El charco de los Militares is a natural pool of turquoise waters created by the course of a river. It is located in the middle of the jungle, so the contrast between the blue and the green creates a dreamlike scenery.
The best thing about Charco de los Militares is that it is located in a place that is not accessible by car, so it is a place to go to connect with nature in total solitude and enjoy a very quiet atmosphere.
It is not the only puddle, since on the route through the Dominican virgin forest you can find small "spas" preceded by waterfalls that make this trail a real adventure.
The excursion to the Charco de los Militares is preceded by a trail that lasts about 1 hour and a half. It is one of the easiest hikes in the area, with a drop of only 43 meters in height despite crossing a beautiful mountain landscape.
The total distance is 3 and a half kilometers, in which you will cross several waterfalls and lagoons of exceptional beauty, although the jewel in the crown is the pool of the military or the pool of God.
It is one of the most complete activities in the province of Puerto Plata, since you will cross not only the dense vegetation of the jungle, but also plantations full of sugar cane. Also here you will find the coffee route, so it will not be strange to meet this plant so typical of the Dominican Republic. In the plantations you will be able to learn about the totally ecological process used to produce this bean that ends up being an exquisite beverage.
Although it is a route of little difficulty, it is important that if you are going to do this excursion you do it following a series of recommendations.
First of all, we advise you to wear comfortable clothes for the excursion, having both short and long options in case the weather varies. It is also crucial to bring a bathing suit, since when you arrive at "Charco de los Militares" we are sure you will want to get into its waters.
Equally important is to wear comfortable shoes to be able to walk the trail. It is usually full of rocks and dirt, so it is essential that you have a good grip. Some booties can also help you, especially when you bathe in the pool of God, since the bottom is made of rocks.
Although the dense vegetation provides constant shade, it is a good idea to bring sunglasses and sunscreen to protect yourself in case of a very sunny day.
You will also need Dominican pesos in cash in case you want to buy coffee or other products from the local merchants.
Finally, if you love photography, don't forget to bring a GoPro-style action camera so you can take snapshots or record videos of the route and "the Militares puddle".
To get to "the Militares puddle" we must first know its location on the map. Its location is within the province of Puerto Plata, in the north of the country.
The closest cities are Puerto Plata and Santiago de los Caballeros, since the Charco de los Militares is located halfway between the two, on what is known as tourist road 25. From Santiago de los Caballeros we must stop well before the detour where we can go to Puerto Plata or Sosúa.
The closest town to the "pool of God" is Tubagua, which is from where you have to start walking. The trail is also part of the panoramic route, so you can't miss it.
Even so, if you want to do this excursion, we recommend that you contact us through the web form for more information.
If you want to do the route on your own, you can use our private transport to get to Tubagua.
We hope that you will be able to get to know this paradise on earth known as "El Charco de los Militares".
