Laguna Cristal is a peaceful spring fed pool surrounded by lush greenery on the edge of Los Haitises National Park. It sits at the edge of the village of Villa Cristal, with forest running right down to the far bank. The water is a rich turquoise that really pops when the sun is high overhead. The lagoon is quite photogenic from any of the banks, especially with the tree line behind the far edge giving you a peaceful feel for the shot. A polarizer lets you decide how much surface reflection to keep, and dropping low to the water brings out the colours as they shift throughout the day. It's also a good space for drone work, with the colour gradient from shallow edges to deep centre appearing when you shoot it from above. There is a short trail through the vegetation around the lagoon so you can experiment with viewpoints along the shoreline. If you are really lucky you may be able to add some bird photography to your day since the Ridgway's hawk has come back to this area after years of conservation work. The lagoon is protected by the Ministry of Environment so make sure to leave the area exactly how you found it and respect this ecosystem. Heavy rains will muddies the lagoon for days, changing the colours drastically so you may want to check the recent weather conditions before you make the drive. Getting here means about two kilometres of unpaved road, so you may want to use a vehicle with decent clearance. (Villa Riva, Duarte Province, Dominican Republic)
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