We begin with a meeting at the starting point coordinated with our operator until we reach the 1st point: Las Cuevas de los Tres Ojos, where you will explore its underground wonders with an expert guide. We will have a stop at the Gran Faro a Colón to take incredible photos, inaugurated by Pope John Paul II and we will visit the great Presidential…

Location
The 3 Eyes National Park
Avenida Las Americas, Parque Nacional del Este
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.0
(52 Ratings)
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Jorge
Oct 23, 2024
Wonderful Experience - We went with M&E Tours, and had a terrific time. They picked us up and agreed we’re taken on tour of Santo Domingo’s historic places. El Faro Colon, Palacio Nacional, etc. Our guide’s name was “Miguelon,” what a wonderful guy, very professional and friendly, to say the list “one of the family.” We are very pleased and do recommend M&E Tours and of course, Miguelon. Blessings and all the best.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
447conchip
Oct 12, 2024
Cultural Santo Domingo Tour - Today, I had the opportunity to take this tour and explore the Three Eyes cave, the mausoleum and the colonial area of Santo Domingo, and it was an unforgettable experience. The cave, with its impressive lagoons of crystal clear waters, left me in awe. The Guide shared fascinating facts about the geological formation and history of the place, which further enriched the visit. After the cave, we headed to the mausoleum, where I was lucky enough to witness a ceremony as it was race day here in the Dominican Republic and then we strolled through the colonial area, where every street and building tells a story. Colonial architecture is simply beautiful, and local restaurants and shops bring a special charm to the atmosphere. You can’t miss the Primate Cathedral of America and the Alcázar de Colón; they are mandatory stops. The combination of nature and culture on this excursion is perfect. I recommend taking a camera to capture the beauty of every corner. Definitely a wonderful experience!! Thank you!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Juanjose_v
Sep 3, 2024
A Must when in Santo Domingo - A MUST when in Santo Doming!. In just four hours the main historic sites are covered and enjoyed a nice lunch buffet. Driver and Guide provided a professional and personalized experience. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Jesus_i
Aug 21, 2024
Thank You - Had a great time! The tour allows you to see a little bit of everything and learn more about the area, the history, the culture. Our guide was Miguel/Mike. The caves were great but prepare for some heat and steps. There was some down time in between attractions for some shopping etc so we used that time to bar hop. The place for lunch was nice and had AC.
Review provided by Viator
Mvmasa
Jul 15, 2024
2 Central Americans by Santo Domingo - Excellent tour, exceeded our expectations and despite the remodeling of the Colonial Area was excellent the way Miguel attended us. More than recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nathan_h
Sep 19, 2024
Good tour for learning the history of Santo Domingo - Only reason I'm giving 4 stars. Abyta Hotel on the pickup list needs to be removed. It was my choosen place to be picked up and turns out rhe hotel is closed. Apart from that, the tour was fun. We got to see some pretty cool museums and learned some history of the city.
Review provided by Viator
James_d
Sep 15, 2024
Thank goodness for Leo - Leo was a terrific guide. Small group of 8 people, from US, Germany, UK, Ecuador, and Guatemala. The Europeans were big downers, and chain-smokers. Put a damper on things for the rest of us. But again, Leo was awesome, with explanations in both Spanish and English. Slightly disorganized at the start when an Uber picks you up at hotel and brings you to first park, which is the meeting place. The driver literally said, ask for Elvis. Problem is, there were 50 random people standing around and a gift shop lorded over by locals trying to sell you their crap. All we wanted to do was find Elvis, apparently. We asked another guy, who turned out to know Elvis. He called Elvis, who called Leo, who came over to meet us. Very disconcerting at first being dropped in a busy parking lot in a foreign country, not speaking the language, and not even knowing who the hell we were trying to find. Leo put us in an Uber to go back to our hotel at the end of the day as we were the only ones in Santo Domingo; everyone else was going back to Punta Cana. All worked out in the end, and it was a great tour.
Review provided by Viator
Jose
Aug 17, 2024
Do not waste your money!!! - If you are going to take this tour, make sure of the time because otherwise you will have to wait 30 minutes in the heat waiting for the group coming from Punta Cana. The guide focused more on talking to women(they weren't even part of the tour) than explaining. In addition, you don't stop for a long time in the indicated places, they don't even stop at the Colón lighthouse, they make you take the picture from the minibus. So if they really care and take the time it's that you buy in the gifts shop, the food is really bad. I don't recommend that you pay $89 dollars if you're not even going to enjoy it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marguerite_p
Aug 19, 2024
Horrible and Unsafe Experience - The tour bus failed to pick me up at the designated spot and time. Then proceeded to continuously lie to me and insist that I was not at the appointed spot. I was waiting at the front of the JWMarriot at 9:50a.m. (the scheduled time was 10 am). The doorman witnessed my presence. The tour bus simply NEVER arrived. I still missed a great deal of the tour, after the hotel receptionist helped me and insisted that Viator send an Uber for me. More insults awaited me when the tour guide repeatedly accused me of not being at the pick up spot, and tried to leave me on my own to call my own taxi at the end of the trip. I had to become very insistent and unpleasant before the guide agreed to call an uber for me. I felt unsafe and was repeatedly verbally assaulted during this event. It was a horrible experience. I had specifically been clear when making the reservation that I was a woman traveling alone and needed to me picked up and dropped of at my hotel in order to feel safe. Viator FAILED on all counts. I believe that I should be given a full refund, and even that would not make up for ruining my one free day to visit Santo Domingo. I have never been treated so disrespectfully by a company I had paid to take care of me.
Review provided by Viator
Shawn_d
Jul 8, 2024
Ruined my day - I was never picked up for my excursion and I'm waiting for my refund. Terrible ruined my whole day. I will never book here again.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
December 2024
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