The History of Los Tres Ojos: From Taino Sanctuary to National Park
Geological Origin
The cave system sits in a porous limestone bedrock typical of the Caribbean. Over tens of thousands of years, slightly acidic groundwater carved out tunnels and chambers. When sections of the ceiling collapsed, the three open eyes were born: Aguas Azufradas, Aguas Claras and the deepest Lago de las Damas. The fourth lagoon, Los Zaramagullones, lies in an open sinkhole reachable only by raft.
Taino Heritage
Long before Columbus reached Hispaniola in 1492, the Taino people used the caves as a freshwater source and a place of ritual. Petroglyphs of zemis, Taino spirits, are still visible on some walls. Tainos believed the underground waters connected to Coaybay, the world of the ancestors. Cave water was used in ceremonies led by the behique, the village shaman.
Becoming a National Park
The Dominican Ministry of Environment officially declared Los Tres Ojos a National Park in 1972, embedded inside the larger Mirador del Este Park designed in the 1960s by architect Manuel Valverde Podesta. The protection covers 7 hectares of caves, dry forest, endemic ferns and the small population of bats that nest above the third lagoon.
Pop Culture and Cinema
Los Tres Ojos shot to international fame in the 1950s when several Tarzan films were partly filmed inside the cave system. Later, scenes from Anaconda 2 and the Spanish series El Internado used the lagoons as a backdrop. The wooden raft seen in Tarzan still operates as the only way to reach the fourth lagoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old are the Los Tres Ojos caves?
Geologists estimate the caves formed roughly 50,000 years ago through limestone erosion and ceiling collapse.
Did the Tainos really use these caves?
Yes, archaeologists found Taino petroglyphs and ceramic remains showing the caves were used for ritual and as a freshwater source.
When was Los Tres Ojos declared a National Park?
The Dominican government granted National Park status in 1972 to protect the cave system, flora and Taino heritage.