Bavaro Beach
The 10-kilometre stretch of sand at Bavaro Beach is absolutely amazing, being a particular favourite beachside spot for travellers visiting the Dominican Republic. Although there are many hotels alongside Bavaro Beach, you will always be able to find yourself a space on the beautiful white sand, hire a sun lounger and relax under a palm-thatched umbrella.
When you need a refreshment, you can purchase drinks and snacks from one of the colourfully painted beach shacks, or visit one of the many nearby bars and restaurants. Bavaro beach also has plenty of sports and activities for you to try, such as parasailing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, scuba diving, snorkelling and horse riding. If you like a game of golf, then the 18-hole course at the Iberostate Bavaro Golf Club is not far away.
High season runs from December to March and from July to August, but consider visiting between April and June or between September and December if you prefer to avoid traveller crowds.
Kite Beach
Kite Beach is located in the north of the Dominican Republic in the fishing village of Cabarete, attracting kitesurfers of all abilities, from all over the world.
The turquoise waters here are shallow, and in the mornings the winds are weaker making it ideal for beginners and less experienced kite surfers. Once the wind has picked up in the afternoons, the more experienced and professional kiters come out in force and race through the water. Even if you don’t want to participate, it’s simply a luxury to sit in the sizzling sunshine and watch the sky fill with vibrant multi-coloured dragons.
This beach is often visited by families looking to teach their children how to kitesurf, as it is less crowded than other beaches in the Dominican. Once you have built up an appetite, you can sample the delicious food at one of the cafes and bars along the beach, serving drinks, as well as tasty snacks and local dishes.
Macao Beach
Macao Beach is an unspoilt, public beach approximately a 25-minute drive north of Bavaro – Punta Cana, and is a favourite with the locals at the weekends. It is an idyllic beach, with beautifully soft and fine white sands, crystal clear blue waters and palm trees offering shade when the sun gets too hot. This beach is a popular surfing spot, where you can sign up for a lesson or rent a board from the surfing school located at the north end of the beach.
If surfing isn’t for you, you can simply just sit back and watch others surf atop the waves. Why not try a horseback ride along the beach or just take a stroll along the sands and admire the beautiful landscape and views? There are beach vendors walking along the sands selling memorable souvenirs that you can purchase to take back home to your loved ones. There are also snack bars where you can purchase hot and cold drinks, local beers and freshly caught fish, which will be cooked directly in front of you.
Paradise Island
Paradise Island (Cayo Paraiso), is an uninhabited coral island located off the coast of Puerto Plata, in Punta Rucia. This beach is aptly named, since it truly provides a little piece of paradise, situated just a 20-minute boat ride from Punta Rucia. This idyllic island, with its beautiful white sands, crystal clear azure blue waters and stunning landscape is the perfect place to unwind and relax away from the hustle and bustle of the main tourist resorts of the Dominican Republic.
Image Source: Flickr. Copyright Ronald Sanders
Once there, unwind on the sand and sunbathe, or stroll along the beach collecting shells. To cool off, why not take a dip in the sea or snorkel along a reef to see the amazing variety of colourful tropical fish swimming under the water?
You can purchase drinks from one of the huts located on the beach, but unless you come to the island on a boat tour that includes lunch, you will need to bring your own picnic. What’s fascinating about Paradise Island is its location, being in one of the driest areas of the Dominican Republic. Therefore, the sands shrink and expand depending on the time of year and currents of the sea.
Playa Cabarete
Playa Cabarete, located on the north coast of the Dominican Republic has become known as one of the very best beaches in the world for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Locals and tourists now flock to this once quiet village, meaning Playa Cabarete has become a lively tourist resort with lots of hotels, restaurants and bars.
The long sandy beach, the crystal-clear waters and the eastern Atlantic winds make this an ideal spot for water sports. During the day, you will see multi-coloured wind kites soaring high into the sky as well as the colourful sails of windsurfers speeding through the water. Competitions and races are held on Playa Cabarete at various times of the year and these events attract a lot of competitors and visitors.
If you prefer to watch rather than take part, you can rent a sun lounger or take a seat at one of the beach bars, sip a delicious cocktail (or two) and just enjoy watching the activity on the water.
