Lake Enriquillo (Lago Enriquillo)
Lake Enriquillo (Lago Enriquillo)
4.3
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
This rural 13-mile-long lake near the Haiti border is the lowest point in the Caribbean and is a popular tourist attraction for spotting crocodiles.
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4.3
56 reviews
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14
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Belkys H
Oakville, Canada28 contributions
Mar 2020
Lake Enriquillo is a beautiful, hot, and magic spot in the southwest of the Dominican Republic. It is the largest and most hypersaline lake in the Caribbean. The water in the lake can reach hypersaline levels up to 66% higher than sea water. It was previously called Lake Xaragua (Jaragua) after the Taino chiefdom in which it was located. The Lake was formed 10 million years ago when the north island, which was the area toward the Sierra the Neiba’s and the south island, which included Sierra del Bahoruco, le Massif de la Selle, and the Tiburon Peninsula in today Haiti - joined as result of earth movement that formed the Hispaniola island (see photo No. 2).
Although arid and harsh, the area is rich in wildlife. Among the fauna: the American flamingos, 61 other species of birds, three species of fishes, and American crocodiles. The Ricord’s and rhinoceros iguana are endemic species. The iguanas are the most welcoming of all the inhabitants in the area.
The flora is 10 % endemic and includes cacti, bayahonda, cambrón, guayacán, baitoa, cayucos, melón espinos, and many other species.
The journey to the Lake is as exciting as the destination. In our way we cross cities and small towns – San Cristobal, Bani, Azua, Tamayo, Galvan, Neiba, Postrer Rio, Los Rios, Villa Jaragua. During a big part of the trip, the majestic an imposing Sierra del Bahoruco made us company. The physical environment around the Lake is captivating and the sensation of being in a special place is worth the trip.
References: National Geographic, World Wildlife Fund, Parque Nacional Lago Enriquillo e Isla Cabritos.
Although arid and harsh, the area is rich in wildlife. Among the fauna: the American flamingos, 61 other species of birds, three species of fishes, and American crocodiles. The Ricord’s and rhinoceros iguana are endemic species. The iguanas are the most welcoming of all the inhabitants in the area.
The flora is 10 % endemic and includes cacti, bayahonda, cambrón, guayacán, baitoa, cayucos, melón espinos, and many other species.
The journey to the Lake is as exciting as the destination. In our way we cross cities and small towns – San Cristobal, Bani, Azua, Tamayo, Galvan, Neiba, Postrer Rio, Los Rios, Villa Jaragua. During a big part of the trip, the majestic an imposing Sierra del Bahoruco made us company. The physical environment around the Lake is captivating and the sensation of being in a special place is worth the trip.
References: National Geographic, World Wildlife Fund, Parque Nacional Lago Enriquillo e Isla Cabritos.
Written August 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ashwabay
Washburn, WI105 contributions
Apr 2013 • Family
This is a hypersaline lake that lies below sea level. Most tourist don't get to this end of the DR, so it is more secluded, and less developed; for better or worse. This is a large lake, and you can drive all the way around it. If you started in Barahona, the trip around the lake and associated excursions would be a full day. You can't visit this lake in a day trip from Santo Domingo, that is a 4-1/2 trip each way. The nearest tourist hotels are in Barahona, there are barebones hotels in some of the towns around the Lake.
One of the focal points of a visit to the Lake would be the Isla Los Cabritos National Park, that includes the island and a mainland portion just east of the town of La Descubierta (18.562972, -71.697639). Trip Advisor has a separate entry for the park under the name Goat Island (Isla Cabritos); check that entry as well. When we visited in April of 2013, they were not permitting
boat trips out to the island. It is hard to get current information about the park, but try to check ahead to see what is possible. We did take a boat trip around the La Descubierta shore area ($65/boat, 1-12 hour) which permits you to see crocodiles and other lake wildlife. Try to get going as early in the day as possible. When you get to the park, try to locate someone that can call and get a guide to come out if you want to go on the Lake, it will take about half an hour to pull a trip together. They had to use our cell phone to make the calls when we visited. There are many rhinoceros iguanas around the park headquarters. They sleep on the branches out over the water, and come ashore during the day. They will try to hit you up for a handout, they seeded to like animal crackers (plan ahead). When we were there they were busy building some structures at the park headquarters, I don't know if they will be administrative or for visitors (interpretive or lodging).
