DK Travel : Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a country of surprising contrasts and extraordinary variety. From the chilly peak of the Caribbean’s highest mountain to some of the region’s most delightful beaches, the country boasts lush valleys, spectacular waterfalls, and sun-baked deserts. The past and present also blend in a fascinating mix of colonial buildings and modern hotels, sleepy rural villages and lively tourist resorts. The people, too, reflect a kaleidoscope of influences — Spanish, African, indigenous — creating a culture that emphasizes both creativity and fun in the fields of music, sport, and art.

Playa del Morro

A rocky track cuts through a gap in the landmark mountain of El Morro, leading to a deserted white-sand beach. The beach is walled in by sheet cliffs, but the water is calm and protected in this spectacular cove. Sunsets are superb.
Playa Dominicus

Surrounded by all-inclusive resorts, this safe beach is great for windsurfing and kayaking.
Playa Dorada

The tourist paradise par excellence, this development contains more than a dozen separate resorts, offering every conceivable activity and self-indulgence known to mankind. The range of beach activities encompasses everything from snorkeling to volleyball, while round-the-clock catering provides all sorts of eating and drinking options. The beach itself is a wonderfully white strip of soft sand, cleaned daily, but it can sometimes seem a little crowded, especially in high season. The other most prized asset is the Robert Trent Jones-designed golf course.
Playa Dorada

A beach of pristine sand, ideal for paragliding and building sandcastles.
Playa Dorada Plaza, Playa Dorada

The North Coast’s biggest shopping mall is a Californian-style collection of retail outlets spread over two floors, with the emphasis on the tourist market. Cigars, cosmetics, and clothes feature prominently.
Playa Ensenata

This stretch of fine white sand shares a headland with the Punta Rucia Beach to the west, accessible with some difficulty from the small village of Estero Hondo. Given the remoteness of the place, it’s surprising how busy it can become, especially at weekends, when locals come to picnic, swim, and enjoy. It is possibly one of the best beaches in the country with clear shallow water, dramatic mountain scenery, and a welcome absence of vendors and hustlers. Food and drink are usually available at weekends from a few impromptu beach bars.
Playa Grande

Not to be confused with the magnificent beach of the same name near Río San Juan, this more modest stretch of sand is Luperón’s local seaside attraction, backed by a hotel complex. The sea here is inviting, the row of palm trees provides welcome shade, and the sand is pleasantly soft and clean. Nearby are a handful of bars and eating places.
Playa Grande

A long stretch of perfect golden-hued sand, bordered by forest and demarcated by high cliffs, Playa Grande is unsurprisingly attracting a good deal of tourist development after years of isolation. There are several large-scale all-inclusive resorts, including the Caribbean Village Playa Grande, which boasts a spectacular oceanside 18-hole golf course. The sea is more suitable for surfing than swimming, but at weekends the beach becomes very busy, especially at the end nearer Río San Juan, where food and drink are on sale. This spectacular beach is open to all.
Playa Guayacanes

A quieter alternative to Boca Chica, the long strip of soft sand and calm water, still home to a fishing community, attracts a mix of tourists and locals.
Playa Isabela

Steeped in history, as the site of the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, this low-key stretch of sand backed by shade-giving vegetation attracts more fishermen than tourists. The freshwater Bajabonico River meets the sea at this spot, producing an interesting ecosystem that’s worth exploring.

Boats, Playa Isabela