The 15 Best Historical Tours in the Dominican Republic

1.Half Day Dominican Republic Cultural Tour : Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,862 reviews · from $60Our pick

Leave Punta Cana’s resorts for Higüey, where you’ll visit the basilica, market, a ranch, and local food producers. Swim at the Anamuya River, taste Dominican specialties, see cigars made by hand, and finish at Macao Beach. Guides such as Robinson, Franklin, Tito, and Sandy keep the day moving.

“Great tour. My guide was Francisco who was amazing. He made sure we were comfortable and did a great job of explaining many things throughout the tour. He is an excellent guide!!”

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2.Higuey Expedition Cultural & Historic Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 518 reviews · 270 minutes - 1 day · from $32

Leave Punta Cana for Higüey and the countryside with guides such as Teo or Danilo. Depending on your option, you’ll visit the Basilica, a food market, coffee and cocoa farms, a cigar workshop, Anamuya, Macao Beach, and a Dominican home, with small-group and open-truck choices.

“Trip was phenomenal. Start to finish. If you're looking for a immersive cultural experience in the heart of the Dominican Republic, this is the trip for you. All I have to say is, No Mickey Mouse!”

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3.History and Culture Tour with River Swim

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 275 reviews · 5 hours · from $31

Spend about five hours beyond Punta Cana’s resorts with a local guide such as Robinson, Francisco, or Wester. Visit a farm, taste coffee and cocoa, see Higüey Basilica and its market, eat Dominican food, watch cigar making, and finish at Macao Beach. Some options add horseback riding and the Anamuya River.

“This tour should be done by everyone coming to Punta Cana, to learn about this city and its people. It has so much to offer for the money you pay, the crew (Robison & co) are extremely kind and you get to do so many things, including seeing how coffee and cocoa are grown and produced as well as a cigars factory. Delicious lunch by the river is included as well as beautiful landscape. Totally recommend!”

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4.Historical Santo Domingo Day Trip from Punta Cana

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 176 reviews · from $95

Travel from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo with an art historian guide such as Sandro, Isaac, or Reynaldo. Visit the Alcázar de Colón, Cathedral of Santa María la Menor, Las Damas Street, Three Eyes National Park, and Colonial Zone, with buffet lunch and hotel transfers included.

“This was, by far, the best excursion we have been on. Our guide, Sandro, was incredible and very knowledgable. He seamlessly switched from Spanish to English. Santo Domingo was beautiful and I highly recommend visiting!”

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5.Colonial Zone: Historical Tour with a visit to the Columbus Lighthouse and Tres Ojos Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 157 reviews · 2 - 9 hours · from $5Best value

Visit Los Tres Ojos National Park, the Columbus Lighthouse, and Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone with a Spanish or English-speaking guide. Walk Calle Las Damas, see the First Cathedral and Alcázar de Diego Colón, and sample water and mamajuana. Pickup is available from major Punta Cana and Bávaro hotels.

“The best tour in the country, Ricardo's attention was incredible, the tour in the Colonial Zone is an experience full of very interesting stories.”

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6.Full Day Santo Domingo City Tour: History of the Caribbean From Punta Cana

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 78 reviews · from $64

Travel from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo for Tres Ojos caves, Faro Colón, Alcázar de Colón, the first cathedral in the Americas, and two hours in the Colonial Zone. Guides such as Victor, Miguel, Leo, and Mike receive strong praise, but pickup delays and a long van ride are part of the deal.

“The pickup seemed to have been arranged at the last minute, handed off to a disinterested looking individual, long drive to Santo Domingo and back was worth it. The guide at SD was again uninterested, mumbled English but we saw the basics. It's a quality issue. Great value.”

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7.Discover Santo Domingo: Colonial History, Monuments & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 73 reviews · 11 hours · from $81

Spend 11 hours traveling from Punta Cana to Santo Domingo by air-conditioned coach, with a guide, buffet lunch, and entry to Three Eyes National Park. Walk the Colonial Zone from Diego Columbus Palace along Plaza de España and Calle Las Damas, then see the cathedral, Pantheon, Fortaleza, Columbus Lighthouse, and other major sights.

“Die schlechteste Tour, die ich je mitgemacht habe. Wenn man Minussterne vergeben könnte, würde ich dies tun. Man wird von Touriabzocke zu Touriazocke geführt. Sieht fast nichts von Santo Domingo, hauptsächlich die Abzock Läden. (ca 40% der Zeit). Dem Tourguide sollte man Trinkgeld in einer Seitenstraße geben, warum auch immer. Nicht empfehlenswert, würde ich nichtmal kostenlos mitmachen. Komplette Zeit- und Geldverschwendung. Man hat am ganzen Tag nur ein Glas zu trinken bekommen, was ich auch recht wenig finde.”

