A crescent-shaped bay and serene waters, placed against a frenetic backdrop of restaurants, bars, and a substantial dose of local flavor, characterize this neighborhood beach. The calm waters make this a safe option for families with children; offshore reefs provide spectacular underwater sightseeing. The pool and beach facilities at Casa Marina Reef (809.571.3535) offer a mellower [...]
The most spectacular swimming area on the north coast is a long stretch of mostly undeveloped shoreline with tall cliffs on all sides. A large international hotel chain once operated a resort here, but has since closed down. And aside from the few vendors selling fresh fish and cold beer from makeshift food stands at the [...]
The golden-sand beach serving the popular Playa Dorada resort complex is protected by a reef, creating perfect conditions for on-water recreational activities provided to guests. Even if you’re not a registered guest here, you can still enjoy the surroundings at most of the 14 resorts within the complex, which offer day passes that include lunch and [...]
Ideal wind conditions have turned this four-mile-long beach on the north coast into a windsurfer’s mecca, making it a magnet for professional athletes and beach bums alike. In the most developed zone are restaurant and bars that spill onto the sand in the evenings, creating a buoyant nightlife scene (patches on both ends are far more [...]
This three-mile long beach is one of the most tranquil in the Bávaro-Punta Cana region, protected by the environmentally aware developers of the ultra-exclusive Punta Cana Resort and Club and its adjacent Punta Cana Nature Reserve beginning at the beach shoreline. Guests of the resort enjoy the advantages of a quiet beach where the only distraction [...]
Secluded Playa Uvero Alto is largely unchartered territory; its seemingly endless strip of beach among the most idyllic in the country and with plenty of open space shared by a sprinkling of resorts cropping up along the shore. One in a triad of beach enclaves in this internationally celebrated corner of the Dominican Republic, up and [...]
A haven for resort guests along this nearly 30-mile strip of powdery white-sand coastline rimmed by crystal-clear blue waters, Playa Bávaro is ground zero among a succession of beach enclaves more commonly known around the world as Punta Cana. The highest concentration of the country’s finest luxury accommodations are located here (some 30,000 rooms and growing) [...]
Crystal-clear waters against a palm-lined idyllic backdrop make this 50-square-mile island off the coast of La Romana the single most popular day excursion in the region for visitors and residents. But to get here you’ll have to hitch a boat. Just about all the resorts offer all-inclusive packages including transportation and a pre-paid lunch; individual travelers [...]
Arguably the most spectacular strip of beach along the southeast coastline, Playa Bayahibe stretches for several miles – its crystalline water ebbing against a glistening white-sand shore and bent-over palm fronds casting a cooling shade. And precisely for its natural beauty, several resort chains have solidly claimed their share, literally placing stakes in the sand – [...]
Located about 20 minutes’ drive east of Santo Domingo, Playa Boca Chica is world-renowned for its calm, crystal clear waters, wide swath of powdery soft sand, and party-hard reputation. On any given day (but especially on Sundays) the beach is packed elbow-to-elbow with hotel guests, vendors hawking everything from hair braiding to tattoos, and area residents [...]