The crocs are at the mouth of a small river the comes into the Lake in the vicinity of La Descubierta (18.559722, -71.722306). You can also access this from a dirt road out of La Descubierta and walking a short distance down the river to the mouth on the Lake through pastures, Mango trees, and acacia savanna. The level on the Lake has been constantly rising the last 5 years, and the exact shoreline is always changing. Many palms and mangos have been inundated and died. The crocs we saw could be approached fairly closely, most were in the water close to shore, some were on the shore.
The Las Caritas petroglyphs (18.56, -71.687778), are just east of the park headquarters, and worth a visit up the short, but steep, trail.
There are some communal swimming holes in the treed park in La Descubierta. There is also the Balneario Las MarĂas (18.491528, -71.381111) east of Neyba, if you want to take a dip; replete with some food vendors.
If you have driven around the Dominican Republic you are familiar with the speed bumps. But the area around the Lake takes the crown for these attractions. There were 116 speed bumps from where the road thru Vicente Noble leaves the main highway (44) over to La Descubierta. Some of these are the deep drain type that will scrape the underside of your front bumper.
One of the focal points of a visit to the Lake would be the Isla Los Cabritos National Park, that includes the island and a mainland portion just east of the town of La Descubierta (18.562972, -71.697639). Trip Advisor has a separate entry for the park under the name Goat Island (Isla Cabritos); check that entry as well. When we visited in April of 2013, they were not permitting
boat trips out to the island. It is hard to get current information about the park, but try to check ahead to see what is possible. We did take a boat trip around the La Descubierta shore area ($65/boat, 1-12 hour) which permits you to see crocodiles and other lake wildlife. Try to get going as early in the day as possible. When you get to the park, try to locate someone that can call and get a guide to come out if you want to go on the Lake, it will take about half an hour to pull a trip together. They had to use our cell phone to make the calls when we visited. There are many rhinoceros iguanas around the park headquarters. They sleep on the branches out over the water, and come ashore during the day. They will try to hit you up for a handout, they seeded to like animal crackers (plan ahead). When we were there they were busy building some structures at the park headquarters, I don't know if they will be administrative or for visitors (interpretive or lodging).
The crocs are at the mouth of a small river the comes into the Lake in the vicinity of La Descubierta (18.559722, -71.722306). You can also access this from a dirt road out of La Descubierta and walking a short distance down the river to the mouth on the Lake through pastures, Mango trees, and acacia savanna. The level on the Lake has been constantly rising the last 5 years, and the exact shoreline is always changing. Many palms and mangos have been inundated and died. The crocs we saw could be approached fairly closely, most were in the water close to shore, some were on the shore.
The Las Caritas petroglyphs (18.56, -71.687778), are just east of the park headquarters, and worth a visit up the short, but steep, trail.
There are some communal swimming holes in the treed park in La Descubierta. There is also the Balneario Las MarĂas (18.491528, -71.381111) east of Neyba, if you want to take a dip; replete with some food vendors.
If you have driven around the Dominican Republic you are familiar with the speed bumps. But the area around the Lake takes the crown for these attractions. There were 116 speed bumps from where the road thru Vicente Noble leaves the main highway (44) over to La Descubierta. Some of these are the deep drain type that will scrape the underside of your front bumper.
Written May 5, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phototraveler29
Manchester, UK186 contributions
Aug 2011 • Solo
Ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time?
I hired a taxi for 3 days and went from Punta Cana to Lago Enriqillo arriving at 7.30 am. We passed some men building a road block from old tyres but they let us past. That was our mistake. Five kilometres on there was another barricade, one we couldn't pass. On returning we found the first had been set alight and trees felled across the road as well. We went and hid by the lake for 3 hours out of the way.
There were no farms or houses there, just a single petrol pump and it offered the only shade from midday sun. As we waited men came along filling bottles with petrol. I noticed they were using old bottles picked from the forecourt with dust and water in. Their intent was plain; you don't fill your motorbike with petrol from a dirty bottle do you! most of the 30 men milling around the road block had machetes and now started picking up stones. We had been trapped for 5 hours now and it was getting tense when Jose, the taxi driver, stood up to the mob.