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8.Half-Day Historic and Cultural Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 70 reviews · 3h 30m · from $45

See Puerto Plata with guides such as Yeury, Aribel, Darwin, and Junior Gomez. Visit Umbrella Street, the pink Doña Blanca passage, San Felipe Cathedral, rum and cigar makers, chocolate and amber shops, the fortress, and scenic viewpoints in a clean, air-conditioned vehicle.

“A great day in Puerto Plata. Jammed packed with a variety of stops, we did so much but didn’t feel rushed or pressured to buy anything. Our tour guide Yeury was delightful and took great pictures for us. Pick up and drop off was at the port taxi area. Great communication, comfortable air conditioned van, such a value, perfect day.”

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9.Santo Domingo Cultural Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 61 reviews · from $89

Spend about 5.5 hours exploring Three Eyes National Park, the Columbus Lighthouse, Santo Domingo’s Colonial City, museums, and Las Damas Street. Guides such as Miguel, Leo, Francisco, and Johny lead the experience in English and Spanish, with a Dominican buffet lunch included.

“It was an amazing experience and I recommend everyone that comes to Santo Domingo to do it. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly and he made sure we had a great time.”

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10.Full day Historical Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 46 reviews · 4 hours · from $75

See Santo Domingo’s Three Eyes caves, Presidential Palace, Faro a Colón, and Colonial Zone museums with a Spanish- or English-speaking guide. Your $75 includes transport, entry tickets, local lunch, and souvenir-shop time. Guides have included Chala, Victor, Francisco, Andrés, and Pascual.

“La actitud, conocimiento, y expresión de don Andrés el guía fue extraordinario. Hubo un problema con el servicio de transporte, no llegaron a la hora indicada y el tour lo iniciamos tarde, las comidas deliciosas y los restaurantes muy bonitos”

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11.Historical City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 42 reviews · 4 hours · from $105

Spend four hours with a private guide such as José, Luis, or Samuel Solomon in Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone. Enter the cathedral, Ozama Fortress, Pantheon, and selected museums, then walk Calle Las Damas and other colonial streets. English, Spanish, and German tours are available.

“Amazing guide! Had a great time walking the colonial city and learning about the history of Santo Domingo.”

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12.City tour through the historic old town

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 34 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $40

Walk Puerto Plata’s old town with a German, Spanish, or English-speaking guide. You’ll visit the Macorix rum house, La Chocolatería, Umbrella Street, Independence Park, a cigar factory, Fort San Felipe, and the old railway station. Melvis is one guide praised for clear, kind explanations.

“We had really a huge problem to find the guide (who wanted to communicate only by Whatsapp we do both not have). The description of his outfit that should help us to recognize him was totally wrong. Even none of the local guides at the meeting point was more clever looking at the tour voucher then us. I was already quite nervous when he finally came. But, after this initial chaos, everything continued OK. We saw all interesting things in Puerto Plata (is not so much), he even managed to show me the interior of the cathedral that was officially closed for visitors due to the Christmass preparations. The visit…”

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13.Punta Cana Cultural Tour History and Traditions Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 20 reviews · 8 days · from $53

Travel from Punta Cana to Higüey for a Basilica visit, public market, crafts, coffee, cocoa and tobacco demonstrations, horseback riding, Anamuya River swimming, local food, and Macao Beach. Guides may include Robinson, Francisco, or Martinez, with pickup and a private group.

“Lots of variety of activities put together to make an experience, but lots of getting in and out of the van - and some aspects were disappointing. Eg. church closed, music in van too loud - would have like more history of the DR and the church, etc - we had to ask for info. Horses were ok - trail was down right scary - if I had fallen off would have been a disaster- was mucky, poopy and rocky!! Cigar rolling/factory was the best”

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14.Santo Domingo Historical City Tour: Explore the Heritage

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 15 reviews · 5 hours · from $80

Spend five hours exploring Santo Domingo with hotel pickup, a guide, lunch, and entry to key sights. Walk Calle Las Damas, visit the cathedral and Alcázar de Colón, see the National Palace, Three Eyes National Park, and Columbus Lighthouse. Confirm your guide’s language before booking.

“Todo excelente 👌 Leo el guia un profesional A1 A todo lugar que viajo sin dudarlo tomo los servicios turísticos de GERYOURGUIDE. Felicitaciones a su equipo.”

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15.Puerto Plata Tour: History, Culture and Cable Car Ride

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 11 reviews · 7 hours · from $73

Spend seven hours exploring Puerto Plata with a multilingual guide, visiting San Felipe Fortress, the Amber Museum, and Mount Isabel by cable car. Expect ocean views, botanical gardens, a Christ statue, Dominican lunch, and possible rum, chocolate, or cigar-factory stops.

“j'ai mis une note très bien, malgré que l'excursion vendue soit incomplète. En effet le téléphérique ne fonctionne pas en ce moment, ce qui rend l’excursion beaucoup moins intéressante.”

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