The Rhinoceros Iguana at Cap Cana

Cap Cana is home to the indigenous rhinoceros iguana (Cyclura cornuta) — a large, endangered lizard native to the Dominican Republic and a protected species under DR law. The resort has maintained a policy of iguana conservation since its development, and the population within the Cap Cana gates is one of the healthiest concentrations of rhinoceros iguanas anywhere in the Caribbean.

The iguanas at Cap Cana are accustomed to human presence and are not generally aggressive, but they are wild animals and should be treated with respect. Resort staff and golf caddies are trained to remind visitors not to feed, touch, or attempt to move iguanas encountered during a round.

How the Reserve Shapes the Course

The Nicklaus design team made a deliberate choice to route Las Iguanas around — rather than through — the core iguana habitat areas. Several interior holes on the front nine play alongside rocky outcroppings and vegetation zones where iguanas congregate, and the rough treatment through these sections is designed to minimise disturbance to the animals.

From a golf perspective, the iguana reserve creates a genuinely unique visual and psychological environment. Seeing a two-foot iguana watching you address a mid-iron from the rough is an experience that no other golf course in the world can replicate. It adds to the sense that Las Iguanas is a course deeply embedded in its natural environment rather than imposed upon it.

What to Expect During Your Round

  • Iguana sightings are common: You will almost certainly see iguanas during your round — particularly on the interior front nine holes.
  • Do not feed the iguanas: Feeding alters natural behaviour and is prohibited by Cap Cana resort policy.
  • Do not move iguanas from your line of play: Play around them. A caddie will advise on free drop rules if an iguana is in your way.
  • Photography is encouraged: The iguanas are photogenic and perfectly cooperative subjects.
  • Morning rounds see more activity: Rhinoceros iguanas are diurnal — most active in the morning sun. Early tee times offer the best wildlife encounters alongside the best golf conditions.

The Name — Why Las Iguanas

The course takes its name directly from the iguana population that defines it. In a region where golf courses are named for generic resort amenities or generic coastal features, Las Iguanas chose to centre its identity on what makes the site genuinely extraordinary. It is a name that rewards the golfer who understands what they are walking into — and surprises the one who did not expect wildlife to be part of the playing experience.

For families travelling to Cap Cana, the iguana reserve adds a dimension beyond golf. Children who play Las Iguanas (or who accompany playing adults) encounter a real wildlife experience as part of a luxury resort round — something that hotels and beach resorts cannot replicate.