Loudly he shouted that he was an official tourist guide, that he had a tourist with him and that their country depended on tourism. He added that if anything happened to me the wrath of god would descend on the village and they had better help him get me out of there. For 20 minutes they argued and it was very tense stuff. Finally they agreed to send a guy on a motorbike to show us the goat tracks our of there on the side of the mountain and Jose drove along farm tracks even animals would hesitate at. about 5 miles later we came back to the main (only) road at a small village. I thought we were safe but jose said that at night this would be dangerous for me so we pressed on to a small track at the Haiti end of the lake. Here we entered a military zone then a small track back along the other side of the lake. It took all day to get back to civilisation and a hotel but what a wonderful adventure. I didn't get breakfast until 3.30 in the afternoon and no coffee until night but what a great day. I firmly believe that Jose Rodriguez saved my life at the risk of his own and that of his taxi and livelihood. I hope the tip I gave him reflected my gratitude. Anyone staying at the grand Paradiso hotel, look out for Jose, don't use any other driver and tip him well. Tell him Victor says thanks.
I found out that the village was on strike because they don't have electricity. This type of thing is common and peaceful but I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As a (rich) foreigner with 2 cameras worth more than any of these guys earn in a year it is hardly surprising that I would be seen as an authority figure. I can't blame them, it was me who had strayed into their back yard at the wrong time. The lake btw is beautiful but full of aggressive crocodiles up to 25 ft long. The lake is 39 metres below sea level in Domincas own mini rift valley. Do go there but if you see any road blocks, turn back.
I hired a taxi for 3 days and went from Punta Cana to Lago Enriqillo arriving at 7.30 am. We passed some men building a road block from old tyres but they let us past. That was our mistake. Five kilometres on there was another barricade, one we couldn't pass. On returning we found the first had been set alight and trees felled across the road as well. We went and hid by the lake for 3 hours out of the way.
There were no farms or houses there, just a single petrol pump and it offered the only shade from midday sun. As we waited men came along filling bottles with petrol. I noticed they were using old bottles picked from the forecourt with dust and water in. Their intent was plain; you don't fill your motorbike with petrol from a dirty bottle do you! most of the 30 men milling around the road block had machetes and now started picking up stones. We had been trapped for 5 hours now and it was getting tense when Jose, the taxi driver, stood up to the mob.
Loudly he shouted that he was an official tourist guide, that he had a tourist with him and that their country depended on tourism. He added that if anything happened to me the wrath of god would descend on the village and they had better help him get me out of there. For 20 minutes they argued and it was very tense stuff. Finally they agreed to send a guy on a motorbike to show us the goat tracks our of there on the side of the mountain and Jose drove along farm tracks even animals would hesitate at. about 5 miles later we came back to the main (only) road at a small village. I thought we were safe but jose said that at night this would be dangerous for me so we pressed on to a small track at the Haiti end of the lake. Here we entered a military zone then a small track back along the other side of the lake. It took all day to get back to civilisation and a hotel but what a wonderful adventure. I didn't get breakfast until 3.30 in the afternoon and no coffee until night but what a great day. I firmly believe that Jose Rodriguez saved my life at the risk of his own and that of his taxi and livelihood. I hope the tip I gave him reflected my gratitude. Anyone staying at the grand Paradiso hotel, look out for Jose, don't use any other driver and tip him well. Tell him Victor says thanks.
I found out that the village was on strike because they don't have electricity. This type of thing is common and peaceful but I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. As a (rich) foreigner with 2 cameras worth more than any of these guys earn in a year it is hardly surprising that I would be seen as an authority figure. I can't blame them, it was me who had strayed into their back yard at the wrong time. The lake btw is beautiful but full of aggressive crocodiles up to 25 ft long. The lake is 39 metres below sea level in Domincas own mini rift valley. Do go there but if you see any road blocks, turn back.
Written September 16, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
josephzebley
Elkton, MD121 contributions
Feb 2020
Lago Enriquillo is a land locked salt water lake that is slowly rising and flooding the surrounding agricultural land and even some towns. At 47 meters below sea level it is the lowest point in the Caribbean. It features the highest population of salt water crocodiles in the Caribbean. There is an island one can visit and there are endangered Iguanas in the National Park. Up on the cliffs above the lake are petroglyphs dating back to the days of the Arawak and Taino people and perhaps even earlier. Lots of coral fossils, the lake is in a rift valley along a slip fault that starts at the eastern end of Jamaica and ends in the middle of the D.R.
