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Santo Domingo Tour

Get to know all the corners of our capital city

  • Plaza de españa historic
  • Cristobal Colon excursion santo domingo
  • Excursion santo domingo capital
  • Museum of the royal houses
  • Catedral Santo Domingo Royalty Republica dominicana
  • Plaza de la bandera Santo Domingo

Tour Santo Domingo

Welcome to the capital of the Dominican Republic! Santo Domingo de Guzman, at the mouth of the Ozama River, is one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean.

The capital is home to the first cathedral and the first castle in the Americas, both declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Its historical character as the capital of the Indies during the terms of Christopher and Bartholomew Columbus, among others, attracts a million tourists each year.

The population of Santo Domingo is 4 million inhabitants, making it the most populous city in the country and the second most populous in the Caribbean. Its special status within the National District means that it is the seat of the Dominican Republic's parliament, now democratic but formerly occupied by such despot dictators as Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. As you can see, Santo Domingo is a cultural visit without precedent.

A trip to Santo Domingo is worthwhile for families with children, couples or friends, as the possibilities in such a large city are endless. The Colonial Zone, the old historic center of the city, is the perfect place for a cultural experience. Columbus Park is one of the meeting points of the area, and a great place to sit on a terrace and have a drink.

Why shouldn't you miss this tour?

A trip to Santo Domingo is something you can't miss if you want to get to know one of the most vibrant capitals in the Caribbean. The joy of its people, the culture that can be seen in every corner of the city and the Latin rhythm that can be enjoyed in its streets, make the Dominican capital a special place.

Santo Domingo is one of the first cities where the Spanish colony settled. It is of great interest to visit its hidden corners to know and understand its past, present and even its future.

On the other hand, places like the Boca Chica beach or the Tres Ojos Lake, will make you see that not everything in this city is the work of human beings, but that nature also plays a very important role for Dominicans.

So, this is an activity that you cannot miss during your vacations in the Dominican Republic.

Duration of excursion: 7 hours

Departure time: 07:00 a.m.

Hotel pick up

Every day

Itinerary of the Santo Domingo Tour in Dominican Republic

  • 07:00 – Pick up from your hotel to the meeting point. Remember the pick up time depends on the area where you are in Punta Cana.
  • 08:30 – Departure from the meeting point.
  • 10:30 - During the day we will visit different places by bus with a guide:
    • Tres Ojos National Park (Three Eyes): in its cave you will find one of the most important tourist destinations in the park, the fresh water lake that rests inside.
    • Columbus Lighthouse: monument and museum dedicated to Christopher Columbus, discoverer of the New World.
    • Colonial City: historical and leisure center of Santo Domingo.
  • 13:30 – Lunch time where you’ll taste the typical Dominican food in a restaurant in colonial zone Santo Domingo. After lunch we will visit some of the most important buildings in Santo Domingo:
    • Alcazar de Colon or Viceroyal Palace of Don Diego Colon.
    • Cathedral of Santa Maria.
    • Amber Museum.
    • Museum of Rum.
    • Museum of the Royal Houses.
  • 16:00 - Return to Punta Cana.

On this tour you can take the opportunity to buy some souvenirs in the stores in the historic center of Santo Domingo. Colonial zone is a perfect place for this.

* The times indicated above may vary

History of the city of Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo is the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in the Americas and a must-see destination for tourists visiting the Dominican Republic. Every day it receives thousands of visits from tourists, who stay in its all-inclusive hotels, take tours of its streets and go on hundreds of excursions. It is located just under 200 kilometers from Punta Cana airport and 125 km from La Romana.

Originally called Santo Domingo de Guzman, the city was founded in 1496, when Bartholomew Columbus moved the Spanish settlers from what is now Luperon in search of a place with better conditions.

From there, the expansion of Spain was organized, founding courts and administration offices at the beginning of the 16th century. In 1989, Santo Domingo was kidnapped by pirates, who even took the church bells when they received the ransom they demanded.

In 1795 Santo Domingo came under French rule, which had taken over half of the island of Hispaniola and was advancing until it was completely occupied. But the African slaves brought by the French rebelled and expelled them, capturing Santo Domingo. The Dominicans managed to defeat the Haitians and in 1844 the Dominican Republic became independent, with Santo Domingo as its capital.

In the 20th century, the dictator Rafael Trujillo changed the name of the capital to "Trujillo City", until 1961, when it regained its name again, this time without the previous "de Guzmán".

Today, Santo Domingo is a major international tourist destination, and visitors express their opinion that history is breathed in every corner.

What can you do on the Santo Domingo tour?

As we have already mentioned, the colonial area of Santo Domingo is the main historical and cultural site of the Dominican Republic.

Nearby is the Conde Street, a pedestrian promenade where there is a wide variety of stores where you can buy souvenirs for your return to Punta Cana. We always recommend our clients to bring cash for these purchases.

This tour, although very urban, also includes nature. In the Tres Ojos National Park you will be able to feel what those first discoverers like Christopher Columbus or his brother Bartholomew Columbus felt when they arrived to port and discovered the nature of Hispaniola. In its interior, three lakes of turquoise waters welcome us in a place that was a settlement of the Taino people.

From here the road will take us directly to the bustle and life of Santo Domingo, where we will begin our visit to the colonial area. The first building that will call your attention will be the cathedral of Santa María la Menor, symbol of the first steps taken by the Catholic Church on the island. From there we can go on to see the Columbus lighthouse or the Museum of Modern Art, but the cultural options are countless among its streets.

Recommendations for the tour of Santo Domingo:

The important thing is the desire to know the capital of the Dominican Republic, but we also recommend you to bring the following:

  • Comfortable clothes and shoes to visit the tourist attractions of Santo Domingo.
  • Camera to take the best memories of the capital.
  • Sunglasses.
  • Cap or hat to protect us from the sun's rays.
  • Sunscreen.
  • Money in cash to buy souvenirs.

Traveler Reviews

"Good attention during the reservation process and better service. Jackson was very kind from the beginning. We were able to get to know the city and its monuments. A very complete day !!"
Samantha Cooper
JackCana Tours Client
"We booked the excursion to Santo Domingo and Saona with Jackcana. Both were correct, taking the corresponding security measures at all times."
Arturo Sánchez
JackCana Tours Client
"Santo Domingo is a beautiful city!! The tour was up to the task and the guides were very educational. I didn't give it a better score because we had a slightly unfriendly driver."
Lydia Ordoñez
JackCana Tours Client
Julia Williams
María Smith
Vanesa Gil

Is there free cancellation of the activity?

Yes. You can cancel the tour for free 24 hours in advance. From that date, we will not accept any type of cancellation, since the guided tours will be prepared to be carried out in groups with your presence. It is our way of guaranteeing excellent quality in all the experiences and activities that we will carry out in Santo Domingo.

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