Many visitors associate cenotes with Mexico, but the Dominican Republic sits on the same Caribbean limestone shelf, and Punta Cana has its own collection of freshwater cenotes and lagoons worth seeking out beyond the beach.
Hoyo Azul (Scape Park, Cap Cana)
Hoyo Azul, or the Blue Hole, is the best known cenote in the Punta Cana area, located inside Scape Park in Cap Cana. Fed by underground springs rather than the sea, the cenote sits at the base of El Farallón, a 75-meter limestone cliff, with the lagoon itself reaching roughly 14 meters deep. Reaching the water involves a forest walk across a suspension bridge and past an orchid garden, and swimming is done with a mandatory life jacket. Many visitors combine the visit with Scape Park’s other attractions, including its zipline and Taíno caves.
Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve (Ojos Indígenas)
The Indigenous Eyes Ecological Reserve — named after the Taíno word for natural freshwater springs — protects twelve freshwater lagoons across 1,500 acres of tropical forest, several of which are open for swimming. These lagoons are smaller and shallower than Hoyo Azul, with clear, cool water and wooden decks for easy entry, making for a calmer, more low-key experience surrounded by forest rather than crowds. The reserve is run by the Puntacana Foundation and also includes conservation projects for the rhinoceros iguana and Ridgway’s hawk, along with shaded nature trails connecting the lagoons.
Both sites make for an easy half-day trip from the Punta Cana and Bávaro resort area, and offer a genuinely different side of the region’s natural beauty beyond its beaches. For more on the area’s wildlife and ecosystems, see our guide to flora and fauna in the Dominican Republic.