Bathing in the natural springs of the Ojos Indigenas ecological reserve

Located in the luxury Puntacana Resort & Club complex, the Ojos Indigenas ecological park, literally 'the park of indigenous eyes', is owned and maintained by the Grupo Puntacana Foundation. They operate Punta Cana airport, as well as the three hotels on site: Tortuga Bay, The Westin Punta Cana and the Four Points By Sheraton.

The reserve and the ecological foundation were created in 1988 for educational, scientific and leisure purposes. The impressively biodiverse forest is home to numerous bird species, iguanas and 500 plant species, 36% of which are endemic.

Punta Cana's beaches are fine for five minutes, but a bit of peace and quiet in a leafy spot in the middle of nature never hurts! There is such a place, and it's not far away: just head to the Punta Cana Club Resort. Here, charming hiking trails wind through lush tropical forest to a series of 12 crystal-clear freshwater lagoons.

You can hear the woodpeckers hitting the tree trunks! After a pleasant walk through the jungle, how about a refreshing dip in a natural spring hidden in the middle of the forest? It's impossible to resist this crystal-clear freshwater fed by rivers and rain, where you can swim with fish, prawns, crabs and turtles! It's a paradise!

Of the five lagoons where you can swim, one is particularly famous for its wooden deck and diving board. It's just a 15-minute walk through the forest. Right next door, be sure to visit the Punta Cana Ecological Foundation to find out about its bee-keeping projects and taste some Punta Cana honey!

The estate is home to three hotels offering free access to the ecological reserve: Tortuga Bay, The Westin Punta Cana and the Four Points By Sheraton. We are in the heart of Punta Cana Village, close to the main shopping area with bars, restaurants, boutiques, supermarkets, an international school, a medical centre and banks. As a bonus, you have access to the magnificent Playa Blanca, numerous restaurants, the Six Senses spa, two golf courses and a host of other facilities.

👛 How much does it cost?

The park is open to the public outside the resort, for an entrance fee of US$50 (it's free if you're staying at one of the Punta Cana Resort and Club hotels).

⏰ What are the opening times?

The park is open from 8am to 5pm.

🚌 How do you get to the reserve?

Located between Punta Cana airport and the Cap Cana marina, it's easy to get there by taxi. On site, electric buggies provide transfers as the distances are long, but it's also fun to get around on a segway!

👉 How do I book?

You can visit the site directly or send an email to fgpc@puntacana.com to book a 1h30 guided tour, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 9am to 12pm. More information on the official website.