JournalNo. 01
Asterra Journal · Beaches
The Best Beaches in the Dominican Republic
Thirteen beaches in the Dominican Republic, spread over five coasts, from the palm-lined bays of Samaná to a protected shore in Pedernales. What each one is like, how you get there, and what to keep in mind once you arrive.
Illustration
Dominican Republic beaches change character from one coast to the next. On the Samaná Peninsula, coconut palms lean over bays that many visitors reach by boat. On the north coast, Cabarete is given over to kites and windsurf sails, while in the east very tall palms stand over the powdery sand of Cap Cana. In the far southwest, Bahía de las Águilas runs for about 8 km (5 mi) with no hotels, shops or restaurants behind it.
This guide sets out the Dominican Republic's top beaches by coast, not by rank. Each entry draws on descriptions published by the country's Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), and where a beach carries a ranking, we say whose it is. The map of Dominican Republic beaches on this page shows where all thirteen lie. If you are planning a Dominican Republic beach vacation, read the practical notes at the end too: several of these shores are reached by boat, and some have no shade or services.
The beaches, coast by coast
Room I
Samaná Peninsula
Illustration
Samaná beaches come with coconut palms, fishermen's canoes and fresh fish on the sand, and two of them are approached from the water. Las Galeras is the starting point for Rincón and Frontón.
Playa Rincón
Playa Rincón runs for about 5 km (3 mi) of undeveloped white sand around a bay of calm turquoise water, backed by coconut palms. It is one of the most visited beaches on the peninsula, about 15 minutes by car from Las Galeras or a short trip by boat.
The bay has two moods. One side is calm enough for snorkeling and long hours in the sun, while the northern side picks up waves that suit bodysurfers. Lunch is fresh fish from a couple of casual restaurants on the sand. MITUR notes that Condé Nast Traveler ranked Rincón among the ten most beautiful beaches in the world.
- Good for
- Snorkeling on the calm side, bodysurfing at the northern end, a long fish lunch
- Good to know
- Much of the beach has no services: bring water and your own shade.
Playa Frontón
Frontón lies at the foot of a rock cliff some 90 m (300 ft) high, a strip of fine white sand and coconut palms beneath the stone. You arrive by boat from Las Galeras, or on foot by way of a longer hike.
Snorkelers come for the coral, climbers for the rock face, and the curious for the caves. Episodes of the international series Survivor were filmed here.
- Good for
- Snorkeling over coral, rock climbing, exploring the caves
- Good to know
- Take a boat from Las Galeras unless you are ready for the longer hike.
Cayo Levantado
A small island in Samaná Bay, about 5 km (3 mi) out by MITUR's reckoning, Cayo Levantado is also known as Bacardi Island, a nickname that dates from a 1970s Bacardi commercial. Boat taxis leave from the port of Samaná on Avenida Marina for white sand and palms.
The island is divided in two. A luxury hotel occupies one half; the public side is where you swim, take out a kayak or a paddle board, and order fresh fish.
- Good for
- Swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding on an easy day trip
- Good to know
- Visits may be restricted on days when large cruise ships call.
Playa El Valle
El Valle lies 42 km (26 mi) north of Santa Bárbara de Samaná: about 4 km (2.5 mi) of golden sand in a green valley between tall bluffs. Fishermen pull their canoes up on the beach, and the shore is undeveloped.
It sits away from the crowds, and lunch is seafood served right on the sand. The water asks for respect here, because rip currents run, especially in winter.
- Good for
- A quiet day away from crowds, with seafood on the beach
- Good to know
- Rip currents, especially in winter: swim close to shore.
Room II
North Coast
Illustration
Between Puerto Plata and María Trinidad Sánchez, the north coast trades seclusion for energy: surf at Playa Grande, kites at Cabarete, and the crescent of Sosúa, where MITUR says the country's beach tourism practically began.