Playa Caleton
Playa Caleton is a small crescent-shaped beach in the fishing village of Rio San Juan, frequented mainly by locals, as very few tourists are aware of its existence. This idyllic, peaceful bay has fine and soft tan sands, lined with almond trees, large palms and green vegetation.
To the right of the bay is a collection of rocks which have been sculpted to represent faces of the Taino Indian chiefs, who are said to have inhabited the Dominican Republic in the late fifteenth century.
The sea is clear and calm and ideal for snorkelling, but you will need to bring your own equipment with you. There are sun beds to hire and beach vendors walk along the sand selling drinks, food and other goods. There are also a few restaurants serving freshly caught fish, which is then cooked in front of you and served with tasty vegetables or salad. If you want to visit this beach at its quietest, it’s best to head down on a weekday, since the locals tend to gather there at the weekends.
Playa Coson
Playa Cosón is a beautiful, long sandy beach located near the tourist town of Las Terrenas, in the north of the Dominican Republic. The beach is lined with palm trees, the sand is fine and the waters are crystal clear, making it an ideal place for relaxing on a sun bed or for swimming and snorkelling.
The waves can get a little choppy at times, so windsurfing, parasailing and kitesurfing are popular pastimes. If you are a novice at these sports, there is a school that provides instruction and equipment.
After all that exercise you will be ready for something to eat. There are plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from located along the beach, and a particular favourite with both locals and tourists alike is Luis Restaurant. This popular spot serves delicious food, from Arroz con Pollo to Sancocho, as well as freshly prepared fish and seafood served with plantains or rice.
Playa Diamante
Playa Diamante is a beautiful, long sandy beach in the little town of Cabrera, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The waters here are quite spectacular, since an underground river flows into the beach, providing a cold-water stream on top and warm salt water underneath, which is simply sensational when you are bathing or swimming.
There are no public amenities or sunbeds for hire, but this beautiful beach, with its surrounding lush vegetation is well worth a visit. Families, in particular, will love this beach, since the sea is nice and shallow for the kids to safely splash around in, and you have to go out quite a long way before it gets deeper.
There are a couple of restaurants located at Playa Diamante beach, serving a variety of local dishes and fresh fish (caught that very morning), grilled or fried to your liking. You must also try their version of a Pina Colada – the ‘Coco Loco’, which is a heavenly mix of fresh coconut, rum and coconut cream.
Playa Morón
Playa Morón beach is just a little to the east of Las Terrenas, and is a favourite with travellers seeking a quiet, relaxing beach away from the hustle and bustle of the larger resorts. This luxurious and secluded beach, with its wide soft sands and clear blue waters is a truly hidden gem in the Dominican Republic, and quite often you may find you are only sharing this beach with a couple of others.
Lie back and relax on this stunning beach lined with coconut trees, or take a swim and snorkel in the gorgeous warm sea. There are no public amenities on the beach, so you will need to bring everything you want with you, including food, drinks and your own snorkelling equipment. Why not enjoy a picnic and the pleasure of spending time away from it all, on this little sublime stretch of beach heaven?
Playa Punta Popy
Playa Punta Popy is a gorgeous, narrow beach located in the north of the Dominican Republic, just outside the village of Las Terrenas. This beach is extremely popular with the locals here, especially at weekends and public holidays; it’s not unusual for locals to bring big jukeboxes onto the beach and start an impromptu dance session on the sands.
The beach itself is astounding, with beautiful fine white sands, lined with large coconut palm trees which offer shade from the hot midday sun. The shallow, clear and calm sea, as well as great wind conditions make Punta Popy an ideal place for kitesurfing. In fact, there are even schools offering free trials and lessons here on the beach. Snorkelling is also a favourite pastime here; in the mornings when there is no wind, you will see plenty of avid paddle boarders.
The beach offers sun loungers for hire, a public restroom and a variety of small bars and restaurants providing a selection of drinks, snacks and meals. Plus, Playa Punta Popy’s atmosphere is truly fantastic; if you’re into water sports, this is certainly the beach spot for you.