Discover the most beautiful, idyllic beaches in the Dominican Republic
When you think of the Dominican Republic, you image a paradise of white sand beaches lined with coconut trees and turquoise water brimming with colorful sea life, coral, and starfish. Even though it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, you can still find corners of the island where pristine nature and the Caribbean spirit live on. Here are 10 beaches in the Dominican Republic that visitors fall in love with most.
Playa Rincón, Las Galeras
If you want to disconnect and lose track of what day it is, Las Galeras should be your next destination. This small town is located on the Samaná Peninsula, on the eastern end of the island where there are still no all-inclusive resorts and the true essence of the Dominican Republic lives on.
Its Rincón beach is one of the best in the country, with nearly 2 miles of sugar sand and local stands where there is no shortage of food and drinks made with coconut. As it is not a very well-known tourist destination, you can enjoy a relaxing beach day without any commotion, so you can truly connect with nature. You can get there by boat or by car from Las Galeras.
Cayo Levantado, Samaná
Another of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic is in Cayo Levantado. It’s also known as Bacardi Island because a commercial for the famous domestic rum was filmed here in the 1980s. This outcropping of white sand enveloped by blue sky and turquoise seas is in front of the coast of Samaná. You can get there by boat from the Simi Baez pier in the Samaná port. The island has a small luxury hotel and restaurants where you can savor local specialties.
Cayo Levantado is an exceptional place to go snorkeling and discover the marine life of the Atlantic Ocean. Likewise, it’s an extraordinary place for spotting humpback whales. So don’t hesitate and take advantage of the opportunity to see these majestic mammals between the months of January and March, when they come to the warmer waters of the Caribbean.
Bahía de las Águilas
The Bahía de las Águilas, or Eagle Bay, is within the Jaragua National Park in the province of Pedernales. It’s one of the most spectacular settings in the Dominican Republic. This is beauty in its purest state: 5 miles of white sand dotted with giant boulders and cliffs with the clearest water you can imagine. The best way to get to this area is by boat from Cabo Rojo or by four-wheeler.
The best part of this place is underwater, with coral reefs that are considered to be the best in the world and which are home to extraordinary biodiversity. Don’t forget to take your goggles and flippers so you can discover the explosion of colors and life in its waters.
Isla Saona
Saona is one of the biggest islands in the Dominican Republic and one of the quintessential excursions in the country. It boasts of more than 42 square miles of virgin beaches with coconut trees and crystalline waters where you can see all types of native species, such as iguanas, sea turtles, and tropical fish. With its rich local flora and fauna, Isla Saona forms part of the East National Park, one of the most important nature reserves in the country.
You can find catamaran excursions to Saona from Punta Cana and other places such as Boca Chica or Bayahibe. If you want, you can stay in one of its hotel complexes and extend your stay on the island. It’s undoubtedly an essential visit that you cannot miss.
Playa Bávaro, Punta Cana
On a list of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic, Bávaro Beach cannot be missed. It’s the most famous beach in Punta Cana and probably the whole island. Although it’s a very busy beach, it is considered one of the best due to the endless number of services that it offers, such as restaurants, bars, and luxury and all-inclusive resorts as well as recreational activities and excursions.
Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata
One of the best destinations to visit in the Dominican Republic is the city of Puerto Plata, also known as the Bride of the Atlantic. Playa Dorada is one of the best beaches not only in Puerto Plata, but also in the entire country. Although it is a private beach for guests that are staying in the resorts in the residential area, anyone can visit it by paying for admission. The high quality of its crystalline waters and its services—including restaurants, bars, and recreational activities—have earned it a blue flag.
Punta Rucia
Another of the most beautiful areas of the country with the best beaches is Punta Rucia, west of Puerto Plata province. It’s a small fishermen’s village that’s a true natural paradise. Here you can enjoy traditional dishes from the country, such as bandera, or the traditional drink, the mamajuana, while listening to merengue music in the background. What’s more, from here you can take a boat to Cayo Arena, another of the most spectacular little islands in the Dominican Republic in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s certainly a place where you can feel the true spirit of the Caribbean.
Playa Cosón, Las Terrenas
Las Terrenas, in the north of the Dominican Republic and very close to Samaná, hides one of the best-kept secrets on the island: Cosón Beach. This spectacular place of wild beauty, sugar sand, and crystal clear waters is still sheltered from mass tourism. It’s a perfect place to enjoy long walks on the sea shore or do water sports such as kitesurfing or windsurfing. There are villas and luxury hotels nearby. You can get to this little slice of heaven by rental car or private transportation. It’s just 15 minutes from Las Terrenas.
Playa Frontón, Las Galeras
Las Galeras has many of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic. In addition to Playa Rincón, another place that should be on your list is Playa Frontón, a magical place where you can forget about your daily grind and feel the Caribbean in its purest form. To get here, you have to go through what’s known as the Boca del Diablo, or Devil’s Mouth, a gap in the rocks where the ocean water enters and is then pushed out of, creating an impressive effect similar to a geyser. Get your camera ready, there are plenty of coconut trees you can take spectacular photos of on this beach.
Playa Grande, Río San Juan
Located between the towns of Río San Juan and Cabrera in the province of María Trinidad, Playa Grande is a magical place where you can rest and forget your worries. It has all the amenities you could want, such as restaurants and bars where you can try delicious cocktails and recipes from the island. It also has some resorts.
Playa Grande is also considered one of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic for surfing thanks to the quality of its waves. In addition, from here you can go on some of the most recommendable excursions on the island, like sailing to Gri-Gri Lagoon, an area of mangroves that is a bird sanctuary, or visiting the famous Cueva de las Golondrinas, or Cave of the Swallows.
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