Playa Grande
Playa Grande lies about 120 km (75 mi) northeast of Puerto Plata city, between Río San Juan and Cabrera. It is a wide sweep of golden sand, about 2 km (1 mi) long, framed by palms.
The swell makes it a surf beach, and in winter there is undertow, so keep to the shallows rather than swimming far out. Behind the sand, rows of seafood shacks take care of lunch.
- Good for
- Surfing, long walks, seafood from the shacks
- Good to know
- Winter undertow: do not swim far out.
Playa Cabarete
MITUR calls Cabarete the Caribbean's hub for windsurfing, kiteboarding and laser sailing. Kite Beach takes up its west side, lessons run all year, and international kitesurfing championships are held here during the year.
The east side is the social end of the beach, with restaurants, bars and shops.
- Good for
- Learning to kite or windsurf, or watching others do it
- Good to know
- Kite Beach is on the west side; restaurants, bars and shops are on the east.
Playa Sosúa
Sosúa is a crescent bay about 20 minutes east of Puerto Plata, with golden sand and azure-turquoise water over a white sandy bottom. MITUR says beach tourism in the country practically began on this coast.
Today the beach has a lively strip of bars, restaurants and shops, and there are diving and snorkeling sites near shore.
- Good for
- Diving and snorkeling near shore, an easy evening out
- Good to know
- About 20 minutes east of Puerto Plata.
Room III
East: Punta Cana, Cap Cana and Miches
Illustration
Among Punta Cana beaches, Macao, at the northern end of the region, has swells and surf lessons, while Juanillo in Cap Cana serves you at your lounger. In Miches, Playa Esmeralda offers more than 11 km (nearly 7 mi) of secluded coast.
Playa Macao
Macao is very wide, with blonde sand and palms, at the northern end of the Punta Cana region. Swells and trade winds keep the water lively.
Surf schools teach all year, especially at weekends, and local restaurants serve Dominican fish plates for lunch.
- Good for
- Surf lessons and a Dominican fish lunch
- Good to know
- Surf lessons run all year, especially at weekends.
Playa Juanillo
In Cap Cana, Juanillo stretches for miles of powdery white sand under very tall palms, beside turquoise water.
Its bars and restaurants serve you at your lounger. Good wind brings kiteboarders, and there is volleyball, snorkeling and kayaking for everyone else.
- Good for
- Service at the lounger, kiteboarding, an unhurried day
- Good to know
- Bars and restaurants serve at the loungers, so you need not leave the sand.
Playa Esmeralda
Playa Esmeralda, in Miches, is more than 11 km (nearly 7 mi) of secluded coast, where white sand meets untouched vegetation and turquoise water.
MITUR describes it as a place of peace and privacy, a stretch of shore to walk slowly.
- Good for
- Long, quiet walks and privacy
- Good to know
- This is secluded coast, so bring what you need for the day.
Room IV
Southeast: La Romana and Bayahíbe
Illustration
Bayahíbe is home to Playa Dominicus and the departure point for most day trips to Isla Saona, which lies within a national park.
Playa Dominicus
Playa Dominicus, in Bayahíbe, is one of the country's longest white-sand beaches, according to MITUR, and it was the first beach in the Caribbean to receive Blue Flag certification. Resorts line it, but the beach is open to everyone, and crafts stalls stand at the public eastern end.
The water is shallow and turquoise, with no undertow, and a reef lies just offshore for divers.
- Good for
- Easy swimming in shallow water, diving on the reef
- Good to know
- Open to all: the public end, with its crafts stalls, is the eastern one.
Isla Saona
Isla Saona lies 19 km (12 mi) south of the mainland, a protected island of about 110 km² (42 sq mi) within Cotubanamá National Park, with long white beaches and coconut palms. MITUR calls it the country's most important turtle-nesting site.
Day trips go by speedboat or catamaran, mostly from Bayahíbe, and stop at Palmilla, a wide natural pool, and at Mano Juan, the only inhabited part of the island. By MITUR's account, Saona's beaches draw more visitors than all of the country's national parks combined.
