Laguna de Oviedo Boat Tour

Laguna de Oviedo is a large saltwater lagoon inside Parque Nacional Jaragua, near the town of Oviedo on the road between Barahona and Pedernales. It is one of the best places in the country to see American flamingos, sometimes in flocks of several hundred, along with herons and other waterbirds that nest on its small mangrove cays. On some cays you can also see the rhinoceros iguana, a large endangered lizard with a horned snout.

How it works: tours are run by local guides (the AGUINAOVI guide association has been the main contact) from the lagoon near El Cajuil, just east of Oviedo. You pay the Jaragua park entrance (around RD$150 per person in 2026) and hire a boat, which is priced per boat for up to about five passengers. Recent guides give different prices: one quotes about RD$2,500 (around $45) per boat for a 2-hour flamingo tour, with a longer 3-hour tour including an iguana cay at around $100, while another quotes RD$5,500 per boat for 2 to 2.5 hours. Ask what route is included and agree on the price before you go.

When to go: early morning is best for birds and for calm water and cooler temperatures. Flamingo numbers are highest from about November to April, though they move around the lagoon and are never guaranteed. Midday is hot and bright, with little shade on the boat.

What to bring: a hat, sunscreen, water, binoculars if you have them and a long lens for photos. Shoes you do not mind getting wet are useful if the boat lands on a cay. Cash in pesos.

Getting there: Oviedo is about 1.5 hours from Barahona and 45 to 60 minutes east of Pedernales, so the tour works well as a stop on the drive between the two, or as a morning trip from either. Arrange the boat ahead if you can, especially on weekends and holidays.

Best for: birders, photographers and families with kids who like wildlife. Easy difficulty. Not for: anyone expecting a swim; this is a wildlife trip, not a beach stop. Combine it with Bahía de las Águilas, also inside Jaragua, on the next day. Base: Pedernales.