The 10 Best Beaches in the Dominican Republic

The beaches of the Dominican Republic are the best attributes of the island since many have been listed as some of the best tourist places in the Caribbean. There are beaches for all tastes. From quiet and isolated beaches for sun lovers to wide beaches with artificial touches that offer numerous fun activities for family groups.

Here I show you the ten best beaches in the Dominican Republic, a country with 400 kilometers of beaches washed by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, famous for its temperate waters and beautiful tropical landscapes.

1.Bayahibe Beach

Starting the list of the best beaches of Bayahibe, there is the beach of the same name, with about 600 meters of white sands, bathed by the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, without waves and shallow, surrounded by lush nature and beautiful scenery coral reefs where to snorkel.

Although it is the same beach, it is divided into two zones, the first half is part of a hotel complex, while the second, closer to the town of Bayahibe, is a public beach.

In the latter area, you can find some beach bars and small shops that offer souvenirs. They are also part of the landscape, numerous boats docked in the sands, usually ready to go on an excursion to the neighboring islands.

Water sports such as diving and underwater fishing are very popular in Bayahibe, as it is known as one of the best places to dive in the Dominican Republic.

There are numerous dive equipment rental sites along the public beach, and more than 20 dive sites near Bayahibe including the three Atlantic Princess, St George, and Coco wrecks.

Bayahibe also serves as a boat point towards Saona Island, a sparsely populated island with long beaches and part of the Eastern National Park.

2.Paradise Cay

Also known as Cayo Arena, it is located in the province of Puerto Plata and corresponds to the only coral island in the Dominican Republic.

It has an arid landscape, without vegetation, with white sands bathed by turquoise waters, whose extreme transparency, makes the seabed visible to the naked eye.

This space of white sand does not even have a type of tree that shelters its visitors in some way or anything other than sand. Because of this, it was called ‘Arena’.

This is far from being a cause for concern for those who dare to know this destination, it turns out to be one of the biggest attractions because the brief extension accompanied by the absence of any other element makes the visitor feel being on a desert island where they can marvel at the vastness of the sea.

However, in the place, there are small palm-covered sheds that serve as a refuge for visitors during their stay, which never exceeds a couple of hours.

Its greatest attraction lies in the beauty of the coral reefs that surround it, constituting a paradise for snorkeling and diving enthusiasts.

With its small size, this key does not have tourist infrastructure, so it can usually only be visited on day trips, which depart from Punta Rucia.

3.Sosúa Beach

Located in the province of Puerto Plata, it corresponds to one of the most famous beaches in the Dominican Republic, with kilometers of golden sands, calm waters and mountain environments and lush tropical forests.

Like many of the country’s beaches, it is surrounded by coral reefs, making it perfect for snorkeling and diving.

In addition to its beauty, this beach stands out for its lively life, especially during the summer season, with dozens of restaurants facing the sea, music, and crowds. Around the beach, the area is known as El Batey also abound hotels and resorts.

Sosua’s beaches offer a great variety of fun for divers of all levels. Some of the beings that can be found in this water include pufferfish, angel and trumpet fish, and occasionally whales, sharks and stingrays depending on the time of year.

4. Eagles Bay

Another of the wonderful Dominican beaches is Bahía de las Águilas, a bay of the Caribbean Sea located in the province of Pedernales, which is part of the Jaragua National Park.

The landscapes of this bay are made up of kilometers of virgin beaches surrounded by gigantic rocks, with white sands and transparent waters, considered among the most crystalline on the planet.

Its seabed, meanwhile, is home to extraordinary biodiversity of species, as well as impressive coral reefs, ranked among the best preserved in the Caribbean.

As a protected area Bahía de las Águilas, it does not have tourist services, being necessary to travel to the nearby town Pedernales to find accommodation.

Around the bay, forming part of the 1,374 square kilometers of the Jaragua National Park, hide some 130 species of birds of which 10 are endemic, 76 residents and 47 migratory.

Corals, starfish, and seagrasses abound in its waters. It is possible to see hawksbill turtles, rhinoceros iguana, crown dove, ash dove, lambies and manatees.

Endemic plants such as canelilla and guanito coexist with the guayacán, the oak, the gayuco, and the guazábara. Because of its great biodiversity.

The park was declared by Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 2002, along with the Lago Enriquillo and Sierra de Bahoruco parks. Because it is a protected area, camping, bonfires, and littering are prohibited.

