Booking choice: Scape Park with transport, from $129 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Plenty of tours are sold as "Hoyo Azul" trips, which makes it look like a separate attraction. It is not: the cenote is inside Scape Park in Cap Cana, and every way in goes through the park's gate.
Below: how to get there, what the walk and the swim are like, when to go, and what else to do with the rest of your ticket.
The quick answer
Hoyo Azul is inside Scape Park and included in full admission; there is no separate entrance. It is a 750-metre jungle trail from the park centre, about 15 minutes on foot, and the park puts the pool's depth at about 12 feet. Life vests are free. Go first thing after the park opens at 9 AM.
Where is Hoyo Azul?
Hoyo Azul is inside Scape Park, a private nature park in Cap Cana, the gated resort community south of Punta Cana International Airport.
The park is about 5 km (3 miles) from Juanillo Beach. Because Cap Cana is gated, keep your booking reference to hand for the security gate as well as the park entrance.
How do you get to Hoyo Azul?
Book Scape Park admission with transport, ride the morning pickup to Cap Cana, then walk the jungle trail from the park centre.
The park describes the trail as 750 metres with no demanding inclines, about 15 minutes of easy walking, followed by steps down to the water. Guests note that the park map is not to scale, so allow extra time, and use the in-park shuttles if long walks are hard.
Check your date before planning the rest of the week. The ticket includes pickup, Hoyo Azul and the ziplines.
Check dates for Scape Park with transportHow deep is Hoyo Azul, and do you need to swim?
The park puts Hoyo Azul at about 12 feet deep at its deepest point, and you do not need to be a strong swimmer: life vests are provided free.
Trained rescue staff watch the water attractions. You will see much bigger depth figures on other websites; the park's own number is the one we use.
Why is the water so blue?
Cenotes are sinkholes in limestone filled with filtered groundwater, so the water is very clear, and sunlight on the pale rock beneath turns it turquoise.
Arrive early for the calmest water and the emptiest photos.
When is the best time to visit Hoyo Azul?
First thing: Hoyo Azul and the ziplines are the first places to fill after the park opens at 9 AM.
Take the earliest pickup offered, head straight down the trail, and do the ziplines and the waterfall afterwards. The attractions close at 4:30 PM, and some run limited hours, so check the day's schedule at the entrance. December to April is the busiest season.
Want the calmest swim? Early pickups get you to the cenote soon after opening.
Explore Scape Park with transportWhat are the rules at the cenote?
No food or drinks at the cenote, closed shoes with grip on the trail, and extra care if you have reduced mobility, because the paths are uneven.
Across the park, outside food and drinks, selfie sticks and drones are not allowed. A waterproof phone pouch is the easiest way to take photos in the water.
What else can you do with the same ticket?
The same ticket covers the Eco Splash ziplines, the caves and cave swim, the Saltos Azules waterfall pools, Rope Runners and the cultural trail.
Most people spend the full day. See Scape Park tickets and prices for what is included and what costs extra.
Can you visit Hoyo Azul without a full day at the park?
Not really: the park does not sell Hoyo Azul on its own, so a quick visit costs the same as full admission.
The one alternative is the park's Juanillo VIP package ($189 per adult), which pairs the Blue Hole with a catamaran, snorkelling and lunch. The standalone "Hoyo Azul" listings we checked on Viator are no longer bookable.
Ready to swim? Hoyo Azul is included in the Scape Park day with hotel pickup.
Check dates for Scape Park with transportFrequently asked questions
Is Hoyo Azul worth visiting?
Yes for most visitors: it is the most striking swim in the Punta Cana area. Go early for fewer people, and plan the rest of the day around the park's other attractions, since the ticket covers them all.
Can children swim in Hoyo Azul?
Yes, with life vests, which are provided free. Children under 12 need an adult with them on the zip lines, and under-6s enter the park free.
How long should I spend at Hoyo Azul?
Allow up to an hour at the cenote itself, plus about 15 minutes each way on the trail.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Scape Park Cap Cana Full-Day Admission with Transport
- Full-day admission to Scape Park's included attractions
- Hoyo Azul cenote, Eco Splash ziplines, caves, cave swim and waterfall pools
- Round-trip hotel pickup (pickups run about 7:30 to 9:30 AM)
Saona Island Day Trip with Lunch and Open Bar
Family Snorkel Catamaran: Coral Quest
Snorkelling with kids, lunch and open bar on board
