
moderate
9–10 hours
Moderately fit: you should be comfortable swimming and walking short, uneven trails; no heavy climbing required.
Spend a full day swimming, jumping and savoring local cuisine at the Blue Lagoon near Río San Juan. This guided adventure from Puerto Plata combines short forest trails, cliff jumps and a beachside Dominican lunch—perfect for travelers who want active fun with cultural flavor.
The first time you arrive at the Blue Lagoon you notice how the water pulls the light into a color that refuses to be plain blue — it has depth, a tropical clarity that makes the lagoon look like a held breath. Your guide leads a short forested track from the parking area: palms and broadleaf trees lean over the path as if pointing toward the water, the air humid and fragrant with wet soil and salt carried from the nearby coast.

Rocky shelves around jump points are slippery; closed-toe water shoes give traction both on shore and in the water.
Even confident swimmers should wear the provided life jacket around deeper sections and near the lagoon outlet.
The lagoon is calm inside but the channel toward the sea can pull; follow guides’ marked swim zones and exit points.
Bring a small dry bag or waterproof case for phones and cameras—splashes are common at jump platforms.
The lagoon sits along a northern coast shaped by limestone and river channels, historically used by Taíno communities and later touched by colonial-era farming and fishing economies.
Avoid chemical sunscreens and take all trash with you; the lagoon’s health depends on reduced runoff and protection of surrounding mangroves.
Provide grip on limestone and protect feet from sharp rock and coral.
summer specific
Keeps phone, wallet and spare clothes safe from splashes and sudden rain.
Protects your skin while minimizing impact on aquatic life and corals.
summer specific
Dries off quickly after swims and doubles as a ground cloth for lunch areas.