5. Rincon Beach

Following the list of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic, there is Rincon Beach on the Samana Peninsula, with 4 kilometers of white sands, crystal clear waters and jungle environments, where huge cliffs and lush nature combine.

The shores of this beach are ideal for water sports such as sailing and windsurfing. Other facilities found in this place are the rental of hammocks, boats, 4X4 vehicles for excursions, among others.

With some virgin areas, and without exploding, this natural beauty allows remembering, to those who like history, the vision that Spanish navigators would have had when discovering the New World: transparent waters, immense palms, rich vegetation and white sand.

This beach is characterized by the typical small hotels that are around the place, most restaurants serve seafood, especially seafood.

Unlike other beaches in the country, this site maintains a pristine appearance, without the large typical hotel complexes of the Caribbean, housing only a few small restaurants and beach bars.

Normally, those who visit it do so for the day leaving in boats from the town of Las Galeras.

6.Cayo Levantado

Cayo Levantado also known as Bacardi Island, corresponds to another of the famous destinations of the Samana Peninsula, known for its beautiful scenery, where white sands, crystalline waters and wet forests converge.

Although it has an exclusive hotel, most of those who visit Cayo Levantado do it for the day through excursions that leave from different parts of the country.

In addition to other sites on the peninsula, it is a privileged place for sighting humpback whales, mammals that go to the warm waters of this part of the Atlantic Ocean to breed between January to March.

Cross Cayo Levantado from end to end in just fifteen minutes and contemplate the beautiful vegetation and the amazing landscape that can be seen from there making it a favorite place for visitors.

The natives usually offer services of typical food, drinks and aquatic activities accompanied by music from the region.

7. Bavaro Beach

Playa Bávaro is the most famous beach in Punta Cana, a tourist destination par excellence in the Dominican Republic.

With kilometers of soft white sands, rows of coconut palms and crystal clear waters of turquoise blue tones, where you can enjoy the sun and activities such as sailing, snorkeling, and diving.

This beach concentrates the largest number of hotel complexes and all-inclusive resorts throughout the Punta Cana area also known as the Costa del Coco, as well as an inexhaustible offer of tourist services and recreational activities.

Neighboring it, other famous beaches share its wonderful landscapes, such as Juanillo, Macao and Uvero Alto

8. Big beach

Located in the province of María Trinidad, it corresponds to an extensive beach of white sand and crystalline waters, surrounded by lush tropical forests and cliffs.

In addition to its beautiful landscapes, this beach is famous for being considered one of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic for surf lovers, given the quality of its waves.

It is the longest beach on the north coast (1.5 kilometers). It has a large strip of soft golden sand bordered by tall palm trees that invite you to rest.

Along the beach, you can enjoy a lively activity, with several restaurants, beach bars, and some exclusive hotel complexes. In the neighboring town of Río San Juan, you can also find a wide range of accommodation.

9. Diamond Beach

Another of the jewels of the province of María Trinidad, is Playa Diamante, a small cove of white sands and green tropical environments, with calm waters of shallow depth, being necessary to enter several meters inward, so that it reaches the height of the knees.

This beach has a wide expanse of white sand bordered by low stone walls and trees. This represents a very safe space for the whole family since the depth of its turquoise waters is very low.

Up to 100 meters from the shore, the water barely reaches the knee but it goes deep as it approaches the open coast.

Among the many options to have fun in this delicious place are the boats and kayaks that offer tours around the beach and along the coast.

There is a small bar/restaurant that serves drinks and meals (fresh fish and seafood). Nearby, there are restaurants, cafes, and shops where you can consume all kinds of products necessary to spend a good day with family, friends or the couple.

One of its peculiarities is an underground river that flows into the beach, introducing cold and sweet waters, to the salty and warm waters of the sea, forming an unusual experience.

Since there are no tourist services on the beach, you must travel to the neighboring town of Cabrera, to find accommodation.

10. Cabarete Beach

Concluding the ranking of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic, is Cabarete Beach in the province of Puerto Plata, with kilometers of golden sands and calm waters, famous for being one of the best destinations in the country for kitesurfing and windsurfing.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Cabarete was a small fishing village, but everything changed in 1940 after the arrival of Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria fleeing the persecution of the Nazi regime.

Like most of the beaches of Puerto Plata, it has a vast range of tourist services and accommodation options, as well as a lively party atmosphere, concentrating a variety of restaurants and bars.