A four to six hour drive from Santo Domingo it is not worth the trip unless you are a student of geology or of D.R. national parks. Few tourist accommodations in the towns of Los Rios, La Descubierta, or Jimani. so just be aware.
A four to six hour drive from Santo Domingo it is not worth the trip unless you are a student of geology or of D.R. national parks. Few tourist accommodations in the towns of Los Rios, La Descubierta, or Jimani. so just be aware.
Written February 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A Tripadvisor Member
The Lake Enriquillo is a beautifull lake located on the SouthWest of the Dominican Republic, there you can see different animals such as iguanas and cocodriles, and some rare kind of plants. Its a beautiful place to visit, plus, this lake is 3 times saliter than the sea, nice huh?
Written February 28, 2002
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mona P
Tampa, FL13 contributions
Mar 2013
If you don't go on an organized trip with a local guide, be careful. We went on a family road trip on the southern DR and just dropped by Lago Enriquillo. It looked closed in the beginning because both of the entrances were ropped off. We pulled up and found some guys laying around a work site. What seemed like the main office was being repaired or rebuilt and the men were not too interested in us. Finally one of them (who was probably the encargado) said that a boat ride to the island would cost $rd4000 and that it was posted. Indeed it was but it is still too much to pay the equivalent of $us1000 for a 10 minute ride. The man then said that we needed to pay $rd300 per person for him to let us enter the "park" and give us a tour to go see the alligators. Well, that was a total bust. No alligators and no tor. Took the money and said "have a nice day, the lake is that way..." the iguanas were way cool though. Although you don't need to pay to observe them. Not do you need to pay to enter the park I found out later. We also stopped in Las Caritas which was also not that impressive.
Written July 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KirstenLM11
Johannesburg, South Africa172 contributions
Apr 2012 • Family
We had a fantastic day around the Lake, travelling by boat to Cabritos island in the middle. Our guide was very well informed and we learnt a huge amount not only about the lake but also the surrounding areas, as well as animal habitats and vegetation etc. We saw abundant birdlife on the lake and had 3 crocodiles swim around the boat. We also saw dozens of iguanas close up, which was a real treat. They were almost tame and came up for food when we drove up and got out the car. The facilities where we docked were minimal but we were not expecting anything 5 star, and had our own water and snacks. We also saw some taino caves nearby, and the views were stunning. Can highly recommend this trip.
Written April 21, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stan P
Florala, AL198 contributions
Aug 2012 • Friends
There is no easy way to get to Enriquillo, but it is worth the effort. Living in the Dominican Republic, I had the advantage of my own vehicle, and the roads are good by Dominican standards, but it takes a while to get there. Four friends and I drove around the lake, taking the excursion out to Isla Cabritas. We saw the crocodiles and different species of iguanas, and the cacti on the island are incredible.
In hindsight, I wish we had packed a cooler with drinks and lunch. Though lots of stores sold water and soft drinks, the dry heat makes for a thirsty day. And finding a convenient place for lunch was not that easy. We settled for fried chicken in Jimani.
Coming from the east, the entrance to the national park and where to find boat excursions is before arriving in La Descubierta. Give yourself plenty of time, because the boat captains and tour guides are not on site. Once you arrive and ask for an excursion, the park attendant calls them. The cost is DOM$3,500 plus DOM$100 per person. (At this time, the exchange rate is DOM$39:US$1.) Five of us cost 4,000 pesos, just a bit more than 100 dollars. If you get to the park and the attendant is not there, you can go into Descubierta and someone will track down the attendant.
We got very close to the crocodiles, and the guides let us stay as long as we wanted to watch them. After that, we were allowed to hang out on the island as long as we wanted, though the guides warned us not to wander off on our won. The island looks the same all over and it is easy to get turned around.
Flamingos have pretty well abandoned the lake. Four years ago, the lake level started rising, and the shallow flats that flamingos like have been lost.
Afer the excursion, we continued our drive around the lake. Be warned that the rising lake has covered part of the road, and the improvised detour is very rough. We stopped in Jimani for lunch and a tour of the market. The market was disappointing, as I was hoping for Hatian wares.
We ended up in Barahona on the new Malecon (seafront). Though work is continuing, the improvements made are awesome. If we hadn't been so tired from driving all day, we would have enjoyed spending some time there.
All in all, a long but good day.
In hindsight, I wish we had packed a cooler with drinks and lunch. Though lots of stores sold water and soft drinks, the dry heat makes for a thirsty day. And finding a convenient place for lunch was not that easy. We settled for fried chicken in Jimani.
