When Los Tres Ojos opens
Los Tres Ojos opens daily during the morning and stays open through the afternoon. Times shift slightly on public holidays, so treat the early slot as your safest bet. Arriving soon after opening means quieter caves and better light on the lagoons. For the current schedule and seasonal notes, check our detailed Los Tres Ojos opening hours page.
The best time slot to visit
The first hour after opening is the sweet spot. Tour groups tend to arrive mid-morning, so the early window gives you the caves with far fewer people. The turquoise colour of the water is also strongest when daylight reaches the lagoons at the right angle, which happens early in the day.
How tickets and tours work
There are two ways in. You can pay at the gate, or you can book a guided visit in advance. A guided visit usually includes the walk through the limestone caves, the short raft crossing and swimming time, with a local guide who explains the geology and history. For a full breakdown of costs and what each option includes, see the ticket price guide.
| Option | Includes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pay at the gate | Park entry, self-guided walk | Spontaneous visits |
| Guided visit booked ahead | Guide, cave walk, swimming time | Most visitors |
What is included inside
- The nature walk, a short trail through tropical forest down to the caves
- The cave system, with the four lagoons and limestone formations
- The raft crossing, a small boat that reaches the open-air fourth lagoon
- Swimming time, where permitted, with life jackets provided
Curious what each of those lagoons actually looks like? Our guide to what to see at Los Tres Ojos walks through the highlights, and you can read about each pool on the four lagoons page.
Plan the rest of your day
Los Tres Ojos takes about 1.5 hours including the walk, which leaves plenty of time to pair it with the nearby Colonial Zone. See our one-day plan for an easy way to combine both.
Book the early slot
Reserve a guided Los Tres Ojos visit and start your day before the crowds. Free cancellation on most options.
Frequently asked questions
Los Tres Ojos is open every day, generally from the morning through the afternoon. Hours can vary on holidays, so the most reliable plan is to arrive shortly after opening when the caves are quietest. See our opening hours page for the current schedule.
The first slot after opening is best. There are fewer people inside the caves and the natural light reaching the lagoons is at its most vivid in the morning, which makes the turquoise water photograph better.
You can pay at the entrance, but booking a guided visit in advance secures your spot, includes the cave walk and swimming time, and often comes with free cancellation. It is the simplest option for visitors who want everything arranged before they arrive.
