Botanical Garden & Old Town Santo Domingo
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Port
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$130
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Welcome to Santo Domingo. Founded at the beginning of the 16th century as the first capital of the New World, it is like stepping back into a living history book where the cobblestone streets whisper tales of colonial grandeur while modern neighborhoods pulse with vibrant energy. Today you’ll enjoy the oldest city in the Americas on a guided tour and take in some of its stunning flora at one of its prized gardens.
Departing from the port, you will head for the Malecon and the National Botanical Garden of Santo Domingo, which covers approximately two million square meters (21.5 million feet) – the largest in the Caribbean. The National Botanical Garden has the important mission of preserving the rich and varied Dominican flora and showing it to those who enjoy nature and the very pleasant tropical environment. It exhibits the natural flora of the island, and there are areas dedicated to palm trees, exotic plants, and orchids – the Dominican Republic is home to over 300 varieties.
At the Botanical Garden, you will enjoy an interesting one-and-a-half-hour tour, including a ride on the Botanical Garden train. You’ll quickly see that this is a quiet oasis in a busy city.
Afterward, continue to the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo (Old Town). This area is home to the most important monuments and iconic sites of the city and you’ll take an outside visit of the Ozama Fortress, the Royal Houses Museum, the Alcazar of Colon.
Finally, head to the Cathedral of Santo Domingo for an inside visit, followed by some leisure time for shopping at one of the souvenir shops in the area.