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Faro a Colón (Columbus Lighthouse) is a cross-shaped monument and mausoleum in eastern Santo Domingo. Entry costs 200 DOP (≈$3.50 USD). It opens Tuesday–Sunday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. The lighthouse is 5 km from Los Tres Ojos and is usually visited on the same half-day tour.
What Is Faro a Colón?
Faro a Colón (Columbus Lighthouse) is a cross-shaped concrete monument completed in 1992 to mark the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the Americas. It is located in the Barrio Villa Duarte, just 5 km from Los Tres Ojos National Park. The structure is 246 metres long and houses a series of exhibition halls, a chapel, and — most famously — the claimed tomb of Christopher Columbus.
The Columbus Tomb Controversy
The Faro a Colón claims to hold the genuine remains of Christopher Columbus. However, the Cathedral of Seville in Spain makes the same claim. DNA tests in 2006 confirmed that the Seville remains match Columbus’s family DNA. The Santo Domingo authorities dispute this, and the case remains officially unresolved. Regardless of where Columbus actually rests, the Faro’s ornate mausoleum chamber is impressive and worth seeing.
Entry Price, Hours, and What to Expect Inside
- Entry fee: 200 DOP (approximately $3.50 USD)
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Closed: Monday
- Photography: permitted throughout; no flash inside the tomb chamber
- Duration: allow 30–45 minutes
- Accessibility: mostly flat and wheelchair accessible
Inside you’ll find: the Columbus mausoleum, exhibition halls with artefacts from the 15 Caribbean and Latin American nations that contributed to its construction, a small chapel, and the lighthouse mechanism itself. The building’s exterior is one of the most photographed in Santo Domingo — particularly when the cross-shaped beam of light is projected skyward on national holidays.
Combining Faro a Colón with Los Tres Ojos
These two sites are 5 km apart — about 10 minutes by taxi or tour bus. Most half-day tours of Santo Domingo visit both sites together, usually in this order: Colonial Zone → Faro a Colón → Los Tres Ojos. If visiting independently, a taxi between the two costs $4–$6 USD.
Getting to Faro a Colón
- From Colonial Zone: $8–$10 USD by taxi or Uber, 15–20 minutes
- From Los Tres Ojos: $4–$6 USD by taxi, 10 minutes
- From SDQ airport: $6–$8 USD by Uber, 12 minutes
- Address: Av. España s/n, Parque Mirador del Este, Santo Domingo Este
Book a Tour Including Faro a Colón and Los Tres Ojos
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ABOUT THIS GUIDE
Written by the Los Tres Ojos editorial team, local Santo Domingo travel writers with over 8 years of experience visiting, reviewing, and booking tours at Los Tres Ojos and across the Dominican Republic.
