Day Trip to Santo Domingo from Punta Cana

based on 502 reviews

Duration:10 hours (approx.)
Location: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

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During the tour that we will do in Santo Domingo, we will visit the main monuments and historical places of our country, so that you can learn about our origins, culture, and lifestyle.

Our tour in Santo Domingo begins in the Los Tres Ojos National Park, then we make a stop at the Colon Lighthouse, where the remains of Admiral Cristóbal Colon rest.

Then we will continue our tour of the new city of Santo Domingo and we will walk through the main streets and most important avenues, we will pass through the commercial area, Chinatown, and we will stop to take a photo at the presidential palace. from there we continue straight to the Malecón de Santo Domingo.

After all the aforementioned, we will stop in the colonial zone, where we will enjoy a typical lunch, here we recharge the batteries, by then we will start the tour throughout this old city, where we will visit the first cathedral in America, calle las damas, plaza España.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. The 3 Eyes National Park
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.
2. Columbus Lighthouse (Faro A Colon)
In 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.
3. Palacio National
In 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.
4. Malecon
This 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.
5. Zona Colonial
Here 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
6. Calle Las Damas
AgLa 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.
7.
AgEl 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.
8. Alcazar de Colon
The 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.
9.
Located 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. Panteon Nacional
Agre 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.

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Posted By : Stacie_V
Great stops and tour guide.
Quite educational and informative.
The bus was comfortable and clean.
Lunch was great a well, real Latin dishes.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-05 22:35:21

Posted By : Sonia F
I tecommend this tour. We visited Santo domingo city, the main cultural areas, the guide really explained everything in details. We ate a typical dominican dish. Be prepared for a long walk though, it is worth it :)
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-04 15:21:47

Posted By : CRYSTAL_G
I had to be picked up at 7AM because of hotel location when the add says 8AM. Driver didn't arrive until about 730. Once picked up and picked up others we went to a meeting place with no bathroom where we were put on buses to be transported to Santo Domingo. While on the tour we picked up multiple people that were not part of the initial tour and dropped off people in random places. We walked for at least an hour and all we heard about was Christopher Columbus. We stopped at 3 souvenirs places. Why? I will never know. What was initially a 2 hour ride was 3 hours on the way back due to dropping people off at random places. The tour guide did not complete sentences in one language before translating. When I would ask questions in English he would act like he didn't understand. I dont know what else to say. This was just horrible.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-02 20:39:37

Posted By : MonicaB513
It took us a long time to even get on the road, there is a lot of shuffling us around from one bus to another.
They were late picking us up.
The bus was comfortable and nice and cold, the tour guide was informative.
Santo Domingo itself was disappointing, the original street was very cool, and interesting. Other than that it was just an ok tour. The restaurant for lunch was tiny and the food was ok, they should really use another place with good air conditioning and bigger accommodations.
I’m glad I did it, but I likely wouldn’t do it again.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-06-02 09:50:51

Posted By : Shayla_W
The trip was super long and boring. The driver stayed on his cell phone the entire trip. The guy that was doing all the talking during the tour spoke Spanish the whole time maybe translated to English once or twice. On the way back we stop at a gas station for one of the ladies on the bus to buy a phone card, why did we have to wait. On the ride home one guy met us to take us to the hotel he didn’t speak English and he didn’t know how to get to our hotel room. Man a whole day wasted.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-31 10:50:07

Posted By : Lawrence_R
Over crowded bus ride. Sat in the last seat on the bus. Greed or chaos to fill up a bus that full. Magical chairs the entire trip and a Karen in front got mad because I wouldn't allow her to put her seat back on me. She actually went up front and had the weak knees tour steward come make sure I was telling the truth.

Over crowded lunch where the restaurant ran out of food. I called Uber to rescue me from the nightmare.
Avoid at all costs!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-28 13:11:53

Posted By : James_D
This excursion is worthwhile, however, it is helpful if you're expectations are set correctly. The challenges are mostly getting there and back. If you're not experienced with the way that tourists are collected and returned, be prepared for a number of transfers and delays. And if you go when the humidity and heat are high, bring lots of water. Learning about the culture and history is excellent and worth the challenges if you like these history and want to learn about DR's culture. Just be prepared for a long day if you're coming from Punta Cana.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-23 16:08:46

Posted By : John_H
This trip was diminished by the need to say everything twice...English and Spanish. It was very superficial in the information provided. As the guide said: for more information, use Google. I had plenty of photo opportunities. This trip, for me, was mostly intended to get a reliable ride and directions through Santo Domingo from Punta Cana. So, it was good. A bit longer than expected...a very long day.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-23 09:22:44

Posted By : Ana_N
First things first - this is an ALL DAY TRIP. LITERALLY ALL DAY (approx 8am-8pm from my own experience). Also this is NOT a private tour, so do not expect to be picked up on a private vehicle and head straight there. If that's what you want then please don't book this. Pay the extra money for a private tour.

We were supposed to be picked up at 730am at our hotel lobby. We were there by 720am. By 745am I was getting worried because they hadn't showed up yet. I had to reach out and the told me they were running late. We ended up getting picked up at 8am (could have slept in 30 more mins lol) there was a few other people on the van. They stopped at a gas station to consolidate all the vans with passengers from all hotels and put us all on a big bus. Stopped at a souvenir shop to use the restrooms, but of course they want you to buy things. This was actually the cheapest place we've been to buy things compared to everywhere else in punta cana.

Santo Domingo is farrrr from punta cana (2-3 hrs depending where you're staying/traffic) we stopped at the caves (Cenotes) it was beautiful but you cannot swim in these as they are protected. Here they also have a shop where they are pushy. Then we were back on the road. We stopped at a few different landmarks, like the place where Christopher Columbus remains are at (or were), the Palacio nacional and then a sign that says heart SD to take pictures. These were quickkkk stops, literally just for pictures. By this time it was almost 2pm and we were all hot and starving. We were then taken to our spot for lunch and finally ate around 230. Make sure you have a nice breakfast or take extra snacks or extra cash to purchase what you can at the shops they stop by. After lunch, the rest of the tour was walking. It was hot as heck!! But we got to see some of the history and it was nice to experience the DR outside of the resort. Our tour guide Ozuna was amazing and he was a trooper, he suffered through the heat with us with a huge smile on his face and no complaints. He was also always encouraging us to take pictures and would offer to take group pictures for everyone to have those memories. We stopped at yet another little store and I'm half cuz we were dying and bought some water and bottled drinks. At this point people were complaining lol this is no one's fault, it was just a very hot and longggg day. Again, this is an ALLLLL day trip. The drive back was about 2.5hrs with a bathroom stop at a gas station with a store where you can also purchase snacks or drinks..we were starving by this point as it was well past dinner time. We were switched to individual vans depending on where you're staying in punta cana and made to hotel around 8pm. This was an exhausting but memorable tour. We would have never known where to go within Santo Domingo. The logistics could improve but again, if you don't have the time but have the money- then save yourself hours of wasted time and book a private transfer.

For what its worth, I can't really complain!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-16 14:41:20

Posted By : Jonathan_M
A lot of interesting sites and knowledge gained. My favorite was the cave with the lakes. Would definitely go again!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-08 15:32:09