- Good for
- A full day on the water, the natural pool at Palmilla
- Good to know
- You reach it by speedboat or catamaran, most often from Bayahíbe.
Room V
Southwest: Pedernales
Illustration
Among the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic, the Ministry of Tourism gives first place to one in the far southwest, in the province of Pedernales.
Bahía de las Águilas
MITUR calls Bahía de las Águilas the most beautiful beach in the country: about 8 km (5 mi) of very white sand beside clear turquoise water, with karst rock along the coast.
There are no hotels, shops or restaurants, and the bay is protected as part of Jaragua National Park. You come by all-terrain vehicle, or by boat from Cabo Rojo, and you bring everything you need, sun protection above all, because there is no shade.
- Good for
- Travelers who want a wild shore and come prepared
- Good to know
- No shade and no services: bring water and sun protection.
Before you go
- On some beaches in the Dominican Republic the water calls for care: rip currents and winter undertow run at El Valle and Playa Grande, so swim close to shore.
- Before you settle on a beach in the Dominican Republic for the day, check what it offers: Bahía de las Águilas and much of Rincón have no services, so bring water and shade.
- Boats are part of the journey to Frontón, Cayo Levantado and Isla Saona, and to Bahía de las Águilas from Cabo Rojo.
- The Dominican Republic beaches map on this page groups all thirteen entries by coast.
Questions travelers ask
Where is the best beach in the Dominican Republic?
If by the best beach in the Dominican Republic you mean the most beautiful, the Ministry of Tourism has a clear answer: Bahía de las Águilas, in Pedernales in the far southwest. On the Samaná Peninsula, MITUR notes that Condé Nast Traveler ranked Playa Rincón among the ten most beautiful beaches in the world.
What are the best beaches in the Dominican Republic for swimming?
MITUR describes Playa Dominicus in Bayahíbe as shallow, with no undertow, and Playa Rincón has a calm side as well as a livelier northern one. The public side of Cayo Levantado is another place to swim. At El Valle and Playa Grande, rip currents and winter undertow mean you should stay close to shore.
What is the best beach area in the Dominican Republic?
The top beaches in the Dominican Republic sit on five very different coasts, so it depends on the day you want. Samaná has undeveloped bays and boat trips, the north coast has surf at Playa Grande and kiteboarding at Cabarete, and the east pairs Macao's surf lessons with lounger service at Juanillo. The southeast has Dominicus and Isla Saona, and the southwest has Bahía de las Águilas, with no services at all.
How do you get to Playa Rincón?
Playa Rincón, Samaná's long white bay, is about 15 minutes by car from Las Galeras. A short boat ride is the other option.
Is Samaná an island?
No. Samaná is a peninsula in the northeast of the country. Cayo Levantado, by contrast, is a true island, a small one in Samaná Bay, reached by boat taxi from Samaná port.
Are there hotels at Bahía de las Águilas?
No. There are no hotels, shops or restaurants at Bahía de las Águilas, which is protected as part of Jaragua National Park. You reach it by all-terrain vehicle or by boat from Cabo Rojo, and there is no shade, so bring water and sun protection.
Where are these beaches on a map?
The map of beaches in the Dominican Republic on this page groups all thirteen by coast. Samaná is in the northeast, the north coast runs through Puerto Plata and María Trinidad Sánchez, the east covers Punta Cana, Cap Cana and Miches, the southeast La Romana and Bayahíbe, and the southwest Pedernales.
Land and property in the Dominican Republic
Asterra Realty DR is a company registered in the Dominican Republic, with its office in Santo Domingo. It offers land and property in the country, including holdings on the Samaná Peninsula and on the north coast.
View our propertiesAll journal topics
SourcesPlaya RincónPlaya FrontónCayo LevantadoPlaya El VallePlaya GrandePlaya CabaretePlaya SosúaPlaya MacaoPlaya JuanilloPlaya EsmeraldaPlaya DominicusIsla SaonaBahía de las Águilas