Coming from the east, the entrance to the national park and where to find boat excursions is before arriving in La Descubierta. Give yourself plenty of time, because the boat captains and tour guides are not on site. Once you arrive and ask for an excursion, the park attendant calls them. The cost is DOM$3,500 plus DOM$100 per person. (At this time, the exchange rate is DOM$39:US$1.) Five of us cost 4,000 pesos, just a bit more than 100 dollars. If you get to the park and the attendant is not there, you can go into Descubierta and someone will track down the attendant.
We got very close to the crocodiles, and the guides let us stay as long as we wanted to watch them. After that, we were allowed to hang out on the island as long as we wanted, though the guides warned us not to wander off on our won. The island looks the same all over and it is easy to get turned around.
Flamingos have pretty well abandoned the lake. Four years ago, the lake level started rising, and the shallow flats that flamingos like have been lost.
Afer the excursion, we continued our drive around the lake. Be warned that the rising lake has covered part of the road, and the improvised detour is very rough. We stopped in Jimani for lunch and a tour of the market. The market was disappointing, as I was hoping for Hatian wares.
We ended up in Barahona on the new Malecon (seafront). Though work is continuing, the improvements made are awesome. If we hadn't been so tired from driving all day, we would have enjoyed spending some time there.
All in all, a long but good day.
Written August 22, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MD_T0urist
New Jersey239 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
We came to the famous Lake Enriquillo after the infamous 160+ speed bumps only to find that 1) many boats no longer go to Isla Cabritos (which we did not know) because the lake has expanded (which we knew), 2) as a result you will only see the rhino iguana (literally at the entrance, which you can see in Parque Jaragua) but not the red-eyed blue iguana (which you can’t see anywhere else), 3) flamingos have left. There were a handful of crocodiles and birds, but definitely not worth the horrific drive there and back. If you are in the area, go to Parque Nacional Jaragua instead.
Written June 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michal G
Ko Chang, Thailand259 contributions
Jul 2017 • Friends
Close to the boarder of Haiti you find the hypersaline Lake Enriquillo which is the home of hundreds of crodiles, fish, iguanas and different bird species. We didn't see any flamingoes while being there but the water level has been increasing through recent years which can explain changes in ecosystem. The official entry to the lake is towards the city La Descubierta and it's totally free to enter. The staff at the official office are only Spanish speaking and will eventually ask you for 100 pesos to have watched your car while going down to the lake which seems a little ridiculous since nobody else is out there. Perhaps the crocodiles have been taught how to drive. I don't know. However, paying the Dominican personel is a cultural gestus the people have adapted through many years when seeing white people. You will experience that everywhere. The lake itself is astonishing to watch. Especially if you choose to take the boat ride which is about 3500 for 3-4 people. We payed 2500 for three persons since we had a Dominican guy with us from the hotel who claimed he could reduce the price for us and so he did! Since he was Dominican he expected us to provide him during the trip so you have to consider if you want to go by yourself, a guide or a local semi-crazy man like we did. We took some amazing pictures on the boat ride and saw a lot of crodiles! We couldn't go to Isla Cabritos because the boat guy told us it was closed. I guess if we payed 2000 pesos more he would have taken us there due to Dominican corruption. It's sad to know but true. Around the lake you'll be able to see dead trees everywhere which creates a mysterious scenery. Fossiled corals are also to be found everywhere. There's another sight point just few hundred meters from the park entry which is an old monuments from the TaĂno Indians who used to live there. The enormous rocks have TaĂno paintings on them. Watch the sign from the road! We drove from Hotel Panoramica near Barahona. It took about two hours.
Written July 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola. ÂżEs necesaria una reserva si llegamos nosotros mismos (sin visita guiada) si queremos hacer un tour en barco? ÂżO simplemente puedes reservar uno en las afueras?
Written February 13, 2020
We would like to go on a boattrip tomorrow 10/11. We can be there around 10am. How can we arrange this?
Written November 10, 2016
Estoy en Mao - Valverde Cual es lo mas facil para irse ? en transporte y cual hotel lo mas cerca?
Gracias
Written March 18, 2015
Estoy en Mao - Valverde Cual es lo mas facil para irse ? en transporte y cual hotel lo mas cerca?
Gracias
Written March 